why87

well its about time to park the car for the winter and my plan is to do a full exhaust setup and take care of anything else i notice while it sits for a few months. i've narrowed the choices down to the bbk ceramic system, or tsp stainless headers and an ory. the obvious advantage of the bbk's is the price, but i've also read good about fitment and gains with them. i've also had first hand experience with the tsp stainless headers and ory, good fitment and quality, but they are obviously more expensive.

so my real question is which route would you guys go? i'm a college student and don't have 1000 bucks to spend on the setup so anything beyond that point is not an option. thanks!

Cstone812

iTrader: (5)

I went with the bbks and the fitment on them was second to none and the price was great....honestly though if I had to do it again I would have went with tsps new stainless headers because they are stainless and 1 7/8 tho...its up to you though I am college student as well so i know how being on a budget feels!!!!

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

If you're over 500hp or plan to be in the very near future then get the TSP, otherwise get the BBKs. The BBKs will also be a better choice if you are lowered, or plan to lower it.

why87

are the bbk's more of a midlength header or are they a true lt? 500hp within the next 3 years is doubtful and lowering it may be one of my next mods.

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

They are a little on the short side compared to other LT headers, but I would still consider them LT's.

BrdOPry

iTrader: (1)

Tsp tsp tsp

NicB

iTrader: (4)

From what ive heard bbk is probly the best header for lowered cars. Good fit good price. but does thebtsp hang down that much lower? Im gonna be buying headers very soon and lowering car as well. Bbk a better choice? Next year going with stage 2 ls6/224 tsp h/c package. Will the 1 7/8 header be more that a 10hp difference?

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

From what I've seen I would say the tsp is going to be at least 1" lower (but I could be wrong). What size cat-back do you plan on running? If it's a 3" cat-back then there's your first restriction and the benefits from the 1-7/8" headers tubes an 3" y-pipes is minimal.
BTW, my car is lowered with 26" to the apex of the front wheel wells to the ground And I have 2-7/8" of ground clearance from where the collector and y-pipe meet up at the lowest point (w/bbk LTs).
I did have a little bit of minor scraping on the lowest part of the driverside y-pipe, but that was with the cars ride height 3/4" lower up front (25.25" to apex) than it is now. So unless you lower you car really low I doubt you'll have any issues with the bbk scrapping except on monster speed bumps.
The tsp will make more power, but you'll have to decide whats more important to you; a little more power, or ground clearance.

+10hp difference?.....
IMO no, not if the y-merger exit on back is just 3" dia.

gregrob

iTrader: (8)

TSP WILL make more power. They tuck amazing on my car.

TImmy_Jones

iTrader: (4)

Get the TSP - I wish I did.

tanks99ls1

i myself went with the tsp 1 7/8 stainless and ory with the borla exaust. the headers and y pipe alone with s/h and labor was at about 1100. thats not including the muffler, i went with borla and that was 130 plus the tips and installation, another 120. so all in all your looking at spending close to 1400. every shop is different in price but the headers and off road y pipe, 3" from tsp was right at 800. the installation was was 300 for those 2. so if 1000 is too much id go with the bbk, my buddy has those with the ory and loudmouth and i think all together he paid like 900...

tanks99ls1

oh yea and dont lower it too much, i bought mine already lowered and its way too low, i scrape alot, im fixing to raise it to wear its lowered only an inch

tanks99ls1

what do you mean the restriction is minimal, im confused please explain, thats the setup i have the tsp and the 3" all the way to the back

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

Are you referring to me saying,"If it's a 3" cat-back then there's your first restriction and the benefits from the 1-7/8" headers tubes an 3" y-pipes is minimal." ?

To maximize your tp/tq you'll need to run at least a 3.5" or better yet a 4" exit merger
on the y-pipe, along with the corresponding 3.5" or 4" exhaust after it.

98z8uup

iTrader: (7)

Do the BBK

99'CajunFirehawk157

iTrader: (57)

FWIW: I bought the BBK, excellent value, IMHO. However, when I got them TSP just released their Stainless headers and ORY. Before I put them on the car, sold the BBK and got the TSP, since their stainless. Difference is about $300 more apx, YMMV

Stippy17

iTrader: (5)

Do it right the first time and get TSP's 1 7/8" Headers. I bought my car with 1 3/4" Pacesetter Headers & TSP YPipe that are only 4ish years old and rusting. I will be upgrading to TSP new headers and a Custom YPipe this winter. Even at or around 400whp the 1 7/8" will benefit you.

My buddy runs the BBK Headers, and while they are stainless, I don't like how skinny the tubing is for the YPipe. They are also only 1 3/4" primaries, and if I was looking to do it right the first time an not have to touch my headers in the future Id want 1 7/8".

That's just my .02

BOBS99SS

iTrader: (2)

yeah i agree with the post above ,tsp 1 7/8 is the way to go,you might not need it now but it will help down the road when you start really doing work on the engine, 1 7/8 headers would help me so much, i plan to get them when i order my heads, if your on a budget like broke budget my buddy got some stainless ebay headers and those were killer nice. he has had them for 3 years ,we put our headers on at the same time, mine pacesetter,his ebay , mine look like crap his still look great lol