Header question
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 1
From: Toronto Ontario
Header question
Me again,
I will always research my upgrades significantly prior to pulling the trigger (or not). On note everyone was so helpful with advice on choice of exhaust systems.
Man, modding is like a disease!
Headers are an enigma to me. There seem to be opposing camps saying they provide a benefit while others say that the benefit is so marginal to not be worth it. While I believe that the engine may breath better, warranties may be affected and heat increased.
Obviously I am vacillating on this. Can the enlightened group offer me some further advice or commentary? Thanks everyone.
I will always research my upgrades significantly prior to pulling the trigger (or not). On note everyone was so helpful with advice on choice of exhaust systems.
Man, modding is like a disease!
Headers are an enigma to me. There seem to be opposing camps saying they provide a benefit while others say that the benefit is so marginal to not be worth it. While I believe that the engine may breath better, warranties may be affected and heat increased.
Obviously I am vacillating on this. Can the enlightened group offer me some further advice or commentary? Thanks everyone.
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
Pierre, an internal combustion engine is basically a big air pump; when you make it easier to get the fresh air in and exhaust air out, the more effiecient it will be and more HP it will make. A stock engine can always gain from things like an air intake and headers/exhaust, but the gains will be relatively marginal; that being said, if you plan to mod your engine slowly over time for more and more HP, they are the best mods to make to lay the groundwork for the future. Are headers worth the expense on a stock engine? Thats a question only you can answer, it's certainly not going to hurt or hinder your engine. I would do it, because I like to squeeze every HP I can from an engine, and it also changes the tone of the exhaust in a nice way, but thats just me!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,300
Likes: 4
From: Mississauga, Ontario Corvettes were built to be driven...not trailered
St Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
Pierre, we'll talk more on the weekend but here's my Cole's Notes version.
For starters, both camps are right. If you put headers on a stock setup, the increase will be marginal....the reason being is your not letting in/processing more air. Think of your engine as a 2" pipe and you pour water through it...given the size of the opening receiving the water and the size of the opening exiting the water, your volume is, say "x". Now expand the side exiting the water to 3"...while the flow might be a bit better, you're still pouring water in at the 2" opening...getting my drift???
So unless you plan to do intake, air box, TB, and heads, the header install will generate "some" more power but the real gains will be down the road if you modify further...careful, its a slippery sloap once you get on it
Like I said, we'll talk on the weekend
For starters, both camps are right. If you put headers on a stock setup, the increase will be marginal....the reason being is your not letting in/processing more air. Think of your engine as a 2" pipe and you pour water through it...given the size of the opening receiving the water and the size of the opening exiting the water, your volume is, say "x". Now expand the side exiting the water to 3"...while the flow might be a bit better, you're still pouring water in at the 2" opening...getting my drift???
So unless you plan to do intake, air box, TB, and heads, the header install will generate "some" more power but the real gains will be down the road if you modify further...careful, its a slippery sloap once you get on it
Like I said, we'll talk on the weekend
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 10
From: Kitchener Ontario
Pierre, Pierre, Pierre. You've already starting modding....there is no turning back for you now! There is no trigger to pull...it's been pulled!
Seriously the best advice I can give you is to figure out 'where you want to end up' with your mods. Not having a plan will end up costing you double in the end.
Seriously the best advice I can give you is to figure out 'where you want to end up' with your mods. Not having a plan will end up costing you double in the end.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,300
Likes: 4
From: Mississauga, Ontario Corvettes were built to be driven...not trailered
St Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 1
From: Toronto Ontario
Pierre, Pierre, Pierre. You've already starting modding....there is no turning back for you now! There is no trigger to pull...it's been pulled!
Seriously the best advice I can give you is to figure out 'where you want to end up' with your mods. Not having a plan will end up costing you double in the end.
Seriously the best advice I can give you is to figure out 'where you want to end up' with your mods. Not having a plan will end up costing you double in the end.
Getting there is half the fun. This is why I am doing as much research as I can to determine where want to be. My objective is for better throttle response ultimately while improving gas economy - sounds weird doesn't it. I really like to be able to get good range on a tank while having better response.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 1
From: Toronto Ontario
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 1
From: Toronto Ontario
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,704
Likes: 6
From: Toronto
Greg,
Getting there is half the fun. This is why I am doing as much research as I can to determine where want to be. My objective is for better throttle response ultimately while improving gas economy - sounds weird doesn't it. I really like to be able to get good range on a tank while having better response.
Getting there is half the fun. This is why I am doing as much research as I can to determine where want to be. My objective is for better throttle response ultimately while improving gas economy - sounds weird doesn't it. I really like to be able to get good range on a tank while having better response.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,474
Likes: 50
From: = From Toronto = 9/11/01 FDNY 343 Never Forget
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'13-'14
Safety Car
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,615
Likes: 2
From: waterloo ontario
St. Jude Donor '08
Headers on a stock car are worth around 10-15 rwhp-with around the same in torque. You have to understand that these cars have a nice tuned manifold from the factory-not the "logs" of years gone by. 10-15 is quite a shock for the average cost of headers which go for around anywhere from $1000-$2000 for these cars. And don't be fooled by all the dyno tests that show "giant" 30 rwhp gains-those dyno "claims" are easily adjusted. You have to look at your car like a system-what goes in must come out. So follow the system-get more air in-pump it out and you've got good appreciable gains. Headers really shine with a cam-then they can do there job which is to scavenge the exhaust from the cam overlap-which stock cams have very lttle of. When i get a chace later today I'll put something together for everyone with C5's and C6's that will help shed some light on modding your car to save you time and money.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,728
Likes: 1
From: Maple
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 1
From: Toronto Ontario
Headers on a stock car are worth around 10-15 rwhp-with around the same in torque. You have to understand that these cars have a nice tuned manifold from the factory-not the "logs" of years gone by. 10-15 is quite a shock for the average cost of headers which go for around anywhere from $1000-$2000 for these cars. And don't be fooled by all the dyno tests that show "giant" 30 rwhp gains-those dyno "claims" are easily adjusted. You have to look at your car like a system-what goes in must come out. So follow the system-get more air in-pump it out and you've got good appreciable gains. Headers really shine with a cam-then they can do there job which is to scavenge the exhaust from the cam overlap-which stock cams have very lttle of. When i get a chace later today I'll put something together for everyone with C5's and C6's that will help shed some light on modding your car to save you time and money.
Everyone I have met speaks of you with great esteem for your knowledge and experience. I am a real nubie and have picked up more "disinformation" from TV shows and the wrong sources so anything you may provide will be greatly appreciated.
I do wish to mod and tune my car, but to meet my expectations. Like I said earlier, I am interested in better response. That does not need to mean sick RWHP and RWT. I am not trying to build a "Ferrari/Porsche/BMW killer" although the stock vehicle I am sure can already accomplish plenty of that.
Thank you for offering advice.