PFADT Headers Install & Tune – Independent Dyno Data, Product Review & Experience

[IMJ]

Dyno Pull Results
Independent Dyno Baseline Results Pull #1 | 06/01/13
Done At: FLP Motorsports in Naperville, IL on their DynoJet
Results: Max Power: 366.96 | Max Torque: 362.50 (on the opposing run)
Dyno Sheet Scan


Independent Dyno Baseline Results Pull #2 | 08/08/13
Done At: Nickey Chicago in St. Charles, IL on their DynoJet
Results: Max Power: 379.83 | Max Torque: 379.82
NOTE: These results are reproduced below as well, but here's the initial pull. Nickey's has a video of the baseline pull on their Facebook page as well.
Dyno Sheet Scan:


Independent Dyno Headers Installed Results | 08/12/13
Done At: Nickey Chicago in St. Charles, IL on their DynoJet
Results: Max Power: 403.37 | Max Torque: 395.97
Dyno Sheet Scan:


Independent Dyno Headers + Tune Results | 08/13/13
Done At: Nickey Chicago in St. Charles, IL on their DynoJet
Results:
Dyno Sheet Scan:

I believe that these dyno results are good independent tests. Although there is some variation there (greater than I initially recalled before looking at the FLP sheet again, but there it is in the scans), it's a ballpark dyno figure. These baselines should be a good relative indicator of a starting point as they were done at two different shops, both on DynoJet dyno's, and they were in somewhat close agreement (FLP's dyno peaked at 366.96 while Nickey's dyno peaked at 379.83). The next dyno pull shows results after the headers were installed, and showed an increase of 23.254 hp over the baseline pull at Nickey's once the PFADT Tri-Y Headers were installed (no tune). The third pull (coming tomorrow) will show the increase after the car was tuned at Nickey Chicago, a well known and reputable shop and vintage muscle car reseller residing in St. Charles, IL a short drive from downtown Chicago.

Outcomes vs. Claims
As always, independent testing with a baseline pull seems to be a more accurate measure of a performance part's affect than any manufacturer claims. PFADT has provided a lot of data about their headers, but I would say that clarity is still best, so rather than promoting their product's outcomes on unrelated or tangentially related cars (as was exemplified by this thread in the "SS" area of the forums), parts manufacturers best foot forward is simply to note that the part was tested on the precise car they built it for, and usually in stock trim. I'm reminded of the 0 ohm plug wire thread where a video taped dyno pull was done showing gains for wires on a car that was heavily modified where any reason related to synergy in the build could have resulted in the increase.

I learned a lot about headers from my installer - more than I knew going in. With that said, based on input from Nickey Chicago as well as what I've learned about headers since starting this mod, these do appear to be a good set of headers on the market, but the claims about "40 hp increases" etc, in my opinion are inaccurate, or at the very least misapplied due to reporting on applications other than the SS, or inflating the outcomes by combinging them with tunes and other randomized modifications.

Put simply, my baseline pull for my LS3 with cheesy mods (Borla cat back, VMAX TB and Granatelli Wires, along with RP fluids) resulted in 379 hp with agreement between two independent dynos in the area, and the pull after only adding the headers was 403.37 peak. So we are looking at an increase of 23.254 horsepower, very respectable in my opinion, but far from the 40 something HP claims that have been kicked around here and there.

I haven't driven or heard the car yet, but I'll add that info when I do. In a nutshell though, taking into account the dyno results as well as the input from my very experienced installer, the PFADT headers seem like other quality headers on the market. I would say however, that while manufacturers are entering an era of quantifying and reporting testing on their parts, they are doing so using the most extreme results. Going forward I would hope that we see the hobby evolve and that more manufacturers move away from extreme results reporting in the future, and rely on conservative testing which will only result in capitalism forcing the industry to continuously improve more quickly.

Additional Threads
Installer Comments Found HERE
Product Manufacturer Comments Found HERE

[IMJ]

Updated with the most current dyno sheets and some editing for clarity. Tune and final dyno sheet tomorrow from Nickey's!

[62nalide]

What is this thread about? Too long to read.

[Sapper12b]

Interesting .....

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by 62nalide

What is this thread about? Too long to read.

Hm true dat. I forgot my audience out of excitement for the project. I do that. I also forgot this wasn't one of my own sites so I shortened it up for ya... lots of small words and some nice pictures of dyno sheets. If you can't read the graphs, then at least try looking cuz I wrote down the numbers for ya too!

[t&t moyer]

It was a simple enough read, straight forward and covered the basics.

[NinoSS]

Originally Posted by IMJ

Hm true dat. I forgot my audience out of excitement for the project. I do that. I also forgot this wasn't one of my own sites so I shortened it up for ya... lots of small words and some nice pictures of dyno sheets. If you can't read the graphs, then at least try looking cuz I wrote down the numbers for ya too!

Originally Posted by t&t moyer

It was a simple enough read, straight forward and covered the basics.

I thought it was a great write up.

nice job OP...

[Deezee]

Nice write up! I'm sure the tune will net you more hp/tq!

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by Deezee

Nice write up! I'm sure the tune will net you more hp/tq!

Ya, I can't wait to see the results after the tune. My installer has done a great job of keeping my expectations realistic for "real world" horsepower.

[grocerygetter]

good job...good post.

[vroomapunk]

Great write up, thanks. Kind of how I felt before hand. Great quality, but arent going to perform all that different from the other premium headers out there.

Thanks!

[Ehmsea]

good read. It would be nice to see more of these "real world" posts. I think people just get too excited and want to post the best case scenario to often....

That being said, they still are showing more torque under the curve than most of the std LT headers that I have seen. that is why they are still the top on my list. I think people make way to much out of "Peak" numbers...

Thanks again

Be sure and post a sound clip after the tune, eh?

[BenningJ]

You find the "claimed" numbers and actual numbers vary quite often. I did some modifcation research while I was out at the Fest this year and most of the companies will tell you a number, show a dyno graph, and tell you that you will get it with a standard "package" for $XXX.XX. In REALITY you need to get this upgrade or add-on paired with a few other add-ons in order to get their claimed numbers. I fully agree with your comments here OP and I thank you for your work. This makes my decision to go with TSP LT headers much easier.

[Smirnoff]

Originally Posted by 62nalide

What is this thread about? Too long to read.

Cheesecake.....Reese's peanut butter, really good!