Adding Headers to a LS2 with 85k?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 476
Likes: 40
From: St. Louis Missouri
Adding Headers to a LS2 with 85k?
Hello,
I was wondering if there was a consensus on whether or not it's a good idea to add headers to my vette (LS2) with 85,000 miles on it? Do you think it would cause problems, adding that power to it? The car runs very well right now, and I don't track it or drag. It's my DD that I enjoy going fast on the highway with from time to time. Just wanting to get some opinions before I go buy a set of headers, only to encounter more problems that normal down the road. I just want to have this car for a long time, and don't want to do anything to harm it. (she's my baby)
Only mods it has CAI and SLP loudmouth 2's.
Thanks!
I was wondering if there was a consensus on whether or not it's a good idea to add headers to my vette (LS2) with 85,000 miles on it? Do you think it would cause problems, adding that power to it? The car runs very well right now, and I don't track it or drag. It's my DD that I enjoy going fast on the highway with from time to time. Just wanting to get some opinions before I go buy a set of headers, only to encounter more problems that normal down the road. I just want to have this car for a long time, and don't want to do anything to harm it. (she's my baby)
Only mods it has CAI and SLP loudmouth 2's.
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 476
Likes: 40
From: St. Louis Missouri
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Its headers, its a solid piece of metal with larger orifices then the factory. As long as you get quality ones they shouldn't rub on anything or kill anything else. You're going to want to tune it though to get the best gains out of it, and you're gonna get the SES light on (which your tuner can take off) because you're gonna have to delete the front O2's.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 413
From: WV
If you don't race the car what I would say is "why do it".. It should add about 20 hp after the tune , but your talking over $1,000 for the headers and tune ,..The only thing adding headers will hurt is your wallet ,it won't hurt the motor...If it were me , I would get a nice exhaust system , then you could hear what you spent your money on. ...
...WW
...WW
Last edited by WW7; Dec 27, 2016 at 08:27 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 476
Likes: 40
From: St. Louis Missouri
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,673
Likes: 2,728
From: Atlanta GA
Do it , you will add more than 20 hp that is stated above and it is way worth it , I have 60,000 miles on mine and the added power still puts a smile on my face every day I drive it...
You are not going to break anything ......
Dave
You are not going to break anything ......
Dave
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 7,001
Likes: 988
From: lake havasu city arizona
If you don't race the car what I would say is "why do it".. It should add about 20 hp after the tune , but your talking over $1,000 for the headers, tune , and wire heat covers..The only thing adding headers will hurt is your wallet ,it won't hurt the motor...If it were me , I would get a nice exhaust system , then you could hear what you spent your money on. ......WW
...WW
Don't think your being realistic from what I've read and watched on YouTube, gains are more like 35+RWHP and that's considerable seat of the pants enjoyment
NSF
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,673
Likes: 2,728
From: Atlanta GA
It's a seat of the pants gain that you can more than feel ........change out that LS2 air cleaner and free up some more HP ....
Dave
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 413
From: WV
Just so you guys don't think I pulled the numbers I quoted in my post above "out of my azz" , here is the article below where I found the information ...According to this article/test by "SuperChevy" the Kooks headers, crossover pipe, and high flow cats, only showed a gain of 20 hp on the stock LS2.. The Kooks headers , crossover pipe, high flow cats "plus" the addition of the "Corsa exhaust system" and a tune, showed a gain of 40 hp..(Or am I reading this wrong??)...WW
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...itional-power/
Below is the paragraph that says the Kooks headers, high flow cats, and crossover pipe only showed a gain of 20 hp... Again , I'm not trying to argue the point, but just wanted to show where I got my information from.. WW
...
Here is there conclusion::::
Conclusion:When the C6 bolt-on thrash concluded and the DynoJet rollers stopped spinning, it was obvious that the LS2 engine responded in a big way to exhaust and tuning changes. A total of 40 horsepower and 38 lb-ft of torque was coaxed out of the engine with increases all the way across the power band. The combination of the Kooks headers and mid-pipe with high-flow cats led the pack with an outstanding gain of 20 horsepower and 20 lb-ft of torque. The large 1 7/8-inch stainless steel headers with 3-inch collectors effectively pull out the power, without sacrificing the low-end. Although the Corsa Sport Exhaust showed only modest gains with 8 and 6 hp/lb-ft increases, the excellent tone and looks of the system are in themselves worth the price. What aren't documented are the gains that the Corsa system will achieve as you bump up the power levels and the stock cat-back becomes a restriction.
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...itional-power/
Below is the paragraph that says the Kooks headers, high flow cats, and crossover pipe only showed a gain of 20 hp... Again , I'm not trying to argue the point, but just wanted to show where I got my information from.. WW
...
Here is there conclusion::::
Conclusion:When the C6 bolt-on thrash concluded and the DynoJet rollers stopped spinning, it was obvious that the LS2 engine responded in a big way to exhaust and tuning changes. A total of 40 horsepower and 38 lb-ft of torque was coaxed out of the engine with increases all the way across the power band. The combination of the Kooks headers and mid-pipe with high-flow cats led the pack with an outstanding gain of 20 horsepower and 20 lb-ft of torque. The large 1 7/8-inch stainless steel headers with 3-inch collectors effectively pull out the power, without sacrificing the low-end. Although the Corsa Sport Exhaust showed only modest gains with 8 and 6 hp/lb-ft increases, the excellent tone and looks of the system are in themselves worth the price. What aren't documented are the gains that the Corsa system will achieve as you bump up the power levels and the stock cat-back becomes a restriction.
