To header or not to header
01-22-2009, 04:50 PM
#1
To header or not to header Let me start off with this:
I am no stranger to headers. My last two cars have had them. One was a 1985 Monte Carlo SS with a 400 ci small block swapped in. The other was a 1997 Firebird Formula with the LT1 and 6 speed.
On both cars, I had issues with headers. Not installation but chasing leaks CONSTANTLY.
However, I am thinking of headers for my new car - 2002 Z28, LS1 with a 6 speed. I am still aware of my old experiences and very apprehensive towards this idea, but I like the power, so therein lies the conflict.
My car sees 200-300 miles per week, and needs to be reliable. My car sees all types of environments (rain, snow, hot temperatures, cold temperatures). I would like to pass emissions as well (part of the whole reliable, trouble free kick). Should I go after longtubes? Any other type of header, in my view, is not worth my time.
What is the best way to about installing them? Whats the best gasket to use? Do I need higher quality motor mounts? Any input is good here. Thanks guys.
I am no stranger to headers. My last two cars have had them. One was a 1985 Monte Carlo SS with a 400 ci small block swapped in. The other was a 1997 Firebird Formula with the LT1 and 6 speed.
On both cars, I had issues with headers. Not installation but chasing leaks CONSTANTLY.
However, I am thinking of headers for my new car - 2002 Z28, LS1 with a 6 speed. I am still aware of my old experiences and very apprehensive towards this idea, but I like the power, so therein lies the conflict.
My car sees 200-300 miles per week, and needs to be reliable. My car sees all types of environments (rain, snow, hot temperatures, cold temperatures). I would like to pass emissions as well (part of the whole reliable, trouble free kick). Should I go after longtubes? Any other type of header, in my view, is not worth my time.
What is the best way to about installing them? Whats the best gasket to use? Do I need higher quality motor mounts? Any input is good here. Thanks guys.
01-22-2009, 04:56 PM
#2
Let me start off with this:
I am no stranger to headers. My last two cars have had them. One was a 1985 Monte Carlo SS with a 400 ci small block swapped in. The other was a 1997 Firebird Formula with the LT1 and 6 speed.
On both cars, I had issues with headers. Not installation but chasing leaks CONSTANTLY.
However, I am thinking of headers for my new car - 2002 Z28, LS1 with a 6 speed. I am still aware of my old experiences and very apprehensive towards this idea, but I like the power, so therein lies the conflict.
My car sees 200-300 miles per week, and needs to be reliable. My car sees all types of environments (rain, snow, hot temperatures, cold temperatures). I would like to pass emissions as well (part of the whole reliable, trouble free kick). Should I go after longtubes? Any other type of header, in my view, is not worth my time.
What is the best way to about installing them? Whats the best gasket to use? Do I need higher quality motor mounts? Any input is good here. Thanks guys.
I am no stranger to headers. My last two cars have had them. One was a 1985 Monte Carlo SS with a 400 ci small block swapped in. The other was a 1997 Firebird Formula with the LT1 and 6 speed.
On both cars, I had issues with headers. Not installation but chasing leaks CONSTANTLY.
However, I am thinking of headers for my new car - 2002 Z28, LS1 with a 6 speed. I am still aware of my old experiences and very apprehensive towards this idea, but I like the power, so therein lies the conflict.
My car sees 200-300 miles per week, and needs to be reliable. My car sees all types of environments (rain, snow, hot temperatures, cold temperatures). I would like to pass emissions as well (part of the whole reliable, trouble free kick). Should I go after longtubes? Any other type of header, in my view, is not worth my time.
What is the best way to about installing them? Whats the best gasket to use? Do I need higher quality motor mounts? Any input is good here. Thanks guys.
i had long tubes on my car, with TSP true duals, and i never had a problem. drove it 30k a year. i suggest getting stainless headers tho, if its going to see snow and ****. my pacesetters coated rusted in about a year and a half.
as far as gaskets, i used fel-pros from autozone. never had a leak.
01-22-2009, 05:03 PM
#3
I hear you on chasing down leaky headers, I was doing that all the time with my LT1. With my LS1 I've had them on for about 2,500 miles and I haven't had any problems yet. I just used the generic header gaskets from Advance, put some antiseize on the bolts and torqued them to 15 ft lbs starting with the bolts in the front and the back, then torqued the middle bolts. After I had them all torqued, I went back and tightened them to 18 ft lbs. It's a little extra work but it helps mash the gasket evenly.
