An honest header opinion
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 227
Likes: 119
From: Jasper Alabama
An honest header opinion
Okay guys, I have come to the point where the stock performance of my base C7 has become mundane. I wanted to get honest answers to a few questions before investing money into the car. It seems the price of the ZO6 C7 will not be within the mid 50s for at least another two years. So, with that being said, I have thought of a few performance enhancements, but nothing insane. The car is a 14' non-z51 6spd Auto. I do have the extended warranty, but I believe the service managers would overlook exhaust work at my local dealership.
Question 1: I have read into the green cats from Kooks, but the price seem awfully steep versus reward. With a regular high flow cat from a provider and NO tune will the car pick up enough RWHP to make it worth while? Will it run too rich and just negate all of the gains?
Question 2: I crawled the threads and saw multiple opinions on the CEL light and tuning. Will the car be completely safe with no tuning and a header setup and xpipe on stock mufflers? I do not want to tune the car, as that will be an instant warranty void.
Question 1: I have read into the green cats from Kooks, but the price seem awfully steep versus reward. With a regular high flow cat from a provider and NO tune will the car pick up enough RWHP to make it worth while? Will it run too rich and just negate all of the gains?
Question 2: I crawled the threads and saw multiple opinions on the CEL light and tuning. Will the car be completely safe with no tuning and a header setup and xpipe on stock mufflers? I do not want to tune the car, as that will be an instant warranty void.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 546
Likes: 89
Okay guys, I have come to the point where the stock performance of my base C7 has become mundane. I wanted to get honest answers to a few questions before investing money into the car. It seems the price of the ZO6 C7 will not be within the mid 50s for at least another two years. So, with that being said, I have thought of a few performance enhancements, but nothing insane. The car is a 14' non-z51 6spd Auto. I do have the extended warranty, but I believe the service managers would overlook exhaust work at my local dealership.
Question 1: I have read into the green cats from Kooks, but the price seem awfully steep versus reward. With a regular high flow cat from a provider and NO tune will the car pick up enough RWHP to make it worth while? Will it run too rich and just negate all of the gains?
Question 2: I crawled the threads and saw multiple opinions on the CEL light and tuning. Will the car be completely safe with no tuning and a header setup and xpipe on stock mufflers? I do not want to tune the car, as that will be an instant warranty void.
Question 1: I have read into the green cats from Kooks, but the price seem awfully steep versus reward. With a regular high flow cat from a provider and NO tune will the car pick up enough RWHP to make it worth while? Will it run too rich and just negate all of the gains?
Question 2: I crawled the threads and saw multiple opinions on the CEL light and tuning. Will the car be completely safe with no tuning and a header setup and xpipe on stock mufflers? I do not want to tune the car, as that will be an instant warranty void.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 193
Likes: 13
From: Mesa AZ
I did ARH mids with high-flow cats, Corsa X, B&B Fusion rear section and an aFe intake. No tune. No CELs. Definite SOTP gains and the sound is amazing. It was well worth it, in my opinion. Good luck!
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,511
Likes: 22
From: Southern MD
When your ready to order your exhaust keep Maryland Speed in mind. We sell a lot of exhaust systems and have great pricing. Just give us a call @443-730-9428! Or check out our current Holiday Sale!
http://marylandspeed.com/holiday-i-24.html
Your best option is to give us a call as we can give you a better price than listed on our site.
http://marylandspeed.com/holiday-i-24.html
Your best option is to give us a call as we can give you a better price than listed on our site.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,709
Likes: 7,102
From: Fulshear, TX
If you want a more warranty-friendly option, look into getting a set of OEM manifolds ported. They are stock-appearing and provide nearly the same power gains at less than half the cost compared to the ARH mids w/cats (same whp gain, but 6 wtq less) per my testing and another locals (both done on the same Dynojet dyno (21st Century Muscle Cars in Addison, TX).
Here is my thread on the project: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...manifolds.html
Here is my thread on the project: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...manifolds.html
Last edited by Kracka; Dec 22, 2016 at 11:25 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,768
Likes: 297
From: Plano TX
If you want a more warranty-friendly option, look into getting a set of OEM manifolds ported. They are stock-appearing and provide nearly the same power gains at less than half the cost compared to the ARH mids w/cats (same whp gain, but 6 wtq less) per my testing and another locals (both done on the same Dynojet dyno (21st Century Muscle Cars in Addison, TX).
Here is my thread on the project: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...manifolds.html
Here is my thread on the project: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...manifolds.html
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 227
Likes: 119
From: Jasper Alabama
Thanks for all of the suggestions guys! I will for sure be taking a look at some catted ARH mids. As for the x-pipe, I'm curious why someone hasnt punched the catalytic converters out and used the stock pipe. It seems it would make close to the same power versus aftermarket x-pipes, and provide a great sound. I think I am going to keep my stock NPP exhaust.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,709
Likes: 7,102
From: Fulshear, TX
Thanks for all of the suggestions guys! I will for sure be taking a look at some catted ARH mids. As for the x-pipe, I'm curious why someone hasnt punched the catalytic converters out and used the stock pipe. It seems it would make close to the same power versus aftermarket x-pipes, and provide a great sound. I think I am going to keep my stock NPP exhaust.
Last edited by Kracka; Dec 23, 2016 at 08:57 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,072
Likes: 563
From: Mount Airy NC
C7 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I concur with Kracka about the stock ported exhaust manifolds. I have them on my supercharged 2015 z51 vette and can't be happier.
FYI, I have a set of stock manifolds sitting in my garage if you need or anyone needs a core set.
FYI, I have a set of stock manifolds sitting in my garage if you need or anyone needs a core set.
Last edited by chefcg1; Dec 23, 2016 at 09:50 AM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 567
Likes: 28
From: Arizona
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,709
Likes: 7,102
From: Fulshear, TX
I gained +11WHP/+8WTQ with the ported manifolds alone (stock primary cats still in place). The catless Borla X-pipe that eliminates the secondary cats is supposedly worth another +5/+5. Maybe another +20 for a custom tune? That is pure speculation. I'm custom remote tuned by DiabLew now, but don't have any before/after dyno charts from that.
Last edited by Kracka; Dec 23, 2016 at 11:55 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,180
Likes: 233
From: Minnetrista Minnesota
I had Kracka's set up for a year or so with tune by DiabLew. Not bad at all, nice improvement over stock. But now with long tubes and a good tune it is a beast. I came from a cammed C6Z that had 500 rwhp and pulled very hard so I had a good reference point. My C7 isn't as strong as the Z but it is now enough to keep me entertained.
Of course I am now plotting out the next round. Heads/cam or centri
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 193
Likes: 13
From: Mesa AZ
ARH headers alone dyno'd at +26 RWHP. (There's a thread somewhere on this forum with that number) Seemed like a pretty good gain to me. I figure I picked up at least 30 with the headers, Corsa X, Fusion exhaust and aFe intake. I can definitely feel the gains, and it's warranty-safe.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 7,001
Likes: 988
From: lake havasu city arizona
When your ready to order your exhaust keep Maryland Speed in mind. We sell a lot of exhaust systems and have great pricing. Just give us a call @443-730-9428! Or check out our current Holiday Sale!
http://marylandspeed.com/holiday-i-24.html
Your best option is to give us a call as we can give you a better price than listed on our site.
http://marylandspeed.com/holiday-i-24.html
Your best option is to give us a call as we can give you a better price than listed on our site.
Plan on doing install myself but undecided about who will tune, either Diablo Lew or local Dyno shop.
Buddy is getting a lift for Christmas
NSF