headers

[chevyc5]

Hello to everybody. For my c5/coupé 1999 I'm now looking for the headers(I got already the Remus S/S exhaust+BMC Carbon Airbox intake+HypertechIIIPP-160°F Termostat+Granatelli Carbon Fiber Air Bridge+F&R Slotted rotors+F&R Hawks Pads+Pirelli PzeroGiallo.Ready to be installed Z06 sway bars+Z06 shock absorbers)
and I'm really confused .So far the main questions:

1) Short or long headers (please consider I don't want to cut or weld)
2) Producers for shorter: B&B ,JBA, BBK
longer : Kooks,TPIS,Stainless Works,Hookers,LGM
3)Material &Finishing: Stainless, ceramic coated, silvercoated,nickelplated
4)Spec :1 7/8 or 1 3/4

Thanks for any suggestion.
regards
chevyc5

 

[SmokeyTirez]

In the same boat...

Hey buddy

I'm doing the same research right now. From what I can tell (and for my purposes, which is just a fast-a$$ street car with very light track duty) the best choice are the Kook's long-tubes, 1 7/8. Long tubes deliver the most power because the header collector is further away from the exhaust ports (more length = more torque, to a point), and you always go for the larger diameter tubes. The Kook's are supposed to be the quietest of the long tubes available, with the least amount of pinging and noise heard from the interior.

Of course, I have no experience with these but this seems to be the concensus.

Good luck,
-Smokey

 

[Roadster Fan]

Hey ChevyC5, definately go with the long tubes. Much more "bang for the buck". The diameter....1-3/4" vs 1-7/8" isn't going to matter with regards to a LS1 or LS6. That only matters if you've got big cubes.....408, 422 or 427 ci.


I've personally got the LG Pro long tube headers. They are stainless steel and installation is fairly easy. I've heard the Kooks can be a pain in the arse for install.


As far as quiet....I've got Z06 exhausts with the LG's and a 427 power plant. At idle, I doubt you could tell the difference between me and a Z06.....aside from a little lope But when I get on her.... boy that 427 sounds sweet.


Good luck,
Brett

 

[chevyc5]

thanks for your reply.could you tell me where did you got your kook's
thanks
chevyc5

 

[chevyc5]

thanks for your message.I'll also got for LHeader
regards
chevyc5

 

[vettenuts]

I have looked into this at length. The Kooks are a pain to install, but Nick recently stated they were tweaking the design to help with this. However, they are not full stainless front to back so I crossed them off my list. The Dynatechs are full stainless, but some have had problems with the O2 sensors hitting the tunnel and with the #5 tube hitting the steering shaft. I have crossed them off my list. This leaves a few. LG's seem to be a very good setup but some have had problems with them setting codes. Also, you need O2 SIMs with them as there is no rear O2 sensor used, so add another $90 to an already very expensive set of headers. QTP has recently introduces a set of Tri-Y headers, but they are not in production yet and the results are unknown. Bassanni also makes a set of Tri-Y's, but I wasn't impressed with them. Finally, there is Stainless Works. Good quality but the flange is 1/4" rather than 3/8" although I believe the heavier flange is available. They use all the O2 sensors and everyone who has installed them say they are easy to install and don't set any codes.


I am waiting to see what the QTP's produce for power, otherwise I am leaning to either LG's or Stainless Works headers. There is about a $400 price difference between the two when you include the required O2 SIMs for the LG's.

 

[chevyc5]

Very interesting your report.Most probably Stainless Work are the best.
Ciao
chevyc5

 

[fdxpilot]

Hey buddy

I'm doing the same research right now. From what I can tell (and for my purposes, which is just a fast-a$$ street car with very light track duty) the best choice are the Kook's long-tubes, 1 7/8. Long tubes deliver the most power because the header collector is further away from the exhaust ports (more length = more torque, to a point), and you always go for the larger diameter tubes. -Smokey

A guy on another forum posted that he had the 1 7/8 Kooks and did not get the expected increase in power and torque. He had a heads,mild (224 Dur) cam, intake and the headers. He switched to 1 3/4 Kooks and gaine between 5 and 30 HP and torque across the RPM range. The 1 7/8 headers were just too big for a 346CI engine.

 

[Terry Holtz]

[vettenuts : "I am waiting to see what the QTP's produce for power, otherwise I am leaning to either LG's or Stainless Works headers. There is about a $400 price difference between the two when you include the required O2 SIMs for the LG's."]

Looking forward to an update on performance gains and if you had any codes pop-up.

 

[powderski13]

A guy on another forum posted that he had the 1 7/8 Kooks and did not get the expected increase in power and torque. He had a heads,mild (224 Dur) cam, intake and the headers. He switched to 1 3/4 Kooks and gaine between 5 and 30 HP and torque across the RPM range. The 1 7/8 headers were just too big for a 346CI engine.

I agree, unless you have bigger cubes, a radical H/C, or FI you will most likely lose torque with the 1 7/8. I am now looking at 1 3/4 to repalce my 1 5/8 since I added the SC

 

[vettenuts]

QTP has posted results on their web site. Also, LG is having a group purchase on their system right now. Man, I wish my house was done so I could get some:cry