ARH mid length headers opinions
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 157
Likes: 45
From: Illinois
ARH mid length headers opinions
Thinking about the ARH mid length headers for my C7 Z51. I am leaning towards these because I would be able to run the factory tune for now to retain my warranty and also these would bolt up to my factory X-pipe to keep the system at a reasonable volume.
Whats everyones opinion of these? I have watched a few videos and they sound great compared to the factory manifolds. I know long tubes will make slightly more power but they are also much louder than I would want it.
Whats everyones opinion of these? I have watched a few videos and they sound great compared to the factory manifolds. I know long tubes will make slightly more power but they are also much louder than I would want it.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 57
Likes: 13
From: San Jose, California
arh mid long term review
had them on my 16 z51 stingray for a few years
first year i used the high flow cats, bolted up to a corsa x pipe, untuned for a year. no check engine lights
I also threw my oem x pipe on the arh mids for a month and sounded great.
the following year I bought the catless connecting pipes for the headers, added a blower, and corsa extremes.
I really like the sound of the mids, I do have some corsa headers that im curious to see how they sound. The mids are fairly expensive but arh makes some good quality stuff bolts on very nicely.
me and two of my friends installed the mids on jackstands in 3 hours. very easy install!
so far in terms of build/weld quality the arh mids outshine the corsa headers all day long.
first year i used the high flow cats, bolted up to a corsa x pipe, untuned for a year. no check engine lights
I also threw my oem x pipe on the arh mids for a month and sounded great.
the following year I bought the catless connecting pipes for the headers, added a blower, and corsa extremes.
I really like the sound of the mids, I do have some corsa headers that im curious to see how they sound. The mids are fairly expensive but arh makes some good quality stuff bolts on very nicely.
me and two of my friends installed the mids on jackstands in 3 hours. very easy install!
so far in terms of build/weld quality the arh mids outshine the corsa headers all day long.
Last edited by Michaelh007; Jul 7, 2020 at 12:57 AM. Reason: adding install time
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,048
Likes: 1,478
From: South Florida
I've had them on both of my C7's and I think they are great. I live in the city and Long Tubes would just be ungodly loud with my setup. I currently have the ARH Mids catted, with catless Borla X pipe. This allows them to be quite loud if I drive it hard but sounds great driving normal. I can still put it in Tour Mode and have it whisper quiet on the highway without a hint of drone.
If you keep the factory X pipe with secondary cats, they will sound like stock everywhere except full throttle. You will notice a better and louder noise at WOT. I think the best setup for mids is a catless X pipe. It can be pretty loud if you want it to be and also pretty quiet. But it won't be crazy loud like Long Tubes can be.
If you keep the factory X pipe with secondary cats, they will sound like stock everywhere except full throttle. You will notice a better and louder noise at WOT. I think the best setup for mids is a catless X pipe. It can be pretty loud if you want it to be and also pretty quiet. But it won't be crazy loud like Long Tubes can be.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 157
Likes: 45
From: Illinois
had them on my 16 z51 stingray for a few years
first year i used the high flow cats, bolted up to a corsa x pipe, untuned for a year. no check engine lights
I also threw my oem x pipe on the arh mids for a month and sounded great.
the following year I bought the catless connecting pipes for the headers, added a blower, and corsa extremes.
I really like the sound of the mids, I do have some corsa headers that im curious to see how they sound. The mids are fairly expensive but arh makes some good quality stuff bolts on very nicely.
me and two of my friends installed the mids on jackstands in 3 hours. very easy install!
so far in terms of build/weld quality the arh mids outshine the corsa headers all day long.
first year i used the high flow cats, bolted up to a corsa x pipe, untuned for a year. no check engine lights
I also threw my oem x pipe on the arh mids for a month and sounded great.
the following year I bought the catless connecting pipes for the headers, added a blower, and corsa extremes.
I really like the sound of the mids, I do have some corsa headers that im curious to see how they sound. The mids are fairly expensive but arh makes some good quality stuff bolts on very nicely.
me and two of my friends installed the mids on jackstands in 3 hours. very easy install!
so far in terms of build/weld quality the arh mids outshine the corsa headers all day long.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 157
Likes: 45
From: Illinois
I've had them on both of my C7's and I think they are great. I live in the city and Long Tubes would just be ungodly loud with my setup. I currently have the ARH Mids catted, with catless Borla X pipe. This allows them to be quite loud if I drive it hard but sounds great driving normal. I can still put it in Tour Mode and have it whisper quiet on the highway without a hint of drone.
