Header sound differences?
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From: Rockwall, TX
Header sound differences? Do different brand headers make different exhaust notes? Such as some being smoother/quieter and others being louder/choppier? Im comparing brands of longtubes, hooker, pacesetter, kooks, jet-hot. Not comparing shorties/mids/longtubes.
Well, they all will sound a bit different, a larger diameter header will pop more and sound louder, a long tube Will be louder as it is more efficient at removing exhaust away from the car meaning the sound will go out with it easier.
An open header is an open header. Its loud and sounds like Hell. As far as the sound goes, it all depends on your cat back.
I'd go with scheewt97z and worry about power gains and fitment.
I'd go with scheewt97z and worry about power gains and fitment.
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From: Rockwall, TX
I already have longtubes. I was just wondering b/c me and my friend have the same motor, stock LT1 with a comp306 cam. I am running a little bit more compression, pacesetter headers/ypipe and a stock catback with a cutout. Hes got the same setup but with hooker headers. His idle is 850, and mine is 800, and his car sounds a lot meaner. I was just wondering if the headers or the idle would make the difference.
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Originally Posted by 69gto96z
I already have longtubes. I was just wondering b/c me and my friend have the same motor, stock LT1 with a comp306 cam. I am running a little bit more compression, pacesetter headers/ypipe and a stock catback with a cutout. Hes got the same setup but with hooker headers. His idle is 850, and mine is 800, and his car sounds a lot meaner. I was just wondering if the headers or the idle would make the difference.
well remember his car has a catback on it. it depends on where the cut outs are, and you also have to remember you have stock catback, which is going to silince the sound more than his hooker catback will because not all of the exhuast gas will go out of the cut out. a catback will change the sound of the car with a cutout from different angles, mostly from behind the car.
Originally Posted by Red96TA
higher compression also adds to how it sounds i think...
very true! but the guy who started the thread in theory should have a louder, nastier sounding car because of the compression. i still think its the catback.
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We are running the same stock catback, with a cutout in the same spot on our cars. Both of us have the tips removed also, in the exact same spot. Its no the catback. The only thing I could come up with was its the headers.
i have the hooker aerochamber muffler with my lts, its nice and mellow til about 2300 rpms, then it gets a nice little exhaust note to it. at wot, its loud. not like open headers, but way louder than stock.
Originally Posted by 69gto96z
We are running the same stock catback, with a cutout in the same spot on our cars. Both of us have the tips removed also, in the exact same spot. Its no the catback. The only thing I could come up with was its the headers.
oh and does he think yours sounds better? Because thats usually the way it is, everyone thinks the other person souds/looks better.
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It is his old set-up, and I was following what he did, b/c I have seen it in action. And he never said his sounds better, I think his sounds way better 
As for the exhaust being exactly the same, I was tired of my dumped exhaust, and wanted something I could quiet down/make loud when I want, and he happened to have this old stock system laying around, and gave it to me for free since I am on a budget, and it is what I could get when I needed it
As for the exhaust being exactly the same, I was tired of my dumped exhaust, and wanted something I could quiet down/make loud when I want, and he happened to have this old stock system laying around, and gave it to me for free since I am on a budget, and it is what I could get when I needed it 
when I went from MAC shorties to Hooker LT's (SLP 2otL catback no cat) my exhaust note went to a higher pitch
the shorties were noticably more deep and rumbly
the y-pipe did change so I would guess that contributed as well
the shorties were noticably more deep and rumbly
the y-pipe did change so I would guess that contributed as well
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From: Spencerport, NY
Originally Posted by 69gto96z
I already have longtubes. I was just wondering b/c me and my friend have the same motor, stock LT1 with a comp306 cam. I am running a little bit more compression, pacesetter headers/ypipe and a stock catback with a cutout. Hes got the same setup but with hooker headers. His idle is 850, and mine is 800, and his car sounds a lot meaner. I was just wondering if the headers or the idle would make the difference.
Last edited by B4CZR2; Sep 4, 2007 at 10:31 AM.
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From: Rockwall, TX
I will get you a sound clip. Im am off at college, and wont be home til this weekend. And the car is sitting at home on jacks right now with no tranny. As for the reducer part, I am just going to expand the stock pipe where it meets up to the y-pipe, and either band clamp it on, or weld on a pair of 3 bolt flanges their to make removal of the catback nice and easy.