Looking for advice on headers

[SS Performance]

I'm thinking about putting headers and high flow cats on my 15 1SS 1LE.

There are a bunch out there so I would like feedback from those of you that have installed them. Grade of stainless, thickness of material, flange thickness, quality of welds etc.

Oh yeah performance also. Does anyone offer greater performance gains over the others?

Last consideration price and best place to purchase. I believe in supporting vendors that support us.

Same info on the cats.

Thanks
Craig

[Olddudesrule]

Not to be a dick, but the search feature would be very useful here. This is one of a handful of subjects that has been batted around time and time again. Kooks here, along with Kooks HFC's. Excellent fit and quality. Decent SOTP upgrades, and with CAI and a tune, can net you around 25 or so ponies at the crank. Most do it for the increase in exhaust note. Majority of headers will give you the same gains, with stepped potentially giving you a bit more.

[Black_SS10]

I can vouch for the Kooks and their HFC. Great quality and fitment with no issues. There are many different brands out there. Just depends on how much or little you want to spend. There are good and bad stories/reviews for everything.

[InFiD3ViL]

Originally Posted by SS Performance

I'm thinking about putting headers and high flow cats on my 15 1SS 1LE.

There are a bunch out there so I would like feedback from those of you that have installed them. Grade of stainless, thickness of material, flange thickness, quality of welds etc.

Oh yeah performance also. Does anyone offer greater performance gains over the others?

Last consideration price and best place to purchase. I believe in supporting vendors that support us.

Same info on the cats.

Thanks
Craig

Best bang for buck, especially when it comes to quality, would be the Texas Speed and Performance headers.

Can get 1-7/8" or 2" for same price, O2 extensions, Genuine GM gaskets, off-road racing pipes, and clamps for around $540.

They have the thickest primary walls around and really high quality welds. The only downside I can find with them is I do not like slip-fit style collectors.

A strange thing I have noticed is that my TSP headers have not discolored or rainbowed at all. They bronzed up a bit more, but that is it. That's with around 10K miles since install.

[RS Speedriver]

KOOKS BUDDY> KOOKS WITH CERAMIC COATING

[SS Performance]

Originally Posted by Olddudesrule

Not to be a dick, but the search feature would be very useful here. This is one of a handful of subjects that has been batted around time and time again. Kooks here, along with Kooks HFC's. Excellent fit and quality. Decent SOTP upgrades, and with CAI and a tune, can net you around 25 or so ponies at the crank. Most do it for the increase in exhaust note. Majority of headers will give you the same gains, with stepped potentially giving you a bit more.

I hear what your saying. My problem is when I do a search I get so many results that aren't pertinent.

I don't really care about the exhaust tone just the performance.

Whatever I get I'll have ceramic coated.

Thanks
Craig

[rontammy0]

Op people will post what they have......you can spend more or less money. Performance will not be different and people who have both seem happy with their purchase.

[mikey00]

+1 for Kooks with HFC. I used stage 8 locking header bolts and haven't had any issues.

[Olddudesrule]

Originally Posted by SS Performance

I hear what your saying. My problem is when I do a search I get so many results that aren't pertinent.

I don't really care about the exhaust tone just the performance.

Whatever I get I'll have ceramic coated.

Thanks
Craig

I hear you. You just have to weed through the threads, but I usually can find at least one or two that pertain exactly to the issue I'm dealing with. Not only that, but it you just Goggle search the question, you'll get Camaro5 threads as well as other info. This subject is so subjective, like many others, that like others have said, you'll get myriad answers, when you probably already have an idea of what you want to buy, and what you can afford.

[JLGO]

I have the bbk 1 7/8 ceramics in my car. They came with the 02 extension. The only issue you may have after the install is that the headers might touch the steering shaft. To fix that you need to adjust the engine via the motor mounts. Not everyone has this issue but some do.

[SS Performance]

Originally Posted by mikey00

+1 for Kooks with HFC. I used stage 8 locking header bolts and haven't had any issues.

I always use Stage 8's. Been a fan of theirs for years.

[SS Performance]

Originally Posted by JLGO

I have the bbk 1 7/8 ceramics in my car. They came with the 02 extension. The only issue you may have after the install is that the headers might touch the steering shaft. To fix that you need to adjust the engine via the motor mounts. Not everyone has this issue but some do.

Good to know. Thank you.

[SS Performance]

Originally Posted by Olddudesrule

I hear you. You just have to weed through the threads, but I usually can find at least one or two that pertain exactly to the issue I'm dealing with. Not only that, but it you just Goggle search the question, you'll get Camaro5 threads as well as other info. This subject is so subjective, like many others, that like others have said, you'll get myriad answers, when you probably already have an idea of what you want to buy, and what you can afford.

I hear what you are saying. I have used Kook's in the past and am leaning towards them.

It's just new stuff comes out that I might not be aware of, such as Stainless Works.

I just like to get as much information as possible before I make a decision.

Thanks
Craig

[Gunmetal Speedster]

Originally Posted by Olddudesrule

I hear you. You just have to weed through the threads, but I usually can find at least one or two that pertain exactly to the issue I'm dealing with. Not only that, but it you just Goggle search the question, you'll get Camaro5 threads as well as other info. This subject is so subjective, like many others, that like others have said, you'll get myriad answers, when you probably already have an idea of what you want to buy, and what you can afford.

This is what I do. The sites search function is a bit weird, it seems like it lists the threads that have mentioned your inquiry from newest to oldest, and isn't all that helpful in my opinion. However, if you Google say, "Camaro Headers" for example, 9/10 there will be a few threads present from good ol' Camaro5. You can hit "more results from camaro5" under the list of threads and it will show only threads started on here and is usually much easier to navigate what you're looking for as it seems the most popular threads show first. Just an FYI

Back to topic; I'll be that guy. I went with Speed Engineering headers. They are the cheapest set of reliable headers you can buy, with no disadvantage. They work just as well as any other header. Search it and you can see the infamous debate. It all boils down to what you prefer to spend really. Although I should note, hi-flow isn't an option for these unless you outsource. If you're going to do that you might as well get TSP at that point. I usually recommend Speed Engineering for those who don't mind catless, and TSP for those who want hi flows. Then again, I'm not someone who is gonna spend twice as much on Kooks or ARH. Just my opinion though, research and get what you will. Good luck!