Long Tubes for 2011 LS3

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Nov 21, 2011 | 11:02 PM

Patal

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 133

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From: The Woodlands Texas

Long Tubes for 2011 LS3

Do long tubes provide good HP return for $$ spent. I read somewhere that the LS3 stock units are pretty good. As good as the LS3 breathes, just wondering if 1st performance $$ would be better spent on something else (tune, etc).

Nov 22, 2011 | 12:05 AM

Zteve

Racer

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 276

Likes: 1

From: Los Angeles CA

Headers are worth 20-40hp, but they are not a stand alone mod. You need the car tuned along with the headers to get the most of out them

Nov 22, 2011 | 03:07 PM

JUIC3D

Le Mans Master

Joined: May 2011

Posts: 5,022

Likes: 18

From: Tampa FL (formerly Justinjor)

Tech Contributor

St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14

Not true. If you can ignore the CEL until you get a tune, it's not required to do so at the same time.

I put my intake and headers on about 2 or 3 months before I did the cam swap and didn't have the car tuned until the very end.

I had the car dyno'ed and it made 421whp/398tq with the CEL on. No driveability problems, no issues other than the CEL.

EDIT: Well, I guess to get the absolute MOST out of them, ya, a tune would be required but you could also argue a tune is required to get the most out of the car as it came from the factory.

Nov 22, 2011 | 04:32 PM

Cromagnum

Pro

Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 543

Likes: 58

From: Houston TX

If it were me, I wouldn't spend the money on the tune up front if you are planning on hardware modifications. It's most cost effective to get all your doodads installed and tune it up all at once at the end if you can.

Nov 22, 2011 | 04:34 PM

JUIC3D

Le Mans Master

Joined: May 2011

Posts: 5,022

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From: Tampa FL (formerly Justinjor)

Tech Contributor

St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cromagnum

Nov 22, 2011 | 04:49 PM

C7/Z06 Man

Safety Car

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 4,231

Likes: 451

From: Maryland

My car (2010 GS) ran just fine (faster) with headers and CAI "without" a tune. No Cel either because I installed anti-plug foulers on the rear sensors. None of the sensors have ever been turned off and the battery has never been disconnected. I have well over 1,000 miles now and still no light.

Last edited by C7/Z06 Man; Nov 22, 2011 at 05:05 PM.

Nov 22, 2011 | 04:55 PM

corvet786c

Melting Slicks

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 2,136

Likes: 139

From: Port St Lucie Florida

Just for the record my tuned 08 LS3 long tubed headers with exhaust made 420 rwhp and 430 tq

Nov 22, 2011 | 05:03 PM

DRLC5

Le Mans Master

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 5,885

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From: Cape Coral FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by corvet786c

Just for the record my tuned 08 LS3 long tubed headers with exhaust made 420 rwhp and 430 tq

Which headers? Did you also use hi flow cats? Thanks.

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Nov 22, 2011 | 05:05 PM

Patal

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 133

Likes: 0

From: The Woodlands Texas

Good stuff. Thank-you.

Nov 22, 2011 | 05:18 PM

#10

corvet786c

Melting Slicks

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 2,136

Likes: 139

From: Port St Lucie Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRLC5

Which headers? Did you also use hi flow cats? Thanks.

LG 1 3/4 headers with high flow cats ooh I forgot It was on a mustang dyno I have a graph here somewhere.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomete...-tune-k-n.html

the 409 was with stock non npp exhaust since then I added slp axelback exhaust and ported throttlebody

Last edited by corvet786c; Nov 22, 2011 at 05:25 PM.

Nov 23, 2011 | 12:51 PM

#11

PRE-Z06

Race Director

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 12,362

Likes: 2,897

From: Fort Worth, Texas

CAI intake, 1.875" headers and a tune are a great bang for the buck. The more air in/the more air out, the more power you'll make. We generally see ~40rwhp gain across the board.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...on-an-ls3.html

Last edited by PRE-Z06; Nov 23, 2011 at 12:53 PM.

Nov 23, 2011 | 12:59 PM

#12

DRLC5

Le Mans Master

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 5,885

Likes: 371

From: Cape Coral FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRE-Z06

So you recomment the 1.875" over the 1.3/4"? on a otherwise stock LS3 with Halltech and polished TB. Thanks.

Nov 23, 2011 | 02:28 PM

#13

PRE-Z06

Race Director

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 12,362

Likes: 2,897

From: Fort Worth, Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRLC5

So you recomment the 1.875" over the 1.3/4"? on a otherwise stock LS3 with Halltech and polished TB. Thanks.

I do, unless maybe it's an auto and you don't plan on any other future mods.

Nov 23, 2011 | 06:16 PM

#14

PeOR

Instructor

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 197

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From: Melbourne Florida

The thing

For me the longtube headers gave 25 rwhp with CAI in a LS2 (and a tune). Not that much. But the the extra 500 rpm's I have on top makes a huge difference. It makes a good engine really awesome. 50 - 120 mph went from 12 seconds to 10.2 on rollers.

From the tuning company
http://www.youtube.com/user/Plexulf?.../0/LYYVGVNNxps

PBIR @ 6800 rpm
http://www.youtube.com/user/Plexulf?...19/9u_-NCVm4jY

Just some driving at PBIR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNuX_VCd3n4

I really recommend the longtubes if you are using the rev range...

PeO.

Nov 23, 2011 | 07:10 PM

#15

DRLC5

Le Mans Master

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 5,885

Likes: 371

From: Cape Coral FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeOR

Nice driving liked it when you passed the Ferrari, and the Lambo just got out of your way..lol..Your car seems to handle really well The Pfadt really seems to respond well.

Nov 23, 2011 | 08:15 PM

#16

timd38

Race Director

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 13,592

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From: Hudson WI

NCM Sinkhole Donor

Quote:

Originally Posted by corvet786c

Just for the record my tuned 08 LS3 long tubed headers with exhaust made 420 rwhp and 430 tq

I have an LS2 and it made 403 with headers (and a tune) and Magnaflow, so 420 sound right.

Nov 24, 2011 | 06:04 AM

#17

blkbrd69

Drifting

Joined: Oct 2011

Posts: 1,684

Likes: 76

From: Orlando FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeOR

That was some great driving, been looking forward to track time at Sebring and PBIR.

Nov 24, 2011 | 02:27 PM

#18

0Brian@RPT

Former Vendor

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 2,572

Likes: 1

From: Austin Texas

We install Kooks Custom Headers and, with tuning, expect 35-40 rwhp. we have a special going on right now and with the addition of the Halltech CAI....expect 50-60 rwhp.

Nov 24, 2011 | 06:25 PM

#19

Fly'n Family

Drifting

Joined: May 2011

Posts: 1,728

Likes: 36

From: TX / CO

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patal

LS3's do breathe well, but there's still a good chunk left on the table. Optimizing breathing was a large component in my LS3 NA build that puts well over 500whp and has a hell of a tq band.

Don't see how you can go wrong with a good set of headers.

Nov 25, 2011 | 12:31 AM

#20

1Corvette

Racer

Joined: Mar 2006

Posts: 265

Likes: 3

From: Metamora, IL

Headers are my favorite modification for a Corvette along with a tune from Chuck CoW. You will be amazed at the difference in the car. If you buy American made headers they are expensive, but worth the cost for me. Highly recommended!

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