Starting with headers? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

1LE801 · 01-01-2014, 12:23 AM

With the high cost of cat back exhaust systems, would it be beneficial to put headers on my 14 1LE as my first performance upgrade?

GMTool · 01-01-2014, 12:35 AM

Yes. That's actually a smart thing to do. There is not much performance benefit to a cat back. Mostly just sound and weight reduction. The stock exhaust will sound a lot better with headers. Get a cat back later when you have the funds and or want more sound. You will also want a cold air intake and a tune with those headers.

1LE801 · 01-01-2014, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMTool

Yes. That's actually a smart thing to do. There is not much performance benefit to a cat back. Mostly just sound and weight reduction. The stock exhaust will sound a lot better with headers. Get a cat back later when you have the funds and or want more sound. You will also want a cold air intake and a tune with those headers.

Not willing to void warranty already. 185 miles is a little early. So considering that I am not willing to tune (void warranty) would you still recommend headers?

trw427ss · 01-01-2014, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1LE801

Not willing to void warranty already. 185 miles is a little early. So considering that I am not willing to tune (void warranty) would you still recommend headers?

Yes. You can do headers without a tune.

Mikes SS · 01-01-2014, 01:00 AM

If you don't want the check engine light to come on though, you'll have to spring the extra cash for Kooks Green Cats.

Bo White · 01-01-2014, 01:05 AM

On these newer pony cars start at the front of the exhaust and work your way back for power and sound.

GMTool · 01-01-2014, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1LE801

Not willing to void warranty already. 185 miles is a little early. So considering that I am not willing to tune (void warranty) would you still recommend headers?

No. Headers without a tune will cause a check engine light to come on because of the rear o2 sensors think there is a problem and you do not get the full benefits of headers. The car will not be at top performance, myself I would not do it. I can't think its good for your engine to run rich and be down on power because it is not tuned properly. I tuned my car at 7 weeks old with 2200 miles. A lot of people have tuned their cars with less miles than that.
I would drive it for a while until you know it's not a lemon, talk with your service manager at your dealer and discuss it with him. See how he feels about warranty work after a tune. Like I said above, I would not install headers on my car without a proper tune. There is a lot of info on the forum about this. Here is a couple threads I quickly found.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180845
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7299382

cal45 · 01-01-2014, 01:09 AM

I'm in the same boat with you - don't want to void a warranty on my 14 that I just bought on 12/07/13. I added a K&N CAI and my next will be shorty headers. They won't pack the performance of long tubes but the shorty's don't need a tune and won't throw CEL alarms as they bolt up to the stock cats, and you should get 10 or more RWHP...plus a little more tone from the stock exhaust. I was going to do a cat back or axel back, but as stated - that upgrade is mostly for sound and does not add to performance. Once I have miles and a few yrs burnt from the factory warranty - that's when I will do more intensive performance mods.....this car is my daily driver and that's my 1st priority.

1LE801 · 01-01-2014, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMTool

No. Headers without a tune will cause a check engine light to come on because of the rear o2 sensors think there is a problem and you do not get the full benefits of headers. The car will not be at top performance, myself I would not do it. I can't think its good for your engine to run rich and be down on power because it is not tuned properly. I tuned my car at 7 weeks old with 2200 miles. A lot of people have tuned their cars with less miles than that.
I would drive it for a while until you know it's not a lemon, talk with your service manager at your dealer and discuss it with him. See how he feels about warranty work after a tune. Like I said above, I would not install headers on my car without a proper tune. There is a lot of info on the forum about this. Here is a couple threads I quickly found.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180845
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7299382

Thank you!

ilirg · 01-01-2014, 01:16 AM

Get HF cats and an intake you won't be disappointed. IMHO dumping your warranty for a tune and Lt headers is not worth it. Wait until the warranty is done then go nuts!

ST1LE · 01-01-2014, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilirg

Get HF cats and an intake you won't be disappointed. IMHO dumping your warranty for a tune and Lt headers is not worth it. Wait until the warranty is done then go nuts!

