I know this has been covered before, I even spent about 2 hours reading through past posts, but I want to know what everyone thinks. I have a 2002 Z28 M6 and I am going to buy headers and a y-pipe preferably w/cats (all the 2001 and 2002's I know that have O2 sims run really rich)

My OPTIONS:

SLP Longtubes?
FLP Long Tubes w/their cats?
Mac headers w/mac pipe & converters?
Hooker headers?
Random Tech Cats?
Whose cats are the best?
Whose headers?
whose y-pipe can I use w/what headers and cats?
Custom made Y-pipe?
ported MAC headers?
Custom welded Collector?
Ground Clearance?
Most power?
Whatever headers I get will be coated!
I don't want problems w/exhaust leaks!
I have professional tools and a lift so no install should ever be a problem!
I will probably do heads and a cam at some point, and maybe TNT Nitrous kit!

 

It all depends on your priorities and budget.

Macs:
Pros
- PRICE. This is the answer for budget minded folks that want the peak rwhp, but are willing to sacrifice midrange power in change for the lower price tag
- Good ground clearance, no clamps in strange places to snag speed bumps
- Seem to make same peak rwhp as longtubes
- Easy to install from the top
Cons
- Less midrange power
- poor quality welds, need to be cleaned up
- mac cats supposedly suck

FLPs:
Pros
- Quality looking headers, longtube design gives great midrange power over the midlength headers (macs).
- Interchangable "race pipes" and "cat pipes" using V-Clamps. Both included in package price.
- Easy to install from the bottom
- According to flow readings taken by www.installuniversity.com , the cats that come with the FLP's are some of the highest flowing cats you can buy.
Cons
- Price tag
- VClamps have a larger diamater than the ypipe tubing (of course) and they tend to scrape on speed bumps if your car is lowered...even with the ypipe adjusted up as high as it'll go (ie, rubbing on the floor pan)
- no real substantial rwhp gain over macs at the upper RPM range
- Adjustment *may* be needed after install to make ypipe clear the floor pans and/or steering shaft bolt.
- VClamps leak after being scraped many times on speed bumps

Grots:
Pros
- Considered by many to be *the* best header for peak rwhp. Many of the highest dyno'ing cars have used grots...may be coincidence, may be something there. A stock headed car in austin made 396rwhp through grots on Colvins dyno. Thats a lot of power for bone stock heads.
- Quality header, flanges, and coating
Cons
- Ypipe at one time really sucked ***, which may or may not mean you need to make your own
- If not in stock at a vendor, there is no telling when grot may or may not make your headers. Old stories used to tell of 1 year wait times while they were promised a few week wait times.
- PITA to install. One guy dug a huge pit in his yard, put his wife in the pit with header in hand, and drove the car over the pit. The point is, you need to get the car up in the air pretty high to install.

SLP
Dunno anything about SLP's and I dont care to <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

And if you are stuck trying to decide between MACS and FLPS, this thread might help....Pictures and measurements of macs and FLPS:
https://ls1tech.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ulti...c&f=1&t=000613

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jmX:
[QB]It all depends on your priorities and budget.

Macs:
Pros
- PRICE. This is the answer for budget minded folks that want the peak rwhp, but are willing to sacrifice midrange power in change for the lower price tag
- Good ground clearance, no clamps in strange places to snag speed bumps
- Seem to make same peak rwhp as longtubes
- Easy to install from the top
Cons
- Less midrange power
- poor quality welds, need to be cleaned up
- mac cats supposedly suck

How much RWHP do you gain normally from the MAC's?

 

wait and see what happens with the HOOKERS.

looks good to me so far.

Brad

 

Well let me throw the online poll
at this

http://ls1info.com/pollBooth.php?op=...&order=&thold=

Very good write up jmx..

I have the slp.. not to hard to install, great
finish.. they do hand down just a bit low..
but the price is right.

