Considering headers on a stock 2005 C6 base. Originally I was gong to do a cat back exhaust just to improve the sound. After looking at pricing I have found that putting headers and an X pipe is about the same cost as a cat back muffler package. My 2005 has NPP mufflers but they are not hooked up so they are always on the wild side. If I went with headers I would hook up my NPP's to calm the sound down around town and with the boss in the car. Some posts seem to suggest that on a stock engine it may not be worth the trouble to add headers, pain to install, more heat issues etc.

As I mentioned my car is stock and I plan to keep it that way for the near future. My reasons for mufflers only is better sound, reason for headers is better sound AND increased HP. Car is just for fun no racing planned, maybe a track day just to see what she will do.

So are headers worth the investment or stick with the cat back system and just make pretty music?

 

Headers on a C6 are always a good upgrade. Ideally, its also a good idea to get the car tuned to fully take advantage of the increased exhaust flow.

And with an NPP exhaust, I think headers and catted mid pipe are ideal for good sound when you want it and quiet when cruising.

I have Kooks and I recommend them over American Racing. ARH have fitment issues sometimes whereas Kooks don't.

 

Headers are going to add power and make more noise than most exhaust systems will. Realize, however, that you should really be tuning the car and depending on the exhaust you may end up with a check engine light for the rear oxygen sensors.
So, if the sole purpose is noise and you don't care about the power increase, headers may not be the modification for you.

 

Headers are definitely worth it and I’d scrap the npp and get a system with tips large enough to fill the diffuser area.

 

I am also in the market for headers on my 2008 C6M. You'll get a WIDE variety of opinions on this subject depending upon who you speak with and their budgetary restraints, tolerance for increased exhaust note, personal preferences, etc.

The bottom line is what are your ultimate plans for YOUR car and what are YOU looking for? There are several great header manufacturers out there: ARH, Kooks, PFADT, just to name a few. DO YOUR RESEARCH and speak with a couple speed shops to get a feel for what brand they recommend and which ones have better quality and fit. Also, the added heat headers create can be addressed by ceramic coating the headers and X-pipe, albeit at greater expense.

As others have mentioned, its a good idea to have a tune done afterwards to maximize the increased exhaust capabilities; a benefit here also includes additional HP gains.

I currently have a Corsa Sport axle back exhaust and it is SWEET !!!! Awesome sound and NO DRONE at highway speeds in 6th gear.
I also added a Callaway cold air intake, then had it tuned; ended up at 414 RWHP. So now its been a while and I'm looking at installing headers in 2021... then maybe a mild cam swap in 2022.... a little at a time.

Headers together with the NPP option (when OPEN) will sound awesome and you should see at least 20 HP, a bit more with a tune.... I say GO FOR IT and enjoy!

 

Started to add up the cost for headers vs cat back Borla, The headers, X pipe, Mild to Wild conversion and a tune I am thinking close to $2500.
Borla S-Type would run me $1700, that leaves me $800 toward wheels!!

 

We have long tubes for just about every budget out there. ARH, Kooks and AFE are probably going to be the some of the higher priced systems because they have excellent quality and fitment. We also have some pretty good deals running on them with coupon code VETTE. Right now we are offering a free tune if you order a set of headers and HP tuners from us with the 2 credits needed for your car.
We like going with long tubes on the stock exhaust first. If you decide you want more volume you can always add an exhaust later and you have options to determine the volume. If you buy the exhaust first and then add headers you might find the exhaust you bought is to loud with headers.

 

Personal opinion here, but spending a bunch of cash ($2500) to change the sound and add about 20-25 HP to a 15 year-old daily driver doesn't make much sense, when you can accomplish nearly the same result for less than $1000.
Swapping your OEM exhaust manifolds, cats, and H-pipe for the same parts from a Z06, adding the M2W and a simple street tune, gives the same result less 2-5 HP. If you want underhood bling, you can polish the stainless steel manifolds to look like chrome. Other than the obvious $$$$ difference, is that the fit is never a problem, it can be done at home on jackstands by one person, you retain the cats/O2 sensors, and you can control the max/minimum sound with the push of a button.

