It is time: Headers for my car... what to get?

[TraceZ]

What should I get?

I'm going to be placing a LE3 383 under the hood in the next couple years. These headers need to be well suited for it.

I want to keep my Borla adjustable catback.

What size primary tubes should they be?

Must be 100% emissions legal, both visual and sniffer

Must be rust free, coated stainless or something of that sort.

Must be leak free, already decided on Percy's gaskets.

Can I get some sort of header bolt that will not loosen up and cause a leak?

I need to be able to install them myself in my garage with jackstands.

I was thinking about the AS&M midlengths.

What are your thoughts? I want something dependable and tidy. Something of OEM quality or better. I dont want headaches down the road. I'm willing to sacrafice some performance for this reliability if necessary.
You guys understand what I mean?? Fire away!!

[Craig 94 TA GT]

My opinion:

Brand: I would go with AS&M.

Size: 1 3/4"

Header bolt: stage 8 locking bolts or ARP 1" header bolts (haven't loosen up me yet).

Installation: Doable in a garage with jackstands...unless you break a bolt when removing the stock manifolds...then you're in for it.

My CARB exempt SLP 1 3/4" are of inferior quality. The flanges were warped on both ends. I would not suggest getting them.

Last but not least, you will not believe how loud and good it will sound when you use headers with the cutout open. It's amazing.

[TraceZ]

My opinion:

Brand: I would go with AS&M.

Size: 1 3/4"

Header bolt: stage 8 locking bolts or ARP 1" header bolts (haven't loosen up me yet).

Installation: Doable in a garage with jackstands...unless you break a bolt when removing the stock manifolds...then you're in for it.

My CARB exempt SLP 1 3/4" are of inferior quality. The flanges were warped on both ends. I would not suggest getting them.

Last but not least, you will not believe how loud and good it will sound when you use headers with the cutout open. It's amazing.

Thanks for your input. I dont think I will have any problems with broken bolts... I've had the entire cat-forward exhaust off the car in the last 2 years and it came off easily. My car is from central Texas and never seen much moisture or any salt. I've never come accross a bolt on it that didnt come right out easily.

Any onther opinions?

[raroZ28]

I'm happy with my mac mids. 1 5/8" though. The plug access is great, install was easy. You can't go Longtube?

[TraceZ]

Longtube? No, I want to keep the stock converter location.

And I need the 1 3/4 primaries, I think.

How about the RK Sport mids? I hear they are the same as the AS&M, but $150 cheaper. Are they really the same, or is it worth the extra $150 to get the AS&M?

I've heard some people say the AS&M are better because they have a better coating on them and the primaries are D shaped, to match the ports in the heads.

Also, other than some good header bolts and gaskets, what else do I need for installation? Will my Taylor Spiro-pro wires be ok in the stock locations or should I get some high temp sleaves for them just incase?

One more thing... Do these headers have a hookup for the EGR valve? I see hookups for the AIR, but dont see EGR hookups in the pictures I've been looking at.

Fred: do you have pictures of your AS&M headers before installation? What are you thoughts on yours?

[TraceZ]

What do you guys think abou the randomtech y-pipe for the AS&M mids?

Would that bolt up directly to my Borla and eliminate the need to do any welding onto the stock converter?

[Craig 94 TA GT]

If you're talking about the dual cat y-pipe, I don't think it will fit without modification. Acutally, here's an install link for AS&M + random y-pipe + Borla: http://www.go-fast.org/z28/headers.html

Based on the picture too, if you look closely, the #8 primary has the EGR hookup.

I couldn't tell you about the wires...all I know is that on my SLPs, all wires fit fine, but I needed an extra long one to wrap around for #5. But that's probably not the case with AS&M.

[TraceZ]

If you're talking about the dual cat y-pipe, I don't think it will fit without modification. Acutally, here's an install link for AS&M + random y-pipe + Borla: http://www.go-fast.org/z28/headers.html

Based on the picture too, if you look closely, the #8 primary has the EGR hookup.

I couldn't tell you about the wires...all I know is that on my SLPs, all wires fit fine, but I needed an extra long one to wrap around for #5. But that's probably not the case with AS&M.

Actually, in that write-up he says he missed a small piece of s-pipe the was buried in the bottom of the box. Maybe it does bolt in.... Does anyone know for sure?

[HottestZ28]

I had only a couple problems installing them, bolts alittle hard to tighten completely, #2 first bolt very had to install. The coating on my passenger side header rusted out right away including the y-pipe, they said they would recoat. The wires fit fine, alittle close #6 but zip tied to oil dipstick. gaskets and bolts very poor quality. Must weld 3 bolt flange to cat to install( I used test pipe). Watch wire loom around egr tube had to zip tie to cowl. To install AIR may be alittle tricky mine didn't have right thread so i just plugged them. Very happy with power gains and design.