 

SLP LT's, RT Cats, and 3 inch "Y" Pipe. If they sucked I would not recommend them. Quality fit & finish is perfect. <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">



[ December 31, 2001: Message edited by: Todd2001SS ]</p>

 

I've got a friend who's wanting headers and I keep telling him to wait about a month. The new Bassani mid lengths and Hookers are supposed to be for sale in January. No reason to run out and buy MACs, FLPs, TTS, G-hanns, or SLPs when there are 2 new types coming out soon.

 

FLP's all the way <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0"> i'll have my dyno sheet up with them soon <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0">

 

I will wait and check out the Hooker's maybe pick up some macs used to run for a while, will I get it all figured out, plan to do alot of before and after dynoing at colvin(I live in Austin TX). THANKS,

hey Todd2001SS, Is your y-pipe and RT cats from SLP or did you buy the cats and have a pipe made????????????????????????????????

Am I right to want cats cause all my friends with 02 sims run rich on their 2001 and 2002's

 

I will wait and check out the Hooker's maybe pick up some macs used to run for a while, will I get it all figured out, plan to do alot of before and after dynoing at colvin(I live in Austin TX). THANKS,

hey Todd2001SS, Is your y-pipe and RT cats from SLP or did you buy the cats and have a pipe made????????????????????????????????

Am I right to want cats cause all my friends with 02 sims run rich on their 2001 and 2002's

 

FLP's.... <img src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" />

 

"- PITA to install. One guy dug a huge pit in his yard, put his wife in the pit with header in hand, and drove the car over the pit. The point is, you need to get the car up in the air pretty high to install."

LOL! I can see that now! Bet she got a nice dinner that night!


Casey

 

[quote]Originally posted by SERIALPIMP:
[QB]
hey Todd2001SS, Is your y-pipe and RT cats from SLP or did you buy the cats and have a pipe made????????????????????????????????
<hr></blockquote>

The Y-Pipe and RT Cats are all from SLP. All fit like a glove. I painted the Y-Pipe before the installation.

Sorry I took so long to respond, monster in law, I mean mother in law visiting and working to much. <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

 

[quote]Originally posted by 2000SLVR_Z28:
<strong>[QUOTE]Originally posted by jmX:
[QB]
How much RWHP do you gain normally from the MAC's?</strong><hr></blockquote>

I gained 22rwhp and 16rwtq with my MAC headers and offroad pipe. I was very pleased and I didn't pay $1000 for them either. I bought them used from "Java" and they cost me roughly $500 and that included a custom ypipe with bullet mufflers welded in, o2 simms, shipping, and a nice porting job on the headers themselves.

I haven't heard of '01s and '02s running rich with o2 simms. Adding headers to your car will certainly make it run a little richer. You can always correct that with a MAF translator which is what I did.

Chris G

 

[quote]Originally posted by 2000SLVR_Z28:
<strong>
How much RWHP do you gain normally from the MAC's?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Here's my before and after:
http://jmx.car-audio.net/car/dynograph-7-19-00.jpg

 

[quote]Originally posted by SERIALPIMP:
<strong>maybe pick up some macs used to run for a while,</strong><hr></blockquote>

If you get macs with mac cats, dont expect more than 10rwhp gain.

If your car runs rich from not having cats (o2 simms have no effect on your A/F ratio..rear o2's are just there so the computer can see if you have cats) then there are plenty of ways to lean it back out. Ported maf, maf translator, soon ls1 edit, etc.

 

[quote]Originally posted by jmX:
- PITA to install. One guy dug a huge pit in his yard, put his wife in the pit with header in hand, and drove the car over the pit. The point is, you need to get the car up in the air pretty high to install.
<hr></blockquote>

- Mark is famous for this one (1madSS)

<img src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

 

slp's! start to finish install took 5-6 hrs and did it in the driveway on jack stands with hand tools and was our ( me and 2 friends) 1st time to ever do headers on any car, i dont see how yall are having so much trouble installing these headers??? <img src="images/icons/confused.gif" border="0">