 

HOXXOH thats an interesting concept to find a used Z06 manifold and Xpipe. since i am not familiar with the difference help me understand why this works?
Where do I find used Z06 parts?

 

This^ or.....
I went with Black Heart shorty headers from Hooker, retains factory cats ie down pipes, easy to install, looks great, slight sound increase and no re tune required. Option 2. would be Z06 stuff if you can locate good used.

 

I really like that idea and plan to use it when I get my GS next year.

 

If I were to go the Z06 manifold and X pipe direction will LS3 parts fit my LS2 (2005)?

 

OE LS3 exhaust on a LS2 would be....... No diffrance.

 

ok is this what i am looking for?
LS7 Z06 manifold with gutted cats off a 2011

 

J, I am curious how you got to 414 RWHP? You did not say you actually added headers, and did not say whether you have the base LS3, Z06, etc. If you got 414 net, that would give you crankshaft HP of ab out 485, which sounds impossible with just headers, tune, and CAI. Can you clarify? I am getting ready to add headers, and was expecting to net just under 400 RWHP with headers and a tune.

 

I was curious about this too. On my ls2 and A6 auto I had airaid CAI, 1 3/4" LONG TUBES w/ corsa sport, "high flow" cats and x pipe.... with an email tune through diablew and did 390 on a MUSTANG dyno.

OP.... headers are a gateway drug to this power addiction! I started with the above... now I have A&A supercharger set up.... lol

 

I'm still curious about this too.

 

I do have a used set of LG Pro's 1 /34 long tubes, 3" mid section, with or with cats. There are two sets of rear connection pipes so you can use a 2.5" or 3" muffler. If anyone is interested in these please PM, they are in as new condition & lightly used.

The longer tube header may have advantage with low speed power & smaller cubic inch, that's why I purchased them for my base LS2.

 

There appears to be a bit of a difference between automatics & manuals; less HP loss with the manual. Keep that in mind when comparing numbers.
I have a Base 2008 C6 (LS3) with the 6 sp manual; added a Corsa Sport axle back exhaust, Callaway Cold Air Intake, & new spark plugs then took it to Mike Norris Motorsports for Dyno Tune..... It dyno'd at 400 HP/384 lb/ft pre-tune, 414 HP/406 lb/ft after the tune - SEE ATTACHED DYNO PRINTOUT.

The assumption of 15% HP loss between engine crank HP and rear wheel HP is an antiquated figure for these modern C6 Vettes.... its more like 10-11%. (Stock 430 crank HP -10% = 387 RWHP) I'm using this formula based upon the following you tube video running a stock 2008 LS3 powered manual trans Vette (like mine) on a dyno which yielded a 388 RWHP run:

You Tube

If you watch that video, they gained 33 RWHP adding Kooks headers, X-pipe, and Corsa exhaust, without a tune. (388 RWHP before, 421 RWHP after)

Mine initially dyno'd at 400 RWHP (with Corsa exhaust & Callaway Intake, provided +12 HP, this makes sense using 388 RWHP as an approximate stock figure...)
Then after the tune it dyno'd at 414 RWHP (+14 HP, proven before-after results)

Using the above info I'm looking at around 460 crank HP (460 - 10% (46) = 414 RWHP.
I know these are APPROX numbers... and dynos differ.... but it is within reason.

Here's the overall plans for my car:
Corsa Sport axle back exhaust - DONE
Callaway CAI - DONE
American Racing Headers or PFADT Headers with corresponding X-pipe - spring 2021
Stage 1 Cam (to maintain good idle & drive qualities) - spring 2022

Should end up around 470 - 480 RWHP when I'm finished, headers & X-pipe adding approx 20 HP (since I already have Corsa exhaust), Stage 1 Cam another 40-50 HP.

I'm sure Ill get some more interesting comments and that's OK... any suggestions are welcome!

 

That dyno was also STD, not SAE, which will result in a higher reading. Ask them to reprint that dyno with SAE and I bet it'll probably be right around 400-405whp.

There's many threads on this, but here's some reading and examples.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomet...on-thread.html