01-22-2009, 05:31 PM
#4
I ran headers on my '02 Z28 daily driver for 5-6 years with no problem. I wouldn't worry at all about reliability, but go with some better quality jobs so they don't rust out on you - and they'll have better fit. Headers will cause you to throw codes, but any tuner can disable them. Go for it, its a must do mod.
01-22-2009, 08:23 PM
#5
i have a 01 ss and the previous owner put slp longtubes, slp high flow cats, slp y pipe and loudmouth on it. and coming from my old 93 lt1 i love the full exhaust setup. it sounds great and performes amazing.
my car sees 300-400 miles a week in utah weather! and my headers are holding up great, a little bit of leaking at the collectors but im working them out slowly
but with headers you will always more than likely get a cel, i did and we have strict emmissions here, so for now i just got some o2 sims to shut off the light until i can get it tuned.
but with the y pipe i do get alot of banging under the drivers side floor and it drives me nuts!!! everytime i get on it, it bangs so im in the process of doing poly motor mounts and hopefully that stops the banging!!?
but overall i think it is the best mod for a stock motor im glad someone already did the labor for me but reliability was an issue for me im in the same conditions and mine is working great thus far. i say go ahead and pull the trigger on some lt's you wont regeret it!
my car sees 300-400 miles a week in utah weather! and my headers are holding up great, a little bit of leaking at the collectors but im working them out slowly
but with headers you will always more than likely get a cel, i did and we have strict emmissions here, so for now i just got some o2 sims to shut off the light until i can get it tuned. but with the y pipe i do get alot of banging under the drivers side floor and it drives me nuts!!! everytime i get on it, it bangs so im in the process of doing poly motor mounts and hopefully that stops the banging!!?
but overall i think it is the best mod for a stock motor im glad someone already did the labor for me
but reliability was an issue for me im in the same conditions and mine is working great thus far. i say go ahead and pull the trigger on some lt's you wont regeret it! 
01-22-2009, 09:10 PM
#7
i have a 01 ss and the previous owner put slp longtubes, slp high flow cats, slp y pipe and loudmouth on it. and coming from my old 93 lt1 i love the full exhaust setup. it sounds great and performes amazing.
my car sees 300-400 miles a week in utah weather! and my headers are holding up great, a little bit of leaking at the collectors but im working them out slowly but with headers you will always more than likely get a cel, i did and we have strict emmissions here, so for now i just got some o2 sims to shut off the light until i can get it tuned.
but with the y pipe i do get alot of banging under the drivers side floor and it drives me nuts!!! everytime i get on it, it bangs so im in the process of doing poly motor mounts and hopefully that stops the banging!!?
but overall i think it is the best mod for a stock motor im glad someone already did the labor for me but reliability was an issue for me im in the same conditions and mine is working great thus far. i say go ahead and pull the trigger on some lt's you wont regeret it!
my car sees 300-400 miles a week in utah weather! and my headers are holding up great, a little bit of leaking at the collectors but im working them out slowly
but with headers you will always more than likely get a cel, i did and we have strict emmissions here, so for now i just got some o2 sims to shut off the light until i can get it tuned. but with the y pipe i do get alot of banging under the drivers side floor and it drives me nuts!!! everytime i get on it, it bangs so im in the process of doing poly motor mounts and hopefully that stops the banging!!?
but overall i think it is the best mod for a stock motor im glad someone already did the labor for me
but reliability was an issue for me im in the same conditions and mine is working great thus far. i say go ahead and pull the trigger on some lt's you wont regeret it!Yeah, and thats the problem.. I have these manifolds.. and they work GREAT...
THATS my conflict.
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01-22-2009, 09:26 PM
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have had header for like 3 years now with no leaks. you need to use new gm manifold gaskets they seem to work the best and most have a slip fit collector so leaks shouldn't be any problem there.
01-22-2009, 10:26 PM
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I'd say it depends on if you have a tuner around too.
I'm going to hold off on mine till I can take a week vacation to drive to Texas and have texas speed or someone tune it. Can't just do that on a whim, and 3000 miles round trip is a long as way for a tune, so... Gotta wait.
(and no, there's not a single tuner anywhere near Denver I'd trust).
I'm going to hold off on mine till I can take a week vacation to drive to Texas and have texas speed or someone tune it. Can't just do that on a whim, and 3000 miles round trip is a long as way for a tune, so... Gotta wait.
(and no, there's not a single tuner anywhere near Denver I'd trust).