This was for 95 single cat install

Injineer says they are good to 700HP i believe so depending on what HP range you are looking for they should be ok

[AmericanZ28]

From what Injuneer says, it's good for well up to 1200 HP. In short, I think this setup would be overkill for your application Trace. It sure wouldn't hurt though! I have the SLP 1 3/4" shorties, with a stock style Y-Pipe from random technologies (both CARB Cerified), and it was all a bolt on affair. The Y Pipe collector and Cat back matched up perfectly and didn't need anything more than an exhaust clamp. Joe swears by this set up, and even goes as far as to say that it is as good as long tubes. Thats for the 96-97 cars though. Not sure how that would work for you.

[TraceZ]

I had only a couple problems installing them, bolts alittle hard to tighten completely, #2 first bolt very had to install. The coating on my passenger side header rusted out right away including the y-pipe, they said they would recoat. The wires fit fine, alittle close #6 but zip tied to oil dipstick. gaskets and bolts very poor quality. Must weld 3 bolt flange to cat to install( I used test pipe). Watch wire loom around egr tube had to zip tie to cowl. To install AIR may be alittle tricky mine didn't have right thread so i just plugged them. Very happy with power gains and design.

This was for 95 single cat install

Injineer says they are good to 700HP i believe so depending on what HP range you are looking for they should be ok

This scares me. The coating came off and it rusted? Man, that sucks. I'm trying to avoid headaches really badly. I want a header that is solid, reliable and I'll rarely have to look at again after installation.

[TraceZ]

From what Injuneer says, it's good for well up to 1200 HP. In short, I think this setup would be overkill for your application Trace. It sure wouldn't hurt though! I have the SLP 1 3/4" shorties, with a stock style Y-Pipe from random technologies (both CARB Cerified), and it was all a bolt on affair. The Y Pipe collector and Cat back matched up perfectly and didn't need anything more than an exhaust clamp. Joe swears by this set up, and even goes as far as to say that it is as good as long tubes. Thats for the 96-97 cars though. Not sure how that would work for you.

I had heard that the SLP system was of lower quality than the AS&M, that was why I didnt consider them originally. I really want something I can bolt on and forget about. Honestly, I'd rather keep my manifolds except that they will choke the new motor. Ford installed tubular headers on Mustangs for years from the factory and nobody had problems with them. Where is the factory quality and relaibility in aftermarket headers for our cars?

[Joe 1320]

From what Injuneer says, it's good for well up to 1200 HP. In short, I think this setup would be overkill for your application Trace. It sure wouldn't hurt though! I have the SLP 1 3/4" shorties, with a stock style Y-Pipe from random technologies (both CARB Cerified), and it was all a bolt on affair. The Y Pipe collector and Cat back matched up perfectly and didn't need anything more than an exhaust clamp. Joe swears by this set up, and even goes as far as to say that it is as good as long tubes. Thats for the 96-97 cars though. Not sure how that would work for you.

It depends on the application. SLP shorties are a great setup, but with power adders and/or lots of cubes, there may be a better choice. For a stockish motor the shorties with a high flow Y pipe are only a few HP off from long tubes and there are no ground clearance issues on lowered cars.

[TraceZ]

It depends on the application. SLP shorties are a great setup, but with power adders and/or lots of cubes, there may be a better choice. For a stockish motor the shorties with a high flow Y pipe are only a few HP off from long tubes and there are no ground clearance issues on lowered cars.

Hmm. Maybe I'll look into the SLP setup.. I might as well, everything else on my car is from SLP.

[Joe 1320]

Hmm. Maybe I'll look into the SLP setup.. I might as well, everything else on my car is from SLP.

If you are going to consider them, there are a few things to be aware of. They are 50 state smog legal, a big plus.
They fit in the stock configuration, a big plus.
They do provide decent gains, but don't benefit from longer collectors which tend to boost torque below the engine's torque peak. With the low end torque of an LT-1, this point is almost moot.
Some people have had issues with the flanges not being completely flat. I've seen that with all headers though.
Get percey's dead soft aluminum gaskets and locking header bolts. It's the only way to go.

The Y pipe has a huge impact on the performance of the combination in 96-97 dual cat cars. The factory Y pipe and cat configuration is horrible at best. Simply adding the headers and retaining the factory Y pipe offers only modest gains.

I've been happy with mine and with stock heads and cam, traction limited 13.0s are regular.