+1! Get some high flow cats and dont WASTE your money on shorties. High flow cats will improve the sound of your cat back and give you more power without the need for a tune. As far as shorties go, they are not really worth the money.

Msmall143 · 01-01-2014, 01:55 AM

If you are wanting long tube headers without a tune you have a couple options
1 - go with any long tube header and cats and expect and deal with a check engine light
2 - go with a long tune header that fits one of the newer green cats. This will cost a few hundred more but won't cause cel's

Realize with both you will not be getting the most out of the mods and you WILL NOT be running ideally. You are basically choosing to risk damaging your engine by not tuning and in turn not running optimally to maintain a warranty. To me it doesnt make sense to "run poorly in order to maintain warranty". You also have to realize that the headers are going to void a portion of the warranty and should an issue arise you still may be faced with an uphill battle to have something covered under warranty.

Even with a tune many dealerships cover repairs that do not need to be approved by gm. The majority of repairs don't require imaging of the ecu and dealers typically just overlook the tune.

Personally i would never ask a service manager. He doesn't make policy and he may not be there when something goes wrong. If you do, ask him to put his answer in writing and see how fast he back tracks. Asking the service manager is just asking for a he said she said scenario down the road. And when the time comes he's going to be more interested in keeping his job than his word

To me you're either in or out. Keep it stock, or mod and tune. There isn't a middle ground.

your asking the right questions! I was recently looking at the green cats to avoid a tune, but after extensive research I felt the smart choice was tune.

To answer your question. Yes lt's are a great first mod.

My first mods were cai, pfadt headers, and a canned tune and I gained 43 rwhp. I know this for a fact as I did ore and post install dynos. Probably 50-60 to the flywheel

GMTool · 01-01-2014, 02:05 AM

I told the service manager at the dealership that if something on my car fails and GM won't pay for it then I get to upgrade and replaced the failed parts with the good parts. We laughed. I have a good relationship with the guys there. They are really cool about mods.

AC · 01-01-2014, 03:07 AM

+1 on high flow cats and intake.

01-01-2014, 12:23 AM	#1
1LE801 "Lohla" Drives: 2016 1SS A8 :"Lohla" Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Utah Posts: 711 View My Garage	Starting with headers? With the high cost of cat back exhaust systems, would it be beneficial to put headers on my 14 1LE as my first performance upgrade?

01-01-2014, 12:35 AM	#2
GMTool MY SS is SOLD Drives: AGM 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS L99 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Southwest Illinois Posts: 1,838	Yes. That's actually a smart thing to do. There is not much performance benefit to a cat back. Mostly just sound and weight reduction. The stock exhaust will sound a lot better with headers. Get a cat back later when you have the funds and or want more sound. You will also want a cold air intake and a tune with those headers. __________________ CAI, Dynatech Headers, HF Cats, JRE Tuned, Corsa Cat Back, Strut Tower Brace.

01-01-2014, 01:05 AM	#6
Bo White Drives: 2015 Summit White 2SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vance Alabama Posts: 8,018	On these newer pony cars start at the front of the exhaust and work your way back for power and sound. __________________ Retired wanna be cylinder head porter 2015 2SS 1LE Clutch reservoir, Vararam DRX, ported TB, TSP 2" headers, MGW shifter Totalled: 2010 1SS Wilkes Performance/Eagle 416 shortblock, TSP custom valvetrain, PRC 260 heads, Edelbrock Pro Flo 102, th400 swap, 8" PTC 5500 stall= 535/435 at the wheels tuned Gen 3 Performance and Dyno 10.97 @ 124 full weight in 3100 DA CamaroFest X

01-01-2014, 02:05 AM	#13
GMTool MY SS is SOLD Drives: AGM 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS L99 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Southwest Illinois Posts: 1,838	I told the service manager at the dealership that if something on my car fails and GM won't pay for it then I get to upgrade and replaced the failed parts with the good parts. We laughed. I have a good relationship with the guys there. They are really cool about mods. __________________ CAI, Dynatech Headers, HF Cats, JRE Tuned, Corsa Cat Back, Strut Tower Brace.