If you keep the factory X pipe with secondary cats, they will sound like stock everywhere except full throttle. You will notice a better and louder noise at WOT. I think the best setup for mids is a catless X pipe. It can be pretty loud if you want it to be and also pretty quiet. But it won't be crazy loud like Long Tubes can be.
If you keep the factory X pipe with secondary cats, they will sound like stock everywhere except full throttle. You will notice a better and louder noise at WOT. I think the best setup for mids is a catless X pipe. It can be pretty loud if you want it to be and also pretty quiet. But it won't be crazy loud like Long Tubes can be.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,673
Likes: 2,728
From: Atlanta GA
So just another view , Mids with no tune really do not have much of a power gain on a stock LT1
I have long tubes with high flow cats and NPP mufflers .. and my car is no louder under normal driving conditions than my stock setup , no drone no crazy loud at normal throttle as a matter of fact I usually leave the NPP in the open position most of the time and only close it if I am leaving the house real early in the AM to keep my neighbors happy
Now wide open throttle , that's a different story but isn't that what we want ?
No tune is needed just get the 90 Degree O2 sensors adapters for the rear O2 and you will not have any CEL
Power gain with Long Tubes and no tune is about 20 HP but your fuel trims will be all over the board and so will the power
There is one way to tune it and not void your warranty , Email me thru this forum
Dave
I have long tubes with high flow cats and NPP mufflers .. and my car is no louder under normal driving conditions than my stock setup , no drone no crazy loud at normal throttle as a matter of fact I usually leave the NPP in the open position most of the time and only close it if I am leaving the house real early in the AM to keep my neighbors happy
Now wide open throttle , that's a different story but isn't that what we want ?
No tune is needed just get the 90 Degree O2 sensors adapters for the rear O2 and you will not have any CEL
Power gain with Long Tubes and no tune is about 20 HP but your fuel trims will be all over the board and so will the power
There is one way to tune it and not void your warranty , Email me thru this forum
Dave
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 157
Likes: 45
From: Illinois
Ok,
I do realize that you will gain more with tuning. I like the fact that with mids I can run it without a tune without any issue and tune later to get more power. I know I’d be leaving some HP on the table but I plan on supercharging it anyway. I’m more interested in better sound and not making it crazy loud.
I do realize that you will gain more with tuning. I like the fact that with mids I can run it without a tune without any issue and tune later to get more power. I know I’d be leaving some HP on the table but I plan on supercharging it anyway. I’m more interested in better sound and not making it crazy loud.
So just another view , Mids with no tune really do not have much of a power gain on a stock LT1
I have long tubes with high flow cats and NPP mufflers .. and my car is no louder under normal driving conditions than my stock setup , no drone no crazy loud at normal throttle as a matter of fact I usually leave the NPP in the open position most of the time and only close it if I am leaving the house real early in the AM to keep my neighbors happy
Now wide open throttle , that's a different story but isn't that what we want ?
No tune is needed just get the 90 Degree O2 sensors adapters for the rear O2 and you will not have any CEL
https://www.amazon.com/Degree-Oxygen...a-906429721157
Power gain with Long Tubes and no tune is about 20 HP but your fuel trims will be all over the board and so will the power
There is one way to tune it and not void your warranty , Email me thru this forum
Dave
I have long tubes with high flow cats and NPP mufflers .. and my car is no louder under normal driving conditions than my stock setup , no drone no crazy loud at normal throttle as a matter of fact I usually leave the NPP in the open position most of the time and only close it if I am leaving the house real early in the AM to keep my neighbors happy
Now wide open throttle , that's a different story but isn't that what we want ?
No tune is needed just get the 90 Degree O2 sensors adapters for the rear O2 and you will not have any CEL
https://www.amazon.com/Degree-Oxygen...a-906429721157
Power gain with Long Tubes and no tune is about 20 HP but your fuel trims will be all over the board and so will the power
There is one way to tune it and not void your warranty , Email me thru this forum
Dave
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,673
Likes: 2,728
From: Atlanta GA
Ok,
I do realize that you will gain more with tuning. I like the fact that with mids I can run it without a tune without any issue and tune later to get more power. I know I’d be leaving some HP on the table but I plan on supercharging it anyway. I’m more interested in better sound and not making it crazy loud.
