Bang for the buck headers
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
Bang for the buck headers Okay...about to do a H/C swap on my WS6 M6.
I want Long Tubes at the same time because I am tiredd of my edelbrock shortys blowing the gaskets and they will not flow enough for a H/C swap.I would prefer 1 3/4 headers into about a 3" collector.I have an SLP Y that I will either make work or fab my own as I am a half decent welder.
I see good prices on Hooker Coated Headers($384) and Pacesetters($395).
Car is lowered so ground clearence is an issue. I would really like Kooks but cant afford them unless anyone has a decent used set.
Just looking for some opinions guys...what do you have or seen that has good ground clearence, good flow, good looks, and quality. Thanks I really appreciate it!
I want Long Tubes at the same time because I am tiredd of my edelbrock shortys blowing the gaskets and they will not flow enough for a H/C swap.I would prefer 1 3/4 headers into about a 3" collector.I have an SLP Y that I will either make work or fab my own as I am a half decent welder.
I see good prices on Hooker Coated Headers($384) and Pacesetters($395).
Car is lowered so ground clearence is an issue. I would really like Kooks but cant afford them unless anyone has a decent used set.
Just looking for some opinions guys...what do you have or seen that has good ground clearence, good flow, good looks, and quality. Thanks I really appreciate it!
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Tech Resident
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,117
Likes: 3
From: Philly
I wouldn't even consider getting mild steel headers like Pacesetters. Stainless steel is the only way to go. It's pointless to try and save money on headers, getting mild steel then having to replace them a few years down the road. You wind up paying more money for more of a headache in the long run if you want to keep your car.
If you're really strapped for cash, go for the XS headers. They're stainless and only around $50 more than Pacesetters. I can't believe that people still buy Pacesetters when you can get a stainless steel header for nearly the same exact price. Don't make the mistake of paying nearly the same money for a Made in Mexico mild steel header that'll eventually rust through like Pacesetters when you can get primo stainless and still save $$$ over other brands.
If you're really strapped for cash, go for the XS headers. They're stainless and only around $50 more than Pacesetters. I can't believe that people still buy Pacesetters when you can get a stainless steel header for nearly the same exact price. Don't make the mistake of paying nearly the same money for a Made in Mexico mild steel header that'll eventually rust through like Pacesetters when you can get primo stainless and still save $$$ over other brands.
Tech Resident
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,117
Likes: 3
From: Philly
The Edelbrocks make the Pacesetters look like toys. The Edelbrocks are hardly any more money than Pacesetters, and there is no doubt that the Edelbrocks will outperform the Pacesetters, too.
Pacesetters get great reviews on this site because they've been out for a long, long time, so lots of people have them. When people vote for headers, they do not usually vote for what is best, they vote for what they have, and since years ago, Pacesetters were the only budget header, tons of people have them. Pacesetters are not popular because they are the biggest bang for the buck header, and they are not the best choice by any means. For roughly the same price, you can pick from a nice coated longtube with HVMC's like Edelbrocks or stainless steel headers like the XS/LPP headers.
It may have been a good idea to get Pacesetters 2 years ago, but nowadays, it's ridiculous to even consider them.
well ****, i just bought some like 5 days ago. the xs's sound like kindof a good deal now but every time i went to that stupid lpp site it didnt work and it had that gay *** dragon on it making noises.
For the tri-tech finish Edelbrocks it is $540 for just the headers. I paid $500 shipped for my PS's and ORY. Do the $445 Edelbrocks, which are the cheapest ones, come with any sort of coating? If not, the Pacesetter's are still a better deal than the Edelbrocks. All LT's will produce close to the same HP. It has been said over and over again in numerous threads. I am not going to complain about missing out on a few hp.
If you have the money then go Stainless... It will last forever and is just a better quality... However, a lot of us would like to put money else where, hence Pacesetter...
Now back to the original topic... I run Pacesetter and haven't had any problems yet. They sound good and have great clearance.
You also may want to consider throwing a cut-out into the mix to get the best flow out of everything and sound mean as hell, but also to be able to cap it and go on a nice, quiet drive.. I've got an electric RaceReady out before the muffler and I love the thing..
Now back to the original topic... I run Pacesetter and haven't had any problems yet. They sound good and have great clearance.
You also may want to consider throwing a cut-out into the mix to get the best flow out of everything and sound mean as hell, but also to be able to cap it and go on a nice, quiet drive.. I've got an electric RaceReady out before the muffler and I love the thing..
stainless ftw. i bought pacesetters, dont have a performance prob with them but they did start rusting on the bottom half towards the collector after a year(from condensation) and they are "coated". good budget header though.
I run the Edelbrock LT's. The Ti-tech coating IMO is not as good as the ceramic coating on the Pacesetters or Hookers. I honestly don't mind, and every few months I take some grey hi-temp paint to touch up the collectors to keep them from rusting. These headers are better in every way then Pacesetters EXCEPT for the coating. The ORY is also cheaper, larger and has a very good merge.
Tech Resident
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,117
Likes: 3
From: Philly
For the tri-tech finish Edelbrocks it is $540 for just the headers. I paid $500 shipped for my PS's and ORY. Do the $445 Edelbrocks, which are the cheapest ones, come with any sort of coating? If not, the Pacesetter's are still a better deal than the Edelbrocks. All LT's will produce close to the same HP. It has been said over and over again in numerous threads. I am not going to complain about missing out on a few hp.
All longtubes do not dyno close to the same. That's a myth.
Here's a graph of QTP's vs. Pacesetters. It's just a longtube swap, nothing else:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamometer-results-comparisons/700678-results-qtp-hvmc-vs-pacesetters.html
That's a 9rwhp/7rwtq gain peak, and an ~18rwhp/31rwtq gain at ~3100rpms. That's just from a longtube swap. Edelbrocks should do the same vs. the Pacesetters because the Edelbrocks also have HVMC's, have longer primaries and keep the firing order of the engine in mind.
