I have an 01 SS I'm looking to put long tube headers on. The car is lowered, I have the Eibach 3870.140 kit which I believe is 1 to 1-1/2" drop.
I asked this here before and FLP seemed to be what everyone was recommending but seeing all the replies in the other post about them rusting after only a few thousand miles has me a little apprehensive, especially with the high price tag.
I'd like to have a smiliar setup as the FLP system, running off-road pipes but having the ability to easily swap cats back in the car when emissions testing comes around.
What other long tubes & or setup would you guys suggest which won't give me any problems with ground clearance ?
Also the car is bascially stock except for a lid and cat back. What's the typical rwhp gain going from stock manifolds to long tubes and no cats ?
thanks !

 

I've got the SuperMaxx system. The headers are stainless versions of FLP's. The SuperMaxx system comes with a catted y-pipe, but no test pipes to swap out with the cats. I read a post a week or so ago that you could get test pipes from the manufacturer. The SuperMaxx headers use different clamps than the FLP's.

 

Get pace setters and have a muffler shop weld up some interchangable test pipes. It would be much much cheaper. Just call around and see if anyone will do it. You'll probably have to buy the flanges. 15-25rwhp.

Travis

 

TSP makes catted Y-pipe for pacesetters, Hookers, and Jet-Hot headers.

 

My 01 SS is lowered with the Eibach pro kit and has Jet hot long tubes and Jet hot off road pipe. I think they are the best buy for the money, and offer the best ground clearance of any I have seen. The Jet hot Y pipe tucks very tight under the car.

stay away from SLP if your car is lowered.

 

My pacesetters tuck real nice with no banging. The duals are another story.

 

Which Longtube Headers are better?
Pacesetters, or Flowtech Longtubes made by Hooker.
I need Headers and soon!

 

It is hard to beat the pacesetters w/ the TSP off road y, or catted Y if you wanted to have cats. IMHO, the quality of the pacesetter headers are better than flowtech.

DEE

 

FLOWTECHS SUCK ***. Go with Pacesetters if your wanting a cheaper $$ brand. But keep away from flowtech!!!!!

 

Flowtech may not be the nicest header I agree, but for the money I think they are fairly decent. We have sold our fair share of them, and honestly only had one complaint. In fact lots of guys on this board have posted about how well they liked Flowtech. The one thing to keep in mind is, with any production made header there is a chance of having problems. 9 times out of 10 everything will go well.

 

I love my Flowtechs and I liked them so much I put some on the wifes car with their off road Y pipe and hooker catback, My car has true duals, the Flowtech Y pipe is much, much better than the pace setter Y. I have Gone 10.90's with my Flowtechs.

 

i like the new batch of pacesetters...they install really easily...you should also look into the edlebrock victor series stepped headers...they have a true merge collector, and are $490 with the ory, headers, extensions, gaskets, and bolts...not bad for stepped headers

 

I would still choose Pacesetter over Flowtech.

 

if I go with either the Pacesetter or Jet Hot headers I still would like the cats and test pipes to be interchangeable. So if I got the TSP off-road Y-pipe, bought some cats, welded flanges on, and made a set of test pipes would I still be ok for ground clearance ? Has anyone done this and what cats will fit without clearance or fittment problems ?
I'd take it to an exhaust shop but a friend has a welder in his garage and can weld it for me.
It's looking like I would be better off cost wise buying the catted pipe and cutting the cats off to flange or asking TSP if they will ship it without them welded to the Y-pipe.I'd still be interested to see what others have done for a cat/test pipe interchangeable setup.

 

kooks all the way...

 

sorry for all the questions. Since emissions is every 2 years I'm thinking it might be easier to just have 2 Y-pipes or just go with the catted Y. I could buy the off-road Y pipe for now and get the catted Y when I have to go for emissions. That way I'm not taking the hit of all the expense at once.
I am curious has anyone dynoed thier car with and without cats back to back ? I assume the cats on the TSP Y-pipe are 3" high-flow units and I'm wondering how much power the cats are robbing if any? If it were only a couple HP would I be just as well off running the TSP catted Y and not bother with the off-road Y-pipe?
thanks again