I tried to search, but headers are mentioned in so many threads that it's darn near impossible to find actual information about them.

My wife is a sucker for the sound of a good set of headers, and has agreed that I can get some for my car.

Here's what I know:

• Shorties don't offer much, if any, performance improvement over LS1 stock manifolds
• Long tubes can create ground clearance issues
• In general, LTs make more power than mid-lengths.
• I want a dual-catted Y-pipe with them
• I do not have to pass any inspections.
• Coated is best.

Here's what I'm fairly sure about:

• I want LTs with 1 3/4" runners.

Here's what I don't know:

• Is there any major reason not to buy used?
• What are the major brands and their standings?
• Does the geometry of a set of coated LTs with 1 3/4" runners really vary that much from one brand to the next?
• What other variables are there? I know these so far:
  • Short / mid / long
  • Runner diameter
  • Coating
  • Brand

I know that Borla stuff is pretty high quality, but that you pay a lot for the name. I don't know where the other brands stand.

I know that the cheaper brands have trouble bolting right up -- you have to shave the block or something to get them to fit. I do NOT want to have to do that. What brands should I avoid with that in mind?

Thanks!

-Jake

 

Well it seems like you already have a pretty good knowlege of them.
1)The only reason why i see not to buy used is cause they might not be coated and therefore are probably rusting already.
2)Major brands well slp,kooks, pacesetter,flowtech, are the most popular they all perform the same only thing i hear is that slp can have more clearance issues than the others. (that is Long tube of course or LT's)
Pacesetters are one of the best bangs for the buck and do the same thing as all other long tube headers.
on another note if you have no emmisions testing why not go off road y-pipe? match it up with a good cat back along with some lt's and your car will sound great not to mention perform better.
jus the 2 cents there, anymore questions just ask.

 

Longtube headers are the way to go. Stainless steel is also another good thing to consider. They are more expensive, but they are worth it. Kooks and QTP are considered the best and both are stainless. I went with Kooks and they were very easy to install. They slid right into place on both sides and all the bolt holes lined right up. QTP is supposed to be just as easy to install.
My Kooks have good ground clearance even with the Sportline springs that lowered the car over 2 inches. The only headers that have bad ground clearance are the SLP's and they are also difficult to install.
I agree about if there is no emission testing don't bother with cats. It will be cheaper and there will be better flow. I have no cats and can't smell any fumes from it if that's what you're worried about.

 

I agree about the SLP's. I have them and it took me 14 HRS to install them myself in my garage w/ ramps and jackstands. TIGHT fit. But they look great. I have heard that they max out around 400hp, tho. I'm still researching that. I've heard good things about the QTP, kooks and Pacesetter. Look for weld quality. Try to find pics of other PPL's headers installed. AND look at them after time. I've heard that the Pacesetter's welds are'nt all that great.

I was told that the SLP's will last a long time. But I am now starting to run into clearance issues w/ steeper driveways. Other than that I don't get many scrapes.

I am looking into another set of headers, 100% sold on the QTP's. You can get them in any typical runner (primary) size. Mostly 1.75"...That seems to be about the norm. I believe you can get them seperately coated if you do not buy them that way.

Here: Check out these two pages... Mine and Teke184's He's got some good info on there. I used it when I installed my headers.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/463707/2

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/243722/11

 

Most sets of coated 1-3/4" longtube headers perform the same, with the exception of the Vette-only stepped LG Motorsports headers and the 1-7/8" Kooks headers.

Mike

 

I don't have any "scientific data" to support my theory, but just LOOKING at SLP LT's compared to just about any other brand, they appear to have a very short collector. I found them listed on TByrne's website (link) under "Exhaust", where you can look at other brands and see the difference. I don't know, but would that be a power limiting factor for them? Most other LT's have a much longer collector on them?

As far as Pacesetters having bad welds, my buddy installed Pacesetters into his LT1 T/A, and the quality of them seemed really good IMO. The flange where they bolt to the head was nice and thick (way thicker than I'm used to with old 2nd-gen SBC style LT's ). I thought they looked like good quality ... and they were the coated ones. For the price and quality, I'm considering Pacesetters for my LS1 in the spring .

 

I just finnished installing my coated pacesetters about an hour ago, I can honestly tell you that welds on my set look great and they fit VERY good and I did not have to trim anything or remove the starter or steering shaft like others have mentioned. My car is a 99 m6. Hope this helps you!

 

^ ^ ^ well that's good news for sure!!

 

There are a couple of other headers that came out late in the game so they didn't get popular. Edelbrock is one that came in late. Heddman and Dynomax are pretty new to the LS1 scene, but have been around for a long time. Might be worth looking at them too.

 

I have the coated Pacesetters LT's and have some good and some bad experience with them. They were not hard to install, and while I had to remove my starter I didn't have to remove the steering shaft. It wasn't hard to install at all, just time consuming. They sound awesome (ORY & TSP Rumbler) and the clearance is a problem with the resonator on my exhaust more than the headers. The headers have never scraped. The resonator has. The highway drone is a complaint of some people with this setup.

The bad news: I bought coated headers because I didn't want nasty, rusty, corroded headers. Guess what they've got surface rust. On the collectors as well as near the flanges. If I had to do it again I would've probably saved some more money and gone with an all-stainless system. My recommendation: if you want to do it and save money go with the Pacesetters, but if you'd rather spend a little more and get the best, get a stainless set of headers and a stainless exhaust system.

Abe

 

I am in the middle of installing my Coated Pacesetters and I have been blown away by the quality of the product. I heard some bad things about the but clearly they have fixed all those problems. The coating is awesome, fit is awesome, and welds are great. I have no complaints whatsoever and would recommed them to anyone.

 

I cant believe noones mentioned the jethot/hooker headers. I have yet to install QTP or KOOKS, but Ive installed a couple few sets of hooker headers and everytime they went very well. no problems on any LS1 car ever. and good sp. plug access to boot.

I dont recomend the SLP's to anyone, they are such a pain in the **** to install and have crappy plug access compared to the hookers so why bother? and the ground clearance does suck with them. also, the ypipe setup is a pain in the **** too and just deal with the banging on the floor under the drivers seat, unless you want to cut the subframe support off that it goes under, its gonna hit. poss. if you crushed the tube alot more then it comes already it'll clear, but isnt that what your trying to do it gain flow? sort of dimishes the purpose.

 

I'll take a stab at why that is. Many people (myself included) would never recommend jethot/hooker LT headers to anyone. It's not because of quality, fitment or reputation. It's simply because of cost. Why spend $600+ on Hooker coated LT headers when Pacesetters will perform just as well for $400?

And on the other end of the spectrum you have Kooks and QTP who many consider to be the cream of the crop. These are of course top dollar but they are stainless steel and have excellent reputations for fitment and performance.

It seems more logical to me that anyone shopping for headers should make the decision first on whether they are looking for "the best" or "the best bang for the buck". I just can't see putting Jethot/Hooker in either of those catagories.

IMO the best are:

Kooks
QTP
Dynatech supermaxx (but only if you want a catted Y-pipe)


Best bang for the buck:

Pacesetter coated
Flowtech coated

 

The steering shaft is the LT1 Guys. I 've heard their headers are worse to install than the LS1's. I knew ONE guy that was complaining about the welds on his Pacesetter's. That was it. I've seen teh Flowtech's installed. Heard they slip right in and the coated ones look great.


As far as the SLP's short collectors, I have NO Idea if that effects performance. I'll leave mine on for now. I don't have 1200 bux to throw at another set right now.

 

I had a TPIS coated header but he welds let go and the coating started to peel off after a year. I have since put on a set of Kooks. I found that the underhood temps were alot greater not being coated so I am having them coated and hopes that it lasts longer then the TPIS crap.
Most of the clearance issues with LT's are the relocation of the cats. I have only scraped the headers once but am always scraping the cats.