I do realize that you will gain more with tuning. I like the fact that with mids I can run it without a tune without any issue and tune later to get more power. I know I’d be leaving some HP on the table but I plan on supercharging it anyway. I’m more interested in better sound and not making it crazy loud.
No matter if you do mids or long you should tune but i get it
And I don't know where u are getting this idea that long tubes are so much louder that Mids . On a stock LT , If u keep the cats they are not much louder .... i have heard them both
good luck with what ever ur choice is!
Dave
Last edited by Dcasole; Jul 8, 2020 at 06:42 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,048
Likes: 1,478
From: South Florida
Thats what I’m afraid of with going with long tubes. I just don’t want the car that loud. I want it to sound better when I get on it than the OEM manifolds. Unsure if I will go with a cat less x pipe yet. I also think the mids should fit perfect and be an easy install.
You can always keep the factory X pipe and change it later if you want more volume. If you're willing to tune the car you can pick up a bit of power with the Mids. But even untuned you will get a little more kick. Long tubes vs Mids tune for tune is about a 8-10hp/tq difference.
If you install Long Tubes without a tune you will change the drivability behavior of the car. It will feel kind of sloppy and weak at part throttle at times. The ONLY way around this is to tune the car properly. This is much less of an issue if untuned with Mids. So its a trade off of what you really want. Less volume, no tune, and no drive-ability changes means Mids are likely the right choice.
Last edited by Internets_Ninja; Jul 8, 2020 at 11:24 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,048
Likes: 1,478
From: South Florida
You are missing the point , you don't need to tune with the long tubes either, if u are going to go thru all that work u might as well just do long tubes especially since u plan on supercharging ...
No matter if you do mids or long you should tune but i get it
And I don't know where u are getting this idea that long tubes are so much louder that Mids . On a stock LT , If u keep the cats they are not much louder .... i have heard them both
good luck with what ever ur choice is!
Dave
No matter if you do mids or long you should tune but i get it
And I don't know where u are getting this idea that long tubes are so much louder that Mids . On a stock LT , If u keep the cats they are not much louder .... i have heard them both
good luck with what ever ur choice is!
Dave
Also mids vs LT's at part throttle and full throttle is def a sound difference. It's not a huge one, but there is still a difference, particularly in Track Mode.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 485
From: Moberly, Mo
I was looking at some old notes and time slips and I ran the stock exhaust all the way down to 10.00s@139 and then the ring lands took a ****. Didn't run long tubes till we built a new forged short block that winter and got a good deal on some long tubes so decided to change them out with aftermarket cats which clogged up and almost caused a motor failure, cut them mothers off at the Fest and went a couple rounds with those big band clamps holding the exhaust together till I could get home to get everything welded up. No aftermarket cats for me, ever.
Last edited by 99vetteran; Jul 8, 2020 at 01:28 PM.
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
From: Washington State
Hey guys. How about the ARH catless mid length headers on a stock Z06? I’ve tried posting to one of Higgs FS posts, since he had and sold his, but haven’t received a reply.
I have an opportunity to buy a used set. I don’t want to change the Factory tune for a couple more years, but I wouldn’t mind a little more of a radical sound and a few hp. I only have an Attack Blue air filter and mix a little Torco in with each tank of 92 at this time. I’ll get them Jet Hot coated, if I purchase them.
thanks,
Levi
I have an opportunity to buy a used set. I don’t want to change the Factory tune for a couple more years, but I wouldn’t mind a little more of a radical sound and a few hp. I only have an Attack Blue air filter and mix a little Torco in with each tank of 92 at this time. I’ll get them Jet Hot coated, if I purchase them.
thanks,
Levi
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 168
Likes: 91
Thinking about the ARH mid length headers for my C7 Z51. I am leaning towards these because I would be able to run the factory tune for now to retain my warranty and also these would bolt up to my factory X-pipe to keep the system at a reasonable volume.
Whats everyones opinion of these? I have watched a few videos and they sound great compared to the factory manifolds. I know long tubes will make slightly more power but they are also much louder than I would want it.
Whats everyones opinion of these? I have watched a few videos and they sound great compared to the factory manifolds. I know long tubes will make slightly more power but they are also much louder than I would want it.
EDIT: I should also note that since last year I've put 15k miles on my car -- its my daily driver and therefore I can say that i've got experience with these headers.
Last edited by ajcarson11; Jul 18, 2020 at 12:00 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,673
Likes: 2,728
From: Atlanta GA
That's what we are all here for right , answer questions and provide insight from real world users ......
Dave