do i really need headers

[mike malloy]

i have a full 3inch exhaust except for headers. i run a 75 shot of n20. in like 2 months i have a cam going in also. it's going to have the same specs as ironman. nothing too wild. my question is do i really need headers. i know slacker69 is having a topend problem right cause of his freeflowing exhaust. i would also like to save 500 bucks. i was thinknig of just putting in a 3inch y-pipe and leaving the stock manifolds in place.. also i'm not getting any head work done and i'm not porting my tb...

[wolf]

It would be better to have headers and the 2.5 y-pipe,because you dont want exhust going back into your engine,witch could happen /w 3' pipe and stock manifolds IMO

I'd at least get the 2000+ tubular manifolds

[ May 30, 2002: Message edited by: wolf ]</p>

[Patrick Javert]

the headers will get you a few hp, maybe 5-10 max. if you have the stock cat. conv., that is the biggest restriction in your exhaust. that is providing the most backpresure. to keep some low-end, you can just get new headers and keep the stock cat in place until you're putting more air throught the engine w/ heads/cam or forced induction.

[W68Firebird97]

I would definatly get headers. especially since you have the sh!tty exhaust manifolds like me.
Off Topic but do you have a 1 piece driveshft, cause that will help you out.

[Patrick Javert]

another suggestion, get higher ratio rocker arms. Since you are not planning to P&P heads, the best way to get more top end is to make the heads flow more than they do now. www.3800performance has several types and ratio's of rocker arms, going from aluminum roller 1.6:1 to aluminum roller 1.75:1 to aluminum roller 1.9:1. the kits are between 300-500 bucks. try this and dyno your car to see if the top end still drops off. When you order your cam in the next 2 months, you'll have to have one custom made if you get higher ratio rocker arms. You'll have to tell them what ratio you're running at that time and they will set up the cam w/ less lift than they would w/ 1.6:1 stock rockers. If you have a certain amount of lift you wish to attain, tell them that as well as the rocker ratio you're running and they'll set it up accordingly. I say get the headers and a bigger cat, either 2.5" in/out or 3" in/out. By reducing backpressure in the exhaust, you are raising the torque peak to a higher rpm in the powerband, and possibly losing a few points of it as well. Horsepower, while dependent on torque output, will increase drastically since it is also dependent on rpm as well. more torque up high=lots more hp up high. Also as W68firebird97 said, a aluminum driveshaft will help put more hp to the ground, as well as allow you to rev quicker and get into the car's powerband easier. Our cars respond very well to aspiration changes(intake, exhaust, cam, heads, n2o, forced induction) and any changes to allow more air to flow more easily through the engine will only help produce more power.

[Seal]

imo, headers are alot of money and work for what they give :/