honest opinion on headers...

[FadeToBlak121]

i want to know what you guys actually think of headers.

when people start modding cars, it seems everyone just focuses on exhaust instead of the engine. I want to know what you guys who have headers think of getting them. other than the sound which i know would be nice, but the performance gains. did anyone actually notice any difference?

i cant decide what mod to do next once i get my camaro running. everyone seems to think headers, but they just dont seem like theyd be that useful to me.

[Firebirdkid96]

Re: honest opinion on headers...

omg are you kidding?

if you have a catback and hi flow cat, or plan on running straight pipe, headers will definetly give you gains. it provides less resistance for air flow.

ever read the footnotes on the NOS website?

"Free Flowing Exhaust may Benefit Performance"


we can't tell you what mod to do next without knowing what you have now.

[FadeToBlak121]

Re: honest opinion on headers...

ok let me correct myself. obviously it will give me gains and i didnt mean to ask what mod i should do next. i just mean is the gain from headers really worth the money and annoyance i always hear about.

alright ill ask what mod next. i have a catback and highflow and a cai. i cant decide between headers or higher ratio rockers.

[Firebirdkid96]

Re: honest opinion on headers...

headers. rockers wont do jack for you unless you free up your exhaust flow after it leaves the heads.

yes they are worth the money, but the ceramic coating is not,

[FadeToBlak121]

Re: honest opinion on headers...

the ceramic coating is what keeps the engine bay cooler, right? its not necessary? I always thought it was a good thing to get.

[Firebirdkid96]

Re: honest opinion on headers...

cooler, yes, but not enough to justify the additional $200 if you ask me.

and it wears off after a while. and then just looks like sh*t.

if you want cooler engine bay temps, get header wrap. works just as well, and it's cheaper.

[FadeToBlak121]

Re: honest opinion on headers...

alright. thanks for the responses dude. i dont know what im gunna do right now but ive got some time to decide since i cant afford jack right now. plus i think my very next mod is gunna be a new shifter (takin your advice and gettin the pro 5.0) and then do either headers or rockers after that. then the other one after that.

but anyways, thanks for the responses.

[Firebirdkid96]

Re: honest opinion on headers...

no prob, shifter will save your trans in the long run, good luck with everything!

[superj988]

Re: honest opinion on headers...

headers are the way to go, rockers wont do much with just a catback and intake finish off the exhaust then go internal

[usp55]

Re: honest opinion on headers...

do the intake and exhaust before any engine mod or it would be power wasted because u couldnt get good cold air into the modded engine fast enough or get the exhaust out fast enough.

It would be like doing a cam with stock manifolds(restricitve)

[zpwn06]

Re: honest opinion on headers...

the ceramic coating is what keeps the engine bay cooler, right? its not necessary? I always thought it was a good thing to get.

if your going to drop several hundred on headers, the extra $150 or so the ceramic is probably worth it. Not only will you get better performance out of it, it'll protect your underhood components from damage. And it looks purty

and I'm as broke as you. (probably broker)

[mloaks]

Re: honest opinion on headers...

careful with header tape. it seals moisture, and the pipes rot quicker.

[FireEagle22]

Re: honest opinion on headers...

mloaks you beat me to the punch about that rust problem. But yeah man headers are definitely worth it. I think they really improve bootom-mid- and high range power even more than an exhaust does. My friend Mike has a V6 camaro M5 and after he got his full 3 inch magnaflow exhaust (3 inch s pipe- cat) when he would shift to second it would burn out for like a second longer than stock but now with the headers when he launches it burns out in first and burns them in 2nd for about 1 and a half seconds longer than after the exhaust. So yeah you could tell he had a decent amount of HP and Torque gains. My advice to you is get headers!!! Well worth the money especially for the sound, look and HP gains. As far as Ceramic Headers go its all up to you whether its worth the price difference. Do you care about your headers lasting for a while? Do you like the Ceramic Coating look better than the color? And also are you willing to pay the difference for a little more horsepower gain? After all we know cooler air is more compressed and larger in volume in Cubic feet per minute. Simply put 1 cubic feet per minute of cold air is greater than 1 cubic feet per minute of hot air.

[Blizzard242]

Re: honest opinion on headers...

I'd also like to add.. Most people can talk about exhaust systems because it's a pretty damn easy concept. And that's where a lot of people stop. It's kinda like teeing up a golf ball but not hitting it. BTW, if you're gonna do anything to the exhaust it's useless if you don't do the whole thing. Headers to tail pipes.

[97iastatecamaro]

Re: honest opinion on headers...

Ive got full exhaust complete for awhile now, it sounds really good and all just havent seen a huge power gain from spending 1100 to do the headers , highflow cat, flowmaster, etc. I dont think im doing any internal engine mods cuz im getting high mileage 124,000 dont see it being worth it anymore. My egr leaks air like ***** cuz the gaskets pacesetter sends burn up instantly so ive tried sealing it several times with a bonding compound thats supposed to withstand high heat but dont think it will last again. I wanted to do block off plates and just not worry bout it anymore but i dont see them for v6 just LT1s....any help here?