American Heritage

We and a few other shops we talk with have all had fitment issues with the hinson headers.
We install a bunch of B&B headers, never any fitment issues and they make great power. I would take a set of b&b headers over hinson, kooks and LG any day. The only one on par quality wise and performance wise to the B&B is the ARH headers.
We install 2 plus sets of headedrs a week so I think we have more experince in this matter than most. Just thought we would share our opinion and experience regarding this matter

Cheaper headers are often time cheaper for a reason and as an install it gets real old dealing with some of these lesser brand headers.

SPDKLZ1

That's what I like to hear! Any idea if the long tube Billy Boat headers fit the later C6 ZO6 years? Do they have a different set or adapters for the length difference for the 12, 13 ZO6?

meinersk

I have both in front of me and 102 much bigger.... big cammed car i would guess could probabally get more then 3 to 4 hp over a stock tb...My stock tb i ported the hell out of..Ive heard 8rwhp lots of times and that makes sence...Stock tb flows 1100 cfm and 102 1500 flows cfm if i remember right? my big cam could use that air and get more then 4 hp...He could sell stock for 125 dollars and not pay 170 for port and ship on stock ....so he has he has almost 300 towards used 102 nw for 425 dollars...so 125 dollars you keeping a stock tb>?....makes no sense to keep stock...and tb he can install since a 5th grader can do it...lol

MTPZ06

Just shoot them an email on their website...their support is pretty responsive in my experience.

Dan_the_C5_Man

This is interesting.. I knew the Billy Boat stuff was good quality-wise (used them before), but I chose Kooks over ARH due to fitment issues (there were a few threads around installation difficulties and tubes hitting the steering shaft, hitting the brake lines, etc. - I saw none of this with my Kooks)..

What is your feedback on the Kooks?

Undy

I always ensure my headers utilize merge collectors to scavenge the exhaust efficiently. I find the cheaper "bargain" headers don't utilize them due to costs.

American Heritage

Kooks makes nice headers that fit well the majority of the time. Sometimes they cut it a little close in regards to the tans cooler lines but they are solid headers that put down great power.

http://www.americanheritageperformance.com/

Undy

Yep, tell me about the Kooks being close to the tranny lines. The lines dumped a ton of fluid over the collector before I caught it. Lucky my Z didn't go up flames!

SPDKLZ1

Confirmed. The Billy Boat long tube headers will not bolt directly to the stock H/X pipe for years 2012 and 2013 as advertised at multiple vendors. An aftermarket x pipe or fabricated piece on each side is needed.

outhouse

So what? the HP gains of a 102 are from stats VS ported stock.



yes stock unported vs 102

SPDKLZ1

Does anyone know what kind of gains I would see, if any, with the previously mentioned mods by going to a true 3" axle back exhaust? I believe mine narrows down to 2.5" before it reaches the mufflers.

2013 Z, Callaway Honker, ported tb, ported MSD, ported heads, mild cam, AR headers/catted x-pipe

outhouse

I was told by the best members here, don't add exhaust like that for HP add it for sound you prefer


Gains are small

Unreal

Zero or near zero.

You do it for sound/looks.

Undy

By the time the exhaust makes it back to the 2 1/2" neck-down at the mufflers the exhaust has cooled down quite a bit and has less volume. That makes the 2 1/2" neck-down a non-issue.

Unreal

When you get into the 1500rwhp range, it becomes an issue. There are several people making 1300-1460rwhp on stock z06 mufflers. I made 1200+ for years on stock z06 muffles. Swapped to b&b fusion 3, and wish I kept stock. Depending on how things go, may go back to stock mufflers.

SPDKLZ1

Thanks guys. I figured the gains were minimal. I already like how it sounds stock so I'm sure I will love it with a completely knew respiratory system.

Michael_D

Unless those stats were obtained on an engine dyno, and not a chassis dyno, they are an irrelevant data point.

0MarylandSpeed

We do not sell American Racing Headers. We do sell Kooks and we can give you the best price you can find, probably even better than ARH. Give us a call @443-730-9428 for the best price. Or check out our sale going on right now (linked Below) If you call we can offer you an even better price than what is listed on our site.

http://marylandspeed.com/getingear-i-24.html

MTPZ06

As is suspected. Again, if it's the B&B LT's, I'd just have a muffler shop cut and weld in a slip fit connection in your OE x-pipe after the cats. If they do it right, they could give you enough adjustment (1.5-2") to swap from stock manifolds/cats to the B&B's by just loosening a couple band clamps. Should be easy, and fairly inexpensive.

SPDKLZ1

I'm most likely going to go with American Racing setup because of this. I'm planning on having DRM do the build. Currently awaiting Cam Motion BTR Stage 2 cam, ported stealth Mamo MSD, and ported stock tb. Getting excited!