New LS1 Owners - Newbie Tech Basic Technical Questions & Advice
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Header research...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 3, 2008 | 06:47 PM
  #1  
Ruedy4's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Medina,OH
Red face Header research...

I have a 2000 TA Ls1 and i'm looking for headers. From previous posts i have learned that shorties are a waste of time. And i'm not sure about long tubes due to e-check, difficulty with install (since all i have is a driveway and jackstands, if ya feel me!), and clearance issues because i plan to lower the car up to 2in. So does anyone have any input on the MAC midlength headers And would they be worth it for what i'm looking to do? I have heard more good things than bad. Also are they available for '00 to '02 LS1? Thanks again for you help!
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2008 | 06:54 PM
  #2  
Sharpe's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,996
Likes: 1
From: Southeastern IL
Default

Well, you learned that shorties are worthless, but you missed the point. Only longtubes are really worth the time.

There's high-priced stainless steel headers that will last for 100 years, Kooks and QTP (I have QTP). American Racing Headers very recently became very popular on this site as well. Or, cheap ones like Pacesetter that you can but already coated. Make sure to get them coated if you go that route, because they also come un-coated.

There is a small debate about wether high-priced headers make any more power than budget ones. Most (including me) believe that they don't. I almost didn't even include this as the argument for high dollar headers making more power is so shaky.
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2008 | 08:34 PM
  #3  
9000th01ss's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,235
Likes: 2
Default

You'll be better off with the cheapest long tubes you can find if you're going to lower it two inches. One big pothole or manhole cover and they're done.
I have pacesetters with stock ride height, look under my car and the first thing that jumps out is the passenger side primary tube.
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2008 | 08:56 PM
  #4  
Ruedy4's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Medina,OH
Default

Ya see, i don't want to worry about that when i lower it. My buddy took his header off on a speed bump with his 94 TA which was lowered 2in. I'm hoping to avoid that if at all possible. heh heh
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2008 | 09:49 PM
  #5  
35thLE02's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Default

Originally Posted by 9000th01ss
You'll be better off with the cheapest long tubes you can find if you're going to lower it two inches. One big pothole or manhole cover and they're done.
I have pacesetters with stock ride height, look under my car and the first thing that jumps out is the passenger side primary tube.
Same for me. my kooks passenger primary tube is huge. im lowered 1 inch and way too afraid to go any more
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2008 | 10:15 PM
  #6  
PassionateZ's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by 9000th01ss
You'll be better off with the cheapest long tubes you can find if you're going to lower it two inches. One big pothole or manhole cover and they're done.
I have pacesetters with stock ride height, look under my car and the first thing that jumps out is the passenger side primary tube.
As a matter of fact ( i only had stock headers)..but my 96' z28 w/ an eibach spring kit (lowered of course), hit the railroad tracks going 20-25mph broke two bolts and was hanging (scratched to hell, sparks flying ect....) Now in my 02' Z28, Im going to go with armor coated PaceSetters, and i can almost guarantee that them vs. the "best" (700+$$ kooks, or whatever) wont be over a 2-4rwhp difference
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2008 | 12:21 PM
  #7  
99blancoSS's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (115)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,892
Likes: 3
From: ST Helens, OR
Default

Shorties are minimal gains. There are plenty of people with them on their cars so you can find results by a search for them. 2" is a lot to lower so you definately dont want anything hanging out the bottom.
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2008 | 12:33 PM
  #8  
Kingc8r's Avatar
11 Second Club
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (21)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,565
Likes: 59
From: SF Bay Area
Default

I would also look at Hooker headers. Speedtweekerz sells them Ceramic Coated for like 379 which is what I went with. As other's have said don't even both with shorties or mids....
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-6

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
Old Jun 4, 2008 | 12:39 PM
  #9  
99blancoSS's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (115)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,892
Likes: 3
From: ST Helens, OR
Default

The advantage to shorties that should be ponted out is that they allow you to keep your cats in the stock location. This is important to people in states like Cali with visual inspections.
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2008 | 12:44 PM
  #10  
Kingc8r's Avatar
11 Second Club
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (21)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,565
Likes: 59
From: SF Bay Area
Default

^ some smog shops will let you get away with that setup. I've been told no way on the visual when my cats were moved from their stock location.....
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2008 | 12:47 PM
  #11  
Kingc8r's Avatar
11 Second Club
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (21)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,565
Likes: 59
From: SF Bay Area
Default

Eh I just pay for my smog if you know what I mean. A couple shops refused my old cars because of the altered location of my cats....though
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2008 | 12:48 PM
  #12  
Kingc8r's Avatar
11 Second Club
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (21)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,565
Likes: 59
From: SF Bay Area
Default

I'm moving to Arizona soon so I won't have to worry about the California Smog ***** as much....since AZ is a little more lax and I can just register my car in a county that doesn't have smog
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2008 | 01:22 PM
  #13  
99blancoSS's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (115)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,892
Likes: 3
From: ST Helens, OR
Default

Originally Posted by Kingc8r
I'm moving to Arizona soon so I won't have to worry about the California Smog ***** as much....since AZ is a little more lax and I can just register my car in a county that doesn't have smog

LOL, we have people do that around here. Work fine as long as you don't get caught...LOL

Its cheaper to register you car in Oregon than Washington so people do teh same thing. reigter heree and live there. So what the state did to recover lost revunues was hav the police take note. Drive to work with Oregon plate while you live in Washington was an easy but for the cops.

SO the moral is its fine until you get caught!

Its your choice, I wont advocate breaking the law, even if I do it myself.
LOL
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:22 AM.

story-0
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-1
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-3
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-6
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-7
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-8
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE