LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

Are headers worth it?

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Old 12-03-2006, 08:04 PM
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Are headers worth it?

I am wondering if headers are worth it on a 94 lt1. Just wondering if they are worth it for the money, installation, and power. I have been looking at the pacesetter longtubes with their y pipe. I am just courious to see if they are worth it for these cars. Any answers are greatly appreciated! thanks....
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Old 12-03-2006, 08:06 PM
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Short answer: Yes.
Not only will they add a good deal of power, your exhaust note will sound better, and with the Pacesetter long tubes, spark plug changes will take under an hour compared to several hours with stock manifolds.
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Old 12-03-2006, 09:12 PM
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Absolutely. Installation is free. Jackstands and some tools dont run much $$. Headers are a MUST mod for LT1's.

-Dustin-
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Old 12-03-2006, 09:14 PM
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I love my headers. I have had Pacesetter LT's for a week now and I will never go back to stock manifolds. The car runs better, and the exhaust note is a lot better to. My car is lowered, so my ground clearance sucks, but hey, thats part of it.
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Old 12-03-2006, 09:15 PM
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faster you get it in and out the faster the car goes.
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Old 12-03-2006, 09:20 PM
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also, they will give you better results with future mods to your car.
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Old 12-03-2006, 10:10 PM
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LT headers cause ignition retard and make the car run rich you have to figure in the tune and knock module to get the most out of them.
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Old 12-04-2006, 02:01 PM
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u cant just install them in your garage, i tried to do this. the engine has to be taken off the mounts and lifter 5 inches to fit the headers, unless your wiling to do this get someone to do it for you. I have the same thing 94 lt1
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Old 12-04-2006, 02:02 PM
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don't use cheap gaskets either, they tend to blow after a couple of months, use metal gaskets.
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Old 12-04-2006, 02:07 PM
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Originally Posted by z28rp
u cant just install them in your garage, i tried to do this. the engine has to be taken off the mounts and lifter 5 inches to fit the headers, unless your wiling to do this get someone to do it for you. I have the same thing 94 lt1
No you Don't have to jack the motor up, but the car does need to be pretty high off the ground probably around 3 feet.
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Old 12-04-2006, 02:09 PM
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Originally Posted by camarozz95
No you Don't have to jack the motor up, but the car does need to be pretty high off the ground probably around 3 feet.
Exactly, the drivers side header went right in through the bottom, of course the car was jacked up pretty high, I had the floor jack at the maximum lift. The passenger side I took off the valve cover to create enough clearance to snake the header in through the top. I didn't unbolt a single motor mount or moved the engine in anyway.
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Old 12-04-2006, 02:35 PM
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My opinion is no. They are expensive and require a lot of labor to install (especially longtubes). And you will need a tune to avoid possible false knock. I feel that there are a lot of more inexpensive (or at least right in the same ballpark) and less laborious methods of achieving the power that headers will give you.
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Old 12-04-2006, 02:40 PM
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Yes... If you can do the install yourself.
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Old 12-04-2006, 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by 95firehawk
My opinion is no. They are expensive and require a lot of labor to install (especially longtubes). And you will need a tune to avoid possible false knock. I feel that there are a lot of more inexpensive (or at least right in the same ballpark) and less laborious methods of achieving the power that headers will give you.
I'm curious which mods there are that are inexpensive and less laborious other then a cold air intake and a catback exhaust. Long tubes are not very expensive, especially if you can get them on sale. As for the the labor to put them in, I agree with you that they are a royal pain. But lets face it, just about any project on these cars is not very easy. Even a seasoned mechanic would grimmace at the thought of having to do a plug/wire change, and that is just a general maintenance thing.
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Old 12-04-2006, 02:49 PM
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Yes, installing them is not a job that I would look forward to again, but headers are absolutely necessary on an LT1. Once you get one of the stock "log" style manifolds out of the car, it will become evident to you how much of a restriction it represents.
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