Speed Engineering header install.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,074
Likes: 1,040
From: The GREAT STATE of IOWA!
Speed Engineering header install.
Finally got the headers installed on my GS A6 and the difference is noticeable immediately and in a huge way.
After LOTS of research and a number of years drag racing. My car isn't going to be drag raced, but I wanted to obtain some easy horsepower and with it the performance gains. My goal was to use the axle back NPP exhaust system mated to the SE system.
I chose the Speed Engineering headers and X-pipe kit. My choice wasn't based primarily on price, but common sense and experience. The SE's use 304 Stainless which is the standard in the industry no matter how much the price of the product is. What sold me on them were the reviews online from the actual users. I don't think I ever saw a bad review, and in fact most people really liked the product.
We had a lift, which made a world of difference and the installation was unbelievably simple and straightforward. We took it slow and methodically and it took less time to put the system in than it did to get the old one out. EVERYTHING lined up, there was no "tweaking" that needed to be done and we laughed at how the ball peen hammer, a long time staple in header installation was never needed. Who ever designed this system is a superstar engineer as they easily slid in from the bottom and the clearance was amazing. The only issue I didn't like were the clamps sent with the kit and had already ordered sleeve clamps to eliminate any potential leaks.
Installing the headers after removing the original system took about 2 hours and went unbelievably smooth. I did the work at a Do It Yourself garage where other people were working on their own cars, and of course, with a Corvette on a lift, it generated a lot of interest, and comments.
The results? The difference in sound is exactly what I wanted. The Corvette now sounds like I think a Vette should sound. At idle, a bit louder, with more authority, and when you hit the throttle, it lets you know immediately it wants to get up and run, and it does.
I think I picked up about 40-50 horsepower and now it's onto Karl Chevrolet Performance and a dyno tune where I think I can wring another 30 or so horsepower out of it.
All in all, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you give Speed Engineering a look when going after headers Their product is top notch and the pricing is unbelievable. What I saved on the headers is paying for the dyno tune!
After LOTS of research and a number of years drag racing. My car isn't going to be drag raced, but I wanted to obtain some easy horsepower and with it the performance gains. My goal was to use the axle back NPP exhaust system mated to the SE system.
I chose the Speed Engineering headers and X-pipe kit. My choice wasn't based primarily on price, but common sense and experience. The SE's use 304 Stainless which is the standard in the industry no matter how much the price of the product is. What sold me on them were the reviews online from the actual users. I don't think I ever saw a bad review, and in fact most people really liked the product.
We had a lift, which made a world of difference and the installation was unbelievably simple and straightforward. We took it slow and methodically and it took less time to put the system in than it did to get the old one out. EVERYTHING lined up, there was no "tweaking" that needed to be done and we laughed at how the ball peen hammer, a long time staple in header installation was never needed. Who ever designed this system is a superstar engineer as they easily slid in from the bottom and the clearance was amazing. The only issue I didn't like were the clamps sent with the kit and had already ordered sleeve clamps to eliminate any potential leaks.
Installing the headers after removing the original system took about 2 hours and went unbelievably smooth. I did the work at a Do It Yourself garage where other people were working on their own cars, and of course, with a Corvette on a lift, it generated a lot of interest, and comments.
The results? The difference in sound is exactly what I wanted. The Corvette now sounds like I think a Vette should sound. At idle, a bit louder, with more authority, and when you hit the throttle, it lets you know immediately it wants to get up and run, and it does.
I think I picked up about 40-50 horsepower and now it's onto Karl Chevrolet Performance and a dyno tune where I think I can wring another 30 or so horsepower out of it.
All in all, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you give Speed Engineering a look when going after headers Their product is top notch and the pricing is unbelievable. What I saved on the headers is paying for the dyno tune!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,996
Likes: 3,531
From: Central MO
Finally got the headers installed on my GS A6 and the difference is noticeable immediately and in a huge way.
