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How important are headers?

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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 10:52 AM
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Default How important are headers?

I am trying to work my way up to a big cam.
I have the lid/flopac, I probably wont buy a FAST, cuz thats just really expensive, so I will be keeping the ls1 intake manifold i think (unless that just screws me).

I was looking at some long tubes. Ive done the install on a 4.6 mustang (and let me tell u, there is no harder header install ) so Im not too worried about that, but time and money.... can I get away with the stock manifolds and just go right ahead to a nice cam (ms3 or so. dont want to lose my idle completely, but I want something that will give some serious power) or will I just be pissing in the wind unless I open up the airflow a little more.
thanks
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 11:02 AM
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you really won't realize the gains you want until you have the longtubes. However, I am interested in the results of any potential guinea pigs
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 11:10 AM
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Get the LT's first, hands down!
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 11:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Grimes
you really won't realize the gains you want until you have the longtubes. However, I am interested in the results of any potential guinea pigs
Me too.... someone else go do it by next friday! hurry!!!!

whatabout the intake manifold. any 98s out there running cams with the stock intake manifold? how much difference will that make?
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted by SpecterGT260
Me too.... someone else go do it by next friday! hurry!!!!
It's been done.....
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 11:21 AM
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Originally Posted by SpecterGT260
Me too.... someone else go do it by next friday! hurry!!!!

whatabout the intake manifold. any 98s out there running cams with the stock intake manifold? how much difference will that make?
I'd imagine a cammed car will leave about 5-10rwhp on the table with the LS1 intake vs. the LS6. Any way you slice it, you will be giving away up to 25rwhp by not using LTs. The stock exhaust manifolds on the 1998-99 cars were already down a few ponies compared to the manifolds on the 2000+ models. IMO, a set of used MACs, or Pacesetters would be well worth it if you are on a budget...
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 11:23 AM
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You're kidding right? Just look at the stickies.
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 11:50 AM
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how much more restrictive are 98 manifilds and what did they change about them in 2000?
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 11:57 AM
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Get long tubes and a ls6 intake first. Both can be had in the for sale section for pretty cheap. You just have to keep your eyes open. I would also suggest gears as well if you plan on going with some like the MS3
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 12:04 PM
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Originally Posted by RacerScott
how much more restrictive are 98 manifilds and what did they change about them in 2000?
They went from a tubular design in 1998-99 to a cast "log" design in 2000+. The cast manifolds are more thermally-efficient as well as flowing a bit more. Figure a 5rwhp improvement and they were probably cheaper to design/produce as well...
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 01:21 PM
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I would get LT's and ls6 intake manifold before a cam.
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 01:40 PM
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Headers are important! Get them (and an ls6 intake) before you decide to do any internal work on the engine, to best utilize the flow characteristics of the ls1.

Cams have been installed without headers, but they are all about compromise...and won't give nearly the optimal performance.

You want the engine to b-r-e-a-t-h-e, intake and exhaust mods really open up the tq characterisics of ls1s. Adding a cam afterwards makes for that much more gain. Unless you have a compelling reason NOT to do headers (like you live in ca and want to stay 100% smog legal) first do headers.
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 03:15 PM
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Adding a cam afterwards makes for that much more gain. Unless you have a compelling reason NOT to do headers (like you live in ca and want to stay 100% smog legal) first do headers
That's a pretty good wrap on the subject. I did a cam w/o headers on my current car. I liked it being totally stealthy but now I'm going to add headers (with cats) and probably go a little bigger cam wise.

If you do a cam without headers, the cam size is limited and you'll need a lot of extra exhaust duration. You can get a nice gain from the cam, but you won't be installing something like a MS3.
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 03:58 PM
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anyone care to give me a technical reason why you need gears with a bigger cam? it never made sense to me
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 04:00 PM
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less effort to get the car rolling, it will help with the surging and bucking. Also it help get the car in its power band a lot quicker
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 04:26 PM
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Originally Posted by lsx24
Unless you have a compelling reason NOT to do headers (like you live in ca and want to stay 100% smog legal) first do headers.
you can run headers in CA and still be smog legal.you just cant run long tube headers
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Old Dec 25, 2006 | 07:44 PM
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big cams rev higher so you can stay in each gear longer.

Shorties might net you as much as 5-10 hp since you have 98 manifolds. with 2000+ manifolds, 5 HP is about it. Either way, shorties aren't going to support a MS3, TRex, etc.
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Old Dec 27, 2006 | 12:46 PM
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biger cams make more power at higher rpms gears will get the rpms up where your car makes the most power the fastes.
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Old Dec 27, 2006 | 12:53 PM
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Stock manifolds + stock cam < Stock manifolds + mild cam < LT headers + big cam
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Old Dec 27, 2006 | 01:09 PM
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I have a set of Stainless Works LT's for sale. pm me
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