01-01-2014, 03:07 AM	#14
AC *GO HOGS GO* Drives: 68/327 & 10 2SS SIM w/ CGM Stripes Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 1,796 View My Garage	+1 on high flow cats and intake. __________________ ProCharger F1A, ID1000 Injectors, SW Headers, SW full 3" Exhaust, BMR Suspension, CCW 10"/11.5", DBA Rotors, 3.91's, 560/570 hp/tq ProCharger F1A, VMax TB, ID1000 Injectors, SW Headers, SW full 3" Exhaust, BMR Suspension & 4 Point Strut Tower Brace, 3.91 Gears, DBA Rotors Heritage Grille, CCW SP16a Wheels 10"/11.5" Nitto 275/40 315/35, Painted Calipers, Blackout: Bowtie, Rear Panel, Markers & Side Vents, SS Fender Badges, 6.2L Cowl Lettering, Pistol Grip Shifter, RPI SS Door Kick Plates, Billet Cup Holder, Fesler Shift Boot, Lloyd Floor Mats..(1/4: 12.917 @ 109.63)

01-01-2014, 01:00 AM	#5
Mikes SS Drives: '10 CGM 2SS/RS 6M Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 1,032 View My Garage	If you don't want the check engine light to come on though, you'll have to spring the extra cash for Kooks Green Cats.

01-01-2014, 01:09 AM	#8
cal45 Drives: 2015 Blue Velvet Metallic ZL1 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Orlando & Flagler Beach,FL Posts: 1,453	I'm in the same boat with you - don't want to void a warranty on my 14 that I just bought on 12/07/13. I added a K&N CAI and my next will be shorty headers. They won't pack the performance of long tubes but the shorty's don't need a tune and won't throw CEL alarms as they bolt up to the stock cats, and you should get 10 or more RWHP...plus a little more tone from the stock exhaust. I was going to do a cat back or axel back, but as stated - that upgrade is mostly for sound and does not add to performance. Once I have miles and a few yrs burnt from the factory warranty - that's when I will do more intensive performance mods.....this car is my daily driver and that's my 1st priority.

01-01-2014, 01:16 AM	#10
ilirg Drives: 2011 Camaro 2ss Join Date: May 2013 Location: nj Posts: 1,559	Get HF cats and an intake you won't be disappointed. IMHO dumping your warranty for a tune and Lt headers is not worth it. Wait until the warranty is done then go nuts!

01-01-2014, 01:55 AM	#12
Msmall143 Drives: Camaro Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: NOVA Posts: 1,718	If you are wanting long tube headers without a tune you have a couple options 1 - go with any long tube header and cats and expect and deal with a check engine light 2 - go with a long tune header that fits one of the newer green cats. This will cost a few hundred more but won't cause cel's Realize with both you will not be getting the most out of the mods and you WILL NOT be running ideally. You are basically choosing to risk damaging your engine by not tuning and in turn not running optimally to maintain a warranty. To me it doesnt make sense to "run poorly in order to maintain warranty". You also have to realize that the headers are going to void a portion of the warranty and should an issue arise you still may be faced with an uphill battle to have something covered under warranty. Even with a tune many dealerships cover repairs that do not need to be approved by gm. The majority of repairs don't require imaging of the ecu and dealers typically just overlook the tune. Personally i would never ask a service manager. He doesn't make policy and he may not be there when something goes wrong. If you do, ask him to put his answer in writing and see how fast he back tracks. Asking the service manager is just asking for a he said she said scenario down the road. And when the time comes he's going to be more interested in keeping his job than his word To me you're either in or out. Keep it stock, or mod and tune. There isn't a middle ground. your asking the right questions! I was recently looking at the green cats to avoid a tune, but after extensive research I felt the smart choice was tune. To answer your question. Yes lt's are a great first mod. My first mods were cai, pfadt headers, and a canned tune and I gained 43 rwhp. I know this for a fact as I did ore and post install dynos. Probably 50-60 to the flywheel