So, I just bought my 2014 Z51 last fall. 18 years ago I was heavy into the Fbody scene and built a pretty stout Heads and Cam car. It seemed clear back then, first thing everyone did after the skip shift eliminator was an air intake, then intake manifold, long tube headers and exhaust.

I kind of hate asking such a generic and open ended question, but I get the impression that many feel that the cost of LT's on the C7 isn't really worth the bang for the buck. I see way more talk on superchargers than on improving air in and air out.

I guess, are the design improvements on the stock air in and out components that much greater than back in the day? Specifically, I see the deal on 1 3/4 Kooks Jet Hot coated headers with X pipe and i thought it was a great deal. Before christmas they only had 5 sets available, thought they'd sell fast, but heck, they still have two sets available.

Is it just not worth the money? Hard to install (you can do it with the engine in the car right, if you get it high enough?) or is it because they are only 1 3/4 instead of 1 7/8 of 2" that they are still available?

I do intend on putting a supercharger on the car, just trying to learn as much as possible first. I'd like to take advantage of someone else selling a factory supercharger and do the work myself, although I would need a good write up to get it done.

 

Most put 1 7/8 on an LT motor , there were two things agaist those headers in my book, they were 1 3/4 and they were not 304 stainless. The reason they gave was because they were coated... they also did not come with GREEN CATs

It depends in what you want out of your C7 ...., I wanted a car that I could drive anywhere but still perform great on the stock street tires. I accomplished this goal with a CAI , a ported intake manifold, 1 7/8 headers and Hi FLOW cats . The way it sits in the heat we have here in GA, with 3500 DA .... it's a mid 11 second car on the factory run craps ...that I can drive on a trip to anywhere and not worry about anything ......

Sure it could be a lot faster if I put skinnies on it along with MT drag radials but then that's not the way I drive it around town ....

Headers are a nice add , along with a tune they are worth 40 hp across a wide section of the power band . My car pulls like a freight train now and if I had to do it over I would ...

I see so many guys get crazy in their quest for power that they get carried away and then dont enjoy the car like they want to or some end up selling

Different strokes for different folks

Dave

 

Thanks Dave. I knew it was pretty open ended, so i appreciate the specific feedback on those headers. Being in Michigan I do not have to really worry about cats.

Of course I agree with the fact that it depends on what I want out of the car. That is very difficult to answer right now since I only had a couple of months to drive it before winter. I do know that my initial impression was that the low rpm power wasn't there like I thought it would be, and I would like a little bit more rumble.

I want to have more power than a stock C7, probably right in line with my friends Z06. Ok, a little more than his car of course. Right now I am thinking LT's and grabbing someones used 1.7L stock supercharger honestly. I know that limits the power the car could produce, but I am in no way out to set any records. It will rarely be raced, just normal street pulls every now and then.

Basically I want a little more than the Z06 levels, but come out ahead on total price. Unfortunately I paid a little more than I should have on the car, but it was exactly what I wanted, so worth it.

Scott

 

Op grab yourself a set of lt headers and catless x pipe (Texas speed) are great if you don’t go 2 inch, get a lt4 blower, and maybe a mild cam swap and you should be ok as far as what you are after. I would not go much further than that bc of the lt1 stock pistons and rings (weak points above 650 rwhp).

 

That is exactly what I was thinking. But I was hoping that someone would say that the 1 3/4 is be a great deal for what I was looking for.

At least this would give me a boost for a couple of years and let me learn more and save. Famous last words probably though, I am sure it won't take much to get the itch for more, but hey, at least I tried.

 

If you plan on doing all you have said go with a set of 2 inch headers. but if you plan all going past 650 rwhp do a set of drop in pistons, Robert

 

Thank you sir, I will keep that in mind and add it to my list of things to research.

So different pistons from the Stingray to the Z06??

Scott

 

Vengeance racing has very affordable drop in pistons. If you go with a blower I’d opt for 1/78 headers.

 

Thanks. I was thinking the same right now. I went to Texas Speed site to read on their 2 inch headers as recommended above, and on their own site they say that they sometimes have clearance issues, so if the buyer has a concern with then, then go with 1 7/8".

 

I think the reason you see a lot of people say just do a blower vs LTs is cost vs benefit. Stock manifolds from C6 Z06/ZR1 on (including all C7s) is actually very good, probably flowing as good/better than shorty headers. Can you get a gain with LTs? Yes, but as mentioned, you see about 40HP from LTs AND a tune (figure at least half that gain is the tune). On the downside, LTs take more space, may rub or cause harmonics that interfere with other systems (decent number of people in C6s had issues with active handling freaking out at certain rpms with LTs), may be prone to bolts backing off causing leaks, etc. So for many, is ~20HP and the cost worth it to do LTs, especially when you could put that money towards a blower, which makes a much bigger HP gain. Also, you absolutely do NOT need LTs to make big power. I was at almost 700RWHP on my 2013 GS (with blower) on stock C6 Z06 manifolds. So in my opinon, if your goal is 650RWHP or less, I'd save the money on LTs and just do the blower.

 

With a blower and other part on the car TOO MAKE it get to the max of the blowers put all. The 2 inch headers will let the motor do let PSI on the boost gauge due to less back pressure. Plus you will get a little less on the lower end & more on the top end were you will need it in my book...Robert

 

If you're interested in doing a factory blower swap Mike at https://west-michigan-automotive-tec...myshopify.com/ has been a great resource for parts, kits and information. I've also got a few crappy videos on YT you can reference a long with a few others who have posted videos about the swap. I'm actually in the process of doing 1 7/8 headers on my lt4 blower swapped lt1 and but I'm not sure what I can expect out of them with the current setup.

 

how soon? I and many others would be interested in the gain of adding just LTs to. Blower set up.

Will you get get a new tune or just dyno to see the numbers?

 

good perspective and I agree.

Does a Z06 have the same manifolds as a stingray?

 

I'm probably just going to street tune when I the headers are installed. Blower only with lt4 injectors and pump it made 630/672.

 

I believe all C7s have the same exhaust manifolds, here's a pic:

 

I would never add a power adder without headers,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Good luck

 

Im an old hot rodder too. The manifolds of the 60's and 70's and probably 80's sucked. Adding headers, even on those lower horsepower cars made a huge difference. As shown in above pictures, the manifolds are decent to good. Are they as good as headers? IMO no.

I was going to put headers on my car and didn't want to install them and I was getting quotes of $1500 for just the install labor. I gave up and I am just going with a CAI, TB/TC, and an X-pipe and be done with it.

Assuming my Stingray was 400 rhp, I am thinking I will be 425 rph after the $1000 I spend on parts that are easy installed by me.

JMO,

Ken

 

Not worth it to me, but I've other toys and the C7 is an alternate dd.

 

1500 for a header install? no way, that seems crazy steep to me. Of course I am assuming it can be done without removing the engine...