66ImpalaLT1

I'm going to be in the market for long tube headers very soon. Here's my rundown of C5 LT headers and the pros and cons of each. These are not in any particular order.

I'd like to hear everyones opinions, I'll add them to the list. I also need a url for Belanger, some pictures of them and info on the DRM headers.

Belanger

• + 4-2-1 Tri-Y design
• - Poor O2 placement

TTS

• + Thick flanges, high quality, better starter access than most
• - 1 5/8 diameter tubing, short collector

TPIS

• + Best price
• - cracking air tubes, slip fit collector

Breathless

• + easier install, access clutch and starter without complete removal
• - all slip fit tubes (could cause false O2 from leaks)

FLP

• + no cutting of the stock exhaust, swappable cats
• - not available until february

LG Motorsports

• + long primarys, good collector, T-304 stainless
• - mostly copied from TPIS, including air tubes, just starting production
• Corvetteforum thread

Wheel to Wheel

• + long primarys, good collector
• - looks like a slip fit primarys, VERY expensive

Doug Rippie Motorsports

• unknown?

Note: Most C5 long tube headers will need to be removed, or at least unbolted to be able to access the clutch and starter.

[ November 13, 2001: Message edited by: 66ImpalaLT1 ]</p>

Scalpel

iTrader: (4)

Add to the "cons" of TPIS that you have to also "loosen" them to get access to the clutch.

[ November 13, 2001: Message edited by: NastyC5 ]</p>

66ImpalaLT1

I got the impression that clutch access is a CON for all of them but Breathless, that must be why I forgot to list it! <img src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

AgaveCorvette

oops, I didn't notice "long tube" in the subject until I posted.

Retracted. <img src="images/icons/grin.gif" border="0">

[ November 13, 2001: Message edited by: AgaveCorvette ]</p>

66ImpalaLT1

We can list the short headers too, if you have a list. I'm just trying to start a discussion.

Eric

Scalpel

iTrader: (4)

Ok, I see where you were coming from then, 66ImpalaLT1! No prob. It's just that I was never told this when I was searching for LT's so I never realized it to as of late. It was one of those assumed things that I had no idea of. That being said, I'm very **** now about alerting everyone about TPIS "con" in that area <img src="images/icons/grin.gif" border="0"> . Also I believe TTS have access to the bellhousing with no problems.

[ November 13, 2001: Message edited by: NastyC5 ]</p>

cendres

iTrader: (2)

A pro for the LG headers, IMO, is that they will be available in T-304. Are any of the others available in stainless?

66ImpalaLT1

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=178375

Looks like TTS requires loosening also. See MattG's 2nd response on that thread.

Eric

Scalpel

iTrader: (4)

Cool, thanks for the clarification, someone misinformed me on that one. Same deal as TPIS. Well, we're sure gonna have a very accurate listing of LT's <img src="images/icons/grin.gif" border="0"> . Keep em' comin!

Dave F

Although I am currently running the TPIS for cost, the GM Racing engineers swear by the wheel-to-wheel. They were developed in conjunction with the ASA camshaft for maximum power, and have extremely long primaries tuned for racing. Although $3000 is a lot for headers, I feel that they are the best made.

btw, I like my TPIS headers just fine



World Challenge driver David Farmer:
Kinesis Wheel Dealer!
www.metricchemical.com/
E-mail for great deal on wheels!

66ImpalaLT1

[quote]Originally posted by Dave F:
<strong>btw, I like my TPIS headers just fine</strong><hr></blockquote>

Good to see you here Dave.

If I were to buy today, based on what I have read I would buy TPIS. I might change my mind with the new headers coming out over winter and I'll be buying shortly after my car comes out of storage in the spring.

Eric

nitropickup

I wouldn't call the slipfit collector on the TPIS a drawback. It seals very well and makes other mods easier though simple removal. I have seen a few cracked AIR tubes but only on a very very small percentage of cars. They are perhaps the most widely used C5 header.

Scalpel

iTrader: (4)

Yeah, my slip fit hasn't leaked any in 10K miles.

Louis

iTrader: (7)

the LG is the BEST IMO heres why --->
+LONG primaries
+t-304 WITH AIR tube holes
+ease of installation
+3 piece design for ease of clutch install and install of headers themselves
+NO RUST!!!
+collector
+JUST AS GOOD As WHEEL TO WHEEL if not better @ roughly a grand less
+clearance
+will fit an x or y pipe assm.
+ if Lou says that they are good enough to put on his race car, then by all means!!!

Guys, these headers are a master piece, i will GAURANTEE that there is nothing better as of now if there is....well, we'll see!

horsepower

[quote]Originally posted by 66ImpalaLT1:
[qb]I'm going to be in the market for long tube headers very soon. Here's my rundown of C5 LT headers and the pros and cons of each. These are not in any particular order.

I'd like to hear everyones opinions, I'll add them to the list. I also need a url for Belanger, some pictures of them and info on the DRM headers.
<hr></blockquote>

Come Jan 2002, you can add SLP to the list for C5 long tubes-

tuned length, 1.75"
stainless steel and coated
true y-pipe with crossover
optional cats
optional x-pipe
the right air tubes and fitment for the right years (97-02)
proper fit and clearances

[ November 15, 2001: Message edited by: horsepower ]</p>

66ImpalaLT1

So let me get this right, SLP will offer a complete bolt on setup?

I prefer not to cut any of stock pipes.

Eric

horsepower

[quote]Originally posted by 66ImpalaLT1:
<strong>So let me get this right, SLP will offer a complete bolt on setup?

I prefer not to cut any of stock pipes.

Eric</strong><hr></blockquote>

correct.
unbolt the entire stock mess, and bolt-in SLP's headers, h-pipe, cats, x-pipe and exhaust.
<img src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" />

- brian

66ImpalaLT1

Cool! Do you have any spy photos you can leak to us? <img src="images/icons/smile.gif" border="0">

Eric

Godspeed

Stock CID LS1 Dyno Results of LGM headers:




Pic of these bad boys:



Group Purchase Thread:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=182340

[ November 15, 2001: Message edited by: Godspeed ]</p>

Dave F

Although I'm glad LGM is doing headers, and expect great things from them, the pictures I have seen show the primaries to be only slightly longer than the TPIS, and about half the length of the wheel-to-wheel headers. Lou, I'll be happy to race test a set on my GT car next season, however!

Just want to keep the discussion honest.

Dave Farmer
#35 Speedvision GT