Are headers really worth it
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TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 388
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From: Batlimore, Maryland
Are headers really worth it Are headers really worth it? I see most people on here are making claims and yes some do even have dyno sheets to prove that they are marking more horsepower BUT it seems that most people are doing this with out being 100% emission compliant. For example they have removed their cats or don't have the EGR hooked up and etc. So my question to you is this. If you were to retain all the emission system items so you car isn't in violation and any emission laws would headers with worth the time and expense to install them? Has anyone done any comparisons of a stock exhaust vs. a fully emission legal exhaust with header set up?
Re: Are headers really worth it yes it'll still be worth it. Deleting the AIR system doesn't add any hp, deleting the EGR doesn't add significant hp, and you can run high flow cats(like me) and still pick up a decent amount of hp. On average people get about 20rwhp from headers.
TECH Regular
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 444
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From: Tulsa , Oklahoma
Re: Are headers really worth it O2 SOM SS(Kurt) runs 11.7*'s with stock manifolds. You can go plenty fast without headers. But generally they are worth a few tenths and few mph, and they are worth alot more on heads/cam cars. Its a good mod if you have the cash, but if your an A4 I'd get a good converter first. <img border="0" alt="[evil]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_devil.gif" />
<small>[ March 28, 2003, 01:36 PM: Message edited by: JTM ]</small>
<small>[ March 28, 2003, 01:36 PM: Message edited by: JTM ]</small>
12 Second Club
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 931
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From: Santa Clarita, CA
Re: Are headers really worth it I think this a good question, especially on a stock 01 or 02 with the better exhaust manifolds. My gut feeling is for the nth degree of performance, yes maybe worthwile, but for everyone else (in stock trim) what is 10 rwhp, not particularly noticable. Seems like a lot of headaches associated with this mod, especially if you are lowering your car with a longtube setup. Clearance, rusting, air-fuel ratio adjustments, on a stock car like mine, its too much in addition to the expense. Once I pay off my car I'm just getting a Procharger and run 4-5 lbs of boost, and keep everything stock. Just my personal taste.
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TECH Addict
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Live Oak, FL - in the woods where the creatures lurk.
Re: Are headers really worth it There are folks on the board that run headers w/cats, and in some cases pretty decent cams that have managed to pass emissions testing.
(I don't think if you live in Cali you could pass visuals w/long tubes)
Everyone (well any thinking person) wants to rationalize that the money spent = more bang for the buck.
Headers by themselves will not take you from low 13's to mid 12's, but what will you maybe want to do , say, cam or heads wise in the future? Certainly if you plan to do engine mods, headers are a good first step.
It is also true that you can do engine mods and retain the factory headers & cats and make some decent HP. You just have to think about your ultimate goals for your car.
You can get decent, if not outrageous, HP, while remaining emissions compliant.
(I don't think if you live in Cali you could pass visuals w/long tubes)
Everyone (well any thinking person) wants to rationalize that the money spent = more bang for the buck.
Headers by themselves will not take you from low 13's to mid 12's, but what will you maybe want to do , say, cam or heads wise in the future? Certainly if you plan to do engine mods, headers are a good first step.
It is also true that you can do engine mods and retain the factory headers & cats and make some decent HP. You just have to think about your ultimate goals for your car.
You can get decent, if not outrageous, HP, while remaining emissions compliant.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 349
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Re: Are headers really worth it I have raced several cars like mine except they had headers and I'm running stock manifolds and gutted cats. I have either stayed right with them or pulled on them on the top end. The guys have had Macs, FLPs, and TTS headers. I'm not impressed by headers on stock heads, cam, and intake cars at all.
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,695
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From: Raleigh, NC
Re: Are headers really worth it I guess it depends on what you call "worth it".
I am running FLP's with cats on a bolt-on car and I saw +20 RWTQ throughout the entire RPM range. Pretty much took the stock manifold curve and shifted it up 20 FTLBS. Also torque does not fall off nearly as fast with LT's. At 5900 RPM I gained +35 ftlbs. I also got a +20 HP gain through the LT's and cats. It is a lot of money for a "Bolt-on" car but to me it was worth it, and if there is any chance of internal modification it is a no-brainer.
-Nick
I am running FLP's with cats on a bolt-on car and I saw +20 RWTQ throughout the entire RPM range. Pretty much took the stock manifold curve and shifted it up 20 FTLBS. Also torque does not fall off nearly as fast with LT's. At 5900 RPM I gained +35 ftlbs. I also got a +20 HP gain through the LT's and cats. It is a lot of money for a "Bolt-on" car but to me it was worth it, and if there is any chance of internal modification it is a no-brainer.
-Nick
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