z99ls1

iTrader: (12)

Ok well I just got my headers for my ls1 and im planning on installing them tommarow. My buddy has an lt1 camaro that we just did headers on 2 days ago and he has a 383 lt1 so we thought he would get big gains. Anyways we ran our cars before and after. Before I got him by about 2 cars and now he has the headers and I get him by 2 cars or maybe just a little more. He does not have tune yet though and he deleted the cats with the ory and the rear 02s are out plust the egr and air was deleted during the install and he doesnt have it tuned yet. Could it just be its not any faster because he needs a retune? Im just going to be pissed that if I do all the work like we did on his and I dont see any gains. Anybody who can tell me what gains you got with your headers plz chime in.

lemons12

iTrader: (71)

You will pick up power and will be faster with headers as long as the is running the way it should. Re-tune (even handheld) is always a good idea even after a simple swap such as headers.

MYSTIC-1SC

iTrader: (14)

Headers are worth it, but you definetly need to get a tune afterwards.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

LTs are one of the best boltons you can add.

Ls1Rook

iTrader: (1)

I gained 2mph and 3 tenths in the quarter untuned.

z99ls1

iTrader: (12)

K cool. I am gettin retune right after on mine. I hope I get good gains

z99ls1

iTrader: (12)

Anybody else who have headers know if you got gains or not?

JonCR96Z

iTrader: (33)

I gained less than a tenth in the 1/4 with mine in slightly worse weather. I personally would rather have kept my manifolds and cats.

I'll never put another set of headers on a bolt on car again. With cam, heads,nitrous or something to that effect, yeah. Bolt ons, no way.

z99ls1

iTrader: (12)

ehhh
I didnt wanna hear that lol

JonCR96Z

iTrader: (33)

Well it's better to have low expectations and be surprised, than to have high ones and be disappointed.

To be honest I just don't see how anyone gains more than 2 tenths unless their converters are stopped up. I think most of the gains people see come from better weather conditions or something like that.

z99ls1

iTrader: (12)

Hmm Idk what to expect now

z99ls1

iTrader: (12)

anybody else got anymore input?

Starz T/A 17

iTrader: (6)

On my old Trans Am I installed a set of pacesetter LT and they fit great, and definitely helped out on top end. I sold my T/A and bought a Z/28 and am choosing not to get LT's just because I dont feel like dealing with emission laws and worrying about getting my car inspected. My goals are a mid to high 12 second car which is definitely achievable without LT headers. I would ask yourself what are you goals for the car? Will you have inspection issues? etc... questions like this should help you decide if there worth it but like someone else said if you get into major modding like heads/cam etc. Then LT's will show more gain over the stock manifolds. But just dont expect to bolt them to a stock car and gain 30 HP to the wheels.

WeathermanShawn

iTrader: (1)

To many variables in your story to make a honest comparison.

Your buddy could be experiencing Knock Retard which will dramatically cut his power, and/or his WOT AFR may be too rich (or too lean). There could also be an unknown exhaust leak that would cut down his power.

Generally the physics will always be 'on the side of headers'. They almost always add power. You have to choose the right size and install properly. You almost always gain at least 15 HP (stock mods), and perhaps 20-25 modded.

Save up for a tune. A lot of times you can get away without a tune(with headers), but perhaps not in this case. It sounds like you need to check for leaks, and adjust timing and fuel. That would be a better comparison.

Thats my O2..

orangeapeel

iTrader: (18)

For a 300 dollar set of used headers, I would pick them up. Ofcourse I do all my own work and have had heads and cam and nitrous on nearly all my cars. I ran a dyno at a local shop for a few months and got to see befores and afters. Depending on application, most of the time customers were dissappointed. Only because they thought they were going to get 50rwhp.

MonmouthCtyLS7

iTrader: (6)

Definately worth it.

Redcorvette2000

iTrader: (5)

I have done a lot of mods and smaller builds on a lot of different LS cars.....You never get the gains you expect on ANYTHING, always disapointed in my mind...However a good set of long tube headers is the first thing i would do to any car...For example my 2009 ls3 m6 vette adding lt's catback and cai with tune picked up around 30 rwhp....What a lot of people dont realize....15 rhwp is a lot...I recently put lt's on my 04 cobra, pretty much 0 gains from the headers alone. I knew i wouldnt get much, but no matter what the dyno says the car will feel way faster, sound better, and is a must for down the road for whatever you may decide to do later...Even without a tune on a stock ls1 a set of long tube's will make that car feel waaayyyyy faster...The key is never set your expectations to high bc your only setting yourself up for a let down...All the advertised hp gains are normally bullshit. Let us know what you think when you get the installed...

Damian

iTrader: (89)

To the OP, yes headers have been a proven mod on engines for the last 60+ years. Without tuning, it's a 15-18rwhp gain. With tuning it's upwards of 25-30rwhp.

Midnight02

iTrader: (8)

Agreed -- headers are well worth it once tuned properly.

Have them on both the SS and my Corvette and produced nice, dyno proved gains in both cases.

Bo White

iTrader: (59)

This is like askin if cam swaps are proven.
My personal experience with headers and LS1s:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...aders-ory.html