Last edited by WW7; Dec 28, 2016 at 04:53 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 7,001
Likes: 988
From: lake havasu city arizona
Just so you guys don't think I pulled the numbers I quoted in my post above "out of my azz" , here is the article below where I found the information ...According to this article by "SuperChevy" the Kooks headers, crossover pipe, and high flow cats only showed a gain of 20 hp on the stock LS2.. The kooks headers crossover pipe high flow cats "plus" the addition of the "Corsa exhaust system" showed a gain of 40 hp..(Or am I reading this wrong??)...WW
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...itional-power/
Below is the paragraph that says the Kooks headers, high flow cats, and crossover pipe only showed a gain of 20 hp... Again , I'm not trying to argue the point, but just wanted to show where I got my information from.. WW
...
Here is there conclusion::::
Conclusion:When the C6 bolt-on thrash concluded and the DynoJet rollers stopped spinning, it was obvious that the LS2 engine responded in a big way to exhaust and tuning changes. A total of 40 horsepower and 38 lb-ft of torque was coaxed out of the engine with increases all the way across the power band. The combination of the Kooks headers and mid-pipe with high-flow cats led the pack with an outstanding gain of 20 horsepower and 20 lb-ft of torque. The large 1 7/8-inch stainless steel headers with 3-inch collectors effectively pull out the power, without sacrificing the low-end. Although the Corsa Sport Exhaust showed only modest gains with 8 and 6 hp/lb-ft increases, the excellent tone and looks of the system are in themselves worth the price. What aren't documented are the gains that the Corsa system will achieve as you bump up the power levels and the stock cat-back becomes a restriction
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...itional-power/
Below is the paragraph that says the Kooks headers, high flow cats, and crossover pipe only showed a gain of 20 hp... Again , I'm not trying to argue the point, but just wanted to show where I got my information from.. WW
...
Here is there conclusion::::
Conclusion:When the C6 bolt-on thrash concluded and the DynoJet rollers stopped spinning, it was obvious that the LS2 engine responded in a big way to exhaust and tuning changes. A total of 40 horsepower and 38 lb-ft of torque was coaxed out of the engine with increases all the way across the power band. The combination of the Kooks headers and mid-pipe with high-flow cats led the pack with an outstanding gain of 20 horsepower and 20 lb-ft of torque. The large 1 7/8-inch stainless steel headers with 3-inch collectors effectively pull out the power, without sacrificing the low-end. Although the Corsa Sport Exhaust showed only modest gains with 8 and 6 hp/lb-ft increases, the excellent tone and looks of the system are in themselves worth the price. What aren't documented are the gains that the Corsa system will achieve as you bump up the power levels and the stock cat-back becomes a restriction
I don't think the LS2 responds quite the way an LS3 does but I may be wrong as usual 
If headers alone bring 20rwhp and the tune another 15rwhp (that's conservative I think) I'm going to be good with that because like you say its expensive. I have guys saying they gained a ton more than that also, so we will see when ever I get mine done
NSF PS I cant make any sense out of what they (SC)posted on numbers ??
Last edited by Not So Fast; Dec 27, 2016 at 08:11 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 413
From: WV
Hey WW7, please, not casting aspersions by any means I don't think the LS2 responds quite the way an LS3 does but I may be wrong as usual
If headers alone bring 20rwhp and the tune another 15rwhp (that's conservative I think) I'm going to be good with that because like you say its expensive. I have guys saying they gained a ton more than that also, so we will see when ever I get mine done
NSF
I don't think the LS2 responds quite the way an LS3 does but I may be wrong as usual If headers alone bring 20rwhp and the tune another 15rwhp (that's conservative I think) I'm going to be good with that because like you say its expensive. I have guys saying they gained a ton more than that also, so we will see when ever I get mine done
NSF
.... If I'm reading and understanding the article correctly , they had to do Kooks 1 7/8 Headers,crossover pipe, high flow cats, and a Corsa exhaust, (plus a tune) to get the extra 40 hp gain... That's over $3,000.00 in just parts "not including $500.00 labor if needed" and a $450.00 tune to get 40 hp...
..I'm sure the LS3 would show a bigger gain because your starting with a more efficient motor/heads combo with more hp to start with, (but the OP has an LS2 engine)....I have heard many guys claim they feel alot more power from their cars (seat of the pants feel ) after doing mods , when later the dyno shows differently.... WW
Last edited by WW7; Dec 28, 2016 at 05:50 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 476
Likes: 40
From: St. Louis Missouri
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 315
From: Bridgewater New Jersey
Hello,
I was wondering if there was a consensus on whether or not it's a good idea to add headers to my vette (LS2) with 85,000 miles on it? Do you think it would cause problems, adding that power to it? The car runs very well right now, and I don't track it or drag. It's my DD that I enjoy going fast on the highway with from time to time. Just wanting to get some opinions before I go buy a set of headers, only to encounter more problems that normal down the road. I just want to have this car for a long time, and don't want to do anything to harm it. (she's my baby)
Only mods it has CAI and SLP loudmouth 2's.
Thanks!
I was wondering if there was a consensus on whether or not it's a good idea to add headers to my vette (LS2) with 85,000 miles on it? Do you think it would cause problems, adding that power to it? The car runs very well right now, and I don't track it or drag. It's my DD that I enjoy going fast on the highway with from time to time. Just wanting to get some opinions before I go buy a set of headers, only to encounter more problems that normal down the road. I just want to have this car for a long time, and don't want to do anything to harm it. (she's my baby)
Only mods it has CAI and SLP loudmouth 2's.
Thanks!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 379
Likes: 31
From: Hammond Indiana
As to problems, I have noticed that many,many posts about bad starters seemed to be related to increased heat from headers. Also burned wires ,spark plug and otherwise from close proximity to same. So use heat shields where needed for trouble free enjoyment of your newfound power.