After LOTS of research and a number of years drag racing. My car isn't going to be drag raced, but I wanted to obtain some easy horsepower and with it the performance gains. My goal was to use the axle back NPP exhaust system mated to the SE system.
I chose the Speed Engineering headers and X-pipe kit. My choice wasn't based primarily on price, but common sense and experience. The SE's use 304 Stainless which is the standard in the industry no matter how much the price of the product is. What sold me on them were the reviews online from the actual users. I don't think I ever saw a bad review, and in fact most people really liked the product.
We had a lift, which made a world of difference and the installation was unbelievably simple and straightforward. We took it slow and methodically and it took less time to put the system in than it did to get the old one out. EVERYTHING lined up, there was no "tweaking" that needed to be done and we laughed at how the ball peen hammer, a long time staple in header installation was never needed. Who ever designed this system is a superstar engineer as they easily slid in from the bottom and the clearance was amazing. The only issue I didn't like were the clamps sent with the kit and had already ordered sleeve clamps to eliminate any potential leaks.
Installing the headers after removing the original system took about 2 hours and went unbelievably smooth. I did the work at a Do It Yourself garage where other people were working on their own cars, and of course, with a Corvette on a lift, it generated a lot of interest, and comments.
The results? The difference in sound is exactly what I wanted. The Corvette now sounds like I think a Vette should sound. At idle, a bit louder, with more authority, and when you hit the throttle, it lets you know immediately it wants to get up and run, and it does.
I think I picked up about 40-50 horsepower and now it's onto Karl Chevrolet Performance and a dyno tune where I think I can wring another 30 or so horsepower out of it.
All in all, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you give Speed Engineering a look when going after headers Their product is top notch and the pricing is unbelievable. What I saved on the headers is paying for the dyno tune!
After LOTS of research and a number of years drag racing. My car isn't going to be drag raced, but I wanted to obtain some easy horsepower and with it the performance gains. My goal was to use the axle back NPP exhaust system mated to the SE system.
I chose the Speed Engineering headers and X-pipe kit. My choice wasn't based primarily on price, but common sense and experience. The SE's use 304 Stainless which is the standard in the industry no matter how much the price of the product is. What sold me on them were the reviews online from the actual users. I don't think I ever saw a bad review, and in fact most people really liked the product.
We had a lift, which made a world of difference and the installation was unbelievably simple and straightforward. We took it slow and methodically and it took less time to put the system in than it did to get the old one out. EVERYTHING lined up, there was no "tweaking" that needed to be done and we laughed at how the ball peen hammer, a long time staple in header installation was never needed. Who ever designed this system is a superstar engineer as they easily slid in from the bottom and the clearance was amazing. The only issue I didn't like were the clamps sent with the kit and had already ordered sleeve clamps to eliminate any potential leaks.
Installing the headers after removing the original system took about 2 hours and went unbelievably smooth. I did the work at a Do It Yourself garage where other people were working on their own cars, and of course, with a Corvette on a lift, it generated a lot of interest, and comments.
The results? The difference in sound is exactly what I wanted. The Corvette now sounds like I think a Vette should sound. At idle, a bit louder, with more authority, and when you hit the throttle, it lets you know immediately it wants to get up and run, and it does.
I think I picked up about 40-50 horsepower and now it's onto Karl Chevrolet Performance and a dyno tune where I think I can wring another 30 or so horsepower out of it.
All in all, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you give Speed Engineering a look when going after headers Their product is top notch and the pricing is unbelievable. What I saved on the headers is paying for the dyno tune!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 1,279
From: Phoenix, AZ to Quakertown, PA.
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I too went with SE long tube headers for the same reason you did, I thought 304 stainless is 304 stainless what is so dam pricey about the other manufacturers ? Fitment was great and I’ve had them apart and back together several times for maintenance, trans cable and changing npp to a cat back system. Yes the clamps get lazy after a few R and R but they are only a couple bucks new.
