Thoughts on mid length headers?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 62
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From: Ohio
Thoughts on mid length headers?
Hey all! I'm completely new and clueless to the world of mods but looking for some ways to bump up horse power a bit. I've heard headers with a tune would be a solid choice but want to keep it Ohio emissions legal so I don't have to play that game. Don't think there are any long tubes that are emissions legal. I've heard shorties pretty much aren't worth it but what about mid length headers? I have the corsa x pipe and heard the ARH mid length will bolt up to the corsa x pipe. Do mid length headers retain the cats? Do they still require a tune? Is it even worth it or are there easier/cheaper HP mods I should go for first? I appreciate how helpful you all are, thank you!
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 220
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From: Jacksonville, Florida
Hey all! I'm completely new and clueless to the world of mods but looking for some ways to bump up horse power a bit. I've heard headers with a tune would be a solid choice but want to keep it Ohio emissions legal so I don't have to play that game. Don't think there are any long tubes that are emissions legal. I've heard shorties pretty much aren't worth it but what about mid length headers? I have the corsa x pipe and heard the ARH mid length will bolt up to the corsa x pipe. Do mid length headers retain the cats? Do they still require a tune? Is it even worth it or are there easier/cheaper HP mods I should go for first? I appreciate how helpful you all are, thank you!
Hey man I'm on the fence right now about buying mid lengths ARH. They will bolt up to your CORSA X pipe. You can purchase them without and with cats. With cats cost a little more. My first mod i went with was Corsa X pipe and AFE intake. Hopefully that helps. ARH says that there mids with cats won't throw a CEL or need to be tuned.( not sure how true that is) Good luck with your mods!
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From: Ohio
Safety Car
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From: South Florida
I had ARH mids on my last C7. I loved them for the sound. There was a slight power increase. I did mids because I already had full borla X pipe and catback and didn't want to change the Xpipe. I know I left a small amount of HP on the table by going Mids vs Longs but I don't street race or track race so I didn't care.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,297
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From: Raleigh Suburbs
Hey all! I'm completely new and clueless to the world of mods but looking for some ways to bump up horse power a bit. I've heard headers with a tune would be a solid choice but want to keep it Ohio emissions legal so I don't have to play that game. Don't think there are any long tubes that are emissions legal. I've heard shorties pretty much aren't worth it but what about mid length headers? I have the corsa x pipe and heard the ARH mid length will bolt up to the corsa x pipe. Do mid length headers retain the cats? Do they still require a tune? Is it even worth it or are there easier/cheaper HP mods I should go for first? I appreciate how helpful you all are, thank you!
Second, it's still illegal (at least in CA), where the real reason its not emissions compliant, is it moves the stock location of the cats, which is illegal.
Sure you will gain some ponies and they will sound louder as well, just like long tubes, but IMO not really worth it unless you go long tubes. In my case I'm planning a CA legal setup, so CARB legal shorties are the option I'll have to stick with.
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From: Ohio
Mids have been popular since MAC mids for LS1. Not highly recommended. First of all if you are going to install headers, doesn't make sense to leave so much power on the table, because mids just do not have the scavenging of a long tube. I.e. might as well go long tube.
Second, it's still illegal (at least in CA), where the real reason its not emissions compliant, is it moves the stock location of the cats, which is illegal.
Sure you will gain some ponies and they will sound louder as well, just like long tubes, but IMO not really worth it unless you go long tubes. In my case I'm planning a CA legal setup, so CARB legal shorties are the option I'll have to stick with.
Second, it's still illegal (at least in CA), where the real reason its not emissions compliant, is it moves the stock location of the cats, which is illegal.
Sure you will gain some ponies and they will sound louder as well, just like long tubes, but IMO not really worth it unless you go long tubes. In my case I'm planning a CA legal setup, so CARB legal shorties are the option I'll have to stick with.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,297
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From: Raleigh Suburbs
Thank you for the feedback! Sounds like it's not worth it to get mid length since it's no more emissions passable than long tube, besides wanting to keep my x pipe. I'm not in CA but not sure I want to play the game of figuring out how to pass emissions with a long tube. I'll need to talk to a tuner then and see if I want to keep going from there. Thank you all for your help.
Yeah talk to one of your local tuners, good plan. Shorties are still a great way to drop some weight off the front of the car, as aftermarket shorties are several pounds lighter than OEM iron manifolds.
Also note I wouldn't worry much about fitting to an xpipe, any reputable muffler shop can cut and weld up some flanges, so you can connect them properly, and as well remove them easily for repair work etc.
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Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14
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Had Stock NPP it wasn't bad...
- Added Borla X-Pipe... nice improvement in snap, crackle, and Pop factor + some volume
- Next Added ARH mid-length Headers w/High-Flow CATs... MUCH improved sound (Still with NPP)
I loved the STOCK NPP sound and volume so much that I debated for 2 years whether to add after Market (Axle back because I didn't want to drop 2 grand + on a tone change....
- This year at Carlisle I added Borla ATAK Axle back.... I've included videos below. While at the track the spectators actually had to stop talking as I went by because they honestly could not hear one another. I was told it was the loudest of all the cars that day... AND, I still have STEALTH Mode when I get home
I can only say that Mics do not do the exhausts justice, NOT even close.
Stock - Stealth then Track Mode
Borla X-Pipe - Stealth then Track Mode
Borla X-Pipe and ARH Mid-Lengths with Hif Flow CATs - at the Dyno
and now with the Borla ATAKs Plus the whole exhaust completely modified. The Mic is hanging down by the exhaust tips for the in car track video, and if just the Iphone mic for the drive by-
Hope that helps,
L1FRDOG
Good Luck,
Dave
"L1FRDOG"
- Added Borla X-Pipe... nice improvement in snap, crackle, and Pop factor + some volume
- Next Added ARH mid-length Headers w/High-Flow CATs... MUCH improved sound (Still with NPP)
I loved the STOCK NPP sound and volume so much that I debated for 2 years whether to add after Market (Axle back because I didn't want to drop 2 grand + on a tone change....
- This year at Carlisle I added Borla ATAK Axle back.... I've included videos below. While at the track the spectators actually had to stop talking as I went by because they honestly could not hear one another. I was told it was the loudest of all the cars that day... AND, I still have STEALTH Mode when I get home
I can only say that Mics do not do the exhausts justice, NOT even close.Stock - Stealth then Track Mode
Borla X-Pipe - Stealth then Track Mode
Borla X-Pipe and ARH Mid-Lengths with Hif Flow CATs - at the Dyno
and now with the Borla ATAKs Plus the whole exhaust completely modified. The Mic is hanging down by the exhaust tips for the in car track video, and if just the Iphone mic for the drive by-
Hope that helps,
L1FRDOG
Good Luck,
Dave
"L1FRDOG"
Last edited by L1FRDOG; Apr 22, 2020 at 04:18 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: South Florida
I had ARH mids with hi flow cats, Borla X pipe and Borla S-Typre rear on my 2015 Z51. Was such a beautiful sound and I miss it on my Z06. I have the catless X and at some point I want to add ARH mids again for the sound. I don't really care about the extra 10HP the Long Tubes would add, its already got enough power and I don't race it.
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I am curious as to where this testing is required in the state.
