Headers and tune or Procharger system?

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Apr 5, 2026 | 08:48 AM

onetechyguy

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Instructor

Joined: Mar 2017

Posts: 157

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From: Illinois

Headers and tune or Procharger system?

Hi, Currently have a stock C7 Z51 with the LT1 and 7spd. Been thinking about ordering the Procharger kit with the P1X and installing it myself and run it with the stock manifolds to save money. I noticed ARH has a sale on their Headers and I’m wondering if maybe I should just get the headers and get a tune vs getting the Procharger system? The car is only driven on the street. Headers with cats & tune would be around 4k if I install them myself vs around 8k for the Procharger. Seems like the biggest bank for the buck would be the Procharger. Thoughts on which way to go?

Apr 5, 2026 | 08:55 AM

SteveJewels

Drifting

Joined: Aug 2017

Posts: 1,845

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From: Dayton, OH

Quote:

Originally Posted by onetechyguy

Seems like the biggest bank for the buck would be the Procharger.

You have perfectly answered your own question.

Apr 6, 2026 | 11:09 AM

C7&7

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 7,049

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From: DFW TX

Is headers, procharger, and 1 tune an option? You're going to do it all anyone at some point, so just do it and tune it once.

Apr 8, 2026 | 05:51 PM

Dcasole

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2014

Posts: 8,672

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From: Atlanta GA

You can't go wrong with the procharger.and a tune, it is by far the easiest most reliable way to gain a whole lot of hp without all the drivablity issues that can sometimes happen when trying to gain the same amount of HP on a NA build ...

Now add a set of headers ,high flow cats, a ported intake and a "spicier" tune and you just raised the smiles per miles by 10X

If you are good with tools its also one of the easiest kits to intall

Dave

Last edited by Dcasole; Apr 11, 2026 at 12:52 PM.

Apr 11, 2026 | 08:29 AM

Gary barnes 1098

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Joined: Sep 2016

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What Dave said.
Have about 30k on my procharger installed 14 7spd.
Stock internals.
Headers,Meth,E85.
The car is absolutely perfect for me. My c8 don’t leave the garage.👍

Apr 11, 2026 | 12:55 PM

Dcasole

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2014

Posts: 8,672

Likes: 2,726

From: Atlanta GA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary barnes 1098

What Dave said about 30k on my procharger installed 14 7spd.
Stock internals.
Headers,Meth,E85.
The car is absolutely perfect for me. My c8 don’t leave the garage.👍

@Gary barnes 1098

You were my inspiration!! Thanks for all the help !

May 4, 2026 | 04:16 PM

Lux

Pro

Joined: Feb 2023

Posts: 576

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Could prob save some money if you went with an A&A kit instead of a procharger. The Vortech/Paxton blowers are really nice.

Yesterday | 12:37 PM

VYMIKE

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Joined: Aug 2014

Posts: 94

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If you're going that route, I'd do high flow headers with the Procharger kit and a tune.

I am doing the following mods to my 2014 Stingray Z51 M7:
Shop Labor -

CAM PACKAGE
-CLEANED / RESEALED ENGINE AS
NECESSARY
-INSTALLED KOOKS CATTED
HEADERS AND X PIPE
-REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND
WIRES. GAPPED TO TUNER SPEC.
-INSTALLED IMPROVED RACING
CATCH CAN KIT
-CHANGED ENGINE OIL AND FILTER
-EXCHANGED ALL FLUIDS AS
NECESSARY
-INSTALLED MONSTER CLUTCH KIT,
SPEED BLEEDER, AND SLAVE
CYLINDER, SHIMMED AS
NECESSARY.
-EXCHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID
-EXCHANGED REAR DIFFERENTIAL
FLUID
-INSTALLED CPR RADIATOR
EXPANSION TANK
-INSTALLED ELEVATED FLEX FUEL
KIT

Labor rate for services performed in
shop. (Mechanical, diagnostic, install,
etc..)

29 hours@ $195.00 $5,655.00

Parts:
LT1 DRY SUMP CAM PACKAGE
CUSTOM SPEC
CAMSHAFT
-JOHNSON LIFTERS
.660 SPRINGS AND TITANIUM RETAINERS
-LIFTER TRAYS AND BOLTS
-HARDENED PUSHRODS
-CAM RETAINING PLATE AND BOLTS
-CAM GEAR AND ARP BOLTS
-ARP HEAD STUDS
-OEM GM HEAD GASKETS LT1 (NA)
-CHE TRUNION UPGRADE
-KATECH VVT DELETE FRONT COVER
AND GUIDE
-KATECH DOD DELETE VALLEY
COVER
-FRONT GASKET SET WITH WATER
PUMP GASKETS
-OIL PAN / PUMP SEALS AND
SEALANT
-HD TIMING CHAIN
-ARP BALANCER BOLT
-OEM GM DRY SUMP OIL PUMP

1 $4,750.00 $4,750.00

KOOKS HEADERS AND CATTED

XPIPE

1 $3,117.93 $3,117.93

4. MSD WIRES 1 $139.99 $139.99
5. NGK IRIDIUM PLUGS (GAPPED TO

TUNER SPEC)

8 $12.99 $103.92

6. AFE INTAKE 1 $462.00 $462.00
7. IMPROVED RACING CATCH CAN KIT 1 $350.00 $350.00
8. LIQUI MOLY 5W40 SYNTHETIC

ENGINE OIL

9 $14.99 $134.91

9. Non Inventory Part MOBIL1 M1 ENGINE OIL FILTER 1 $18.99 $18.99
10. Misc. shop supplies, materials,
consumables, disposal fee, etc...

Misc. shop supplies, materials,
consumables, disposal fee, etc...

1 $100.00 $100.00

11. Tuning Fees DT GEN V TUNING

-INITIAL HP TUNERS LICENSING AND
CREDITS
-CAM
-NA
-FLEX FUEL
-MANUAL
-STREET TUNING
-DYNO SESSION
Various tuning fees (calibration loading,
street tuning, datalogging dyno time,
credits, etc..)

1 $1,475.00 $1,475.00

12. INSPECT TORQUE TUBE

13. CPR EXPANSION TANK 1 $450.00 $450.00
14. MONSTER TRIPLE S CLUTCH KIT W/
SLAVE CYLINDER, SHIM KIT, AND
SPEED BLEEDER

1 $2,400.00 $2,400.00

15. MOBIL1 75W90 GEAR OIL 3 $24.99 $74.97
16. AMSOIL TRANSMISSION FLUID 5 $22.99 $114.95
17. MGW SHIFTER 1 $489.00 $489.00
18. ELEVATED FLEX FUEL KIT 1 $450.00 $450.00

Subtotal $20,286.66
Sales tax $848.68
Total $21,135.34

NOTE: This is with engine removal, cleaning and resealing of the entire engine

Parts on order. Installation will be done in 2 weeks from now and will take around 2 weeks to get the car back.

I am also tossing up the idea of putting a Procharger on a bit later on depending.
I will post HP and TQ sheet when I get the car back.