Headers or Cat back?

[JJ#48Racing]

Headers will give you a bigger increase in power. A cat-back will give you a better increase in sound. I'd person do the cat-back first, the stock exhaust is way to quiet.

[Fast SS]

What do you want to do long term?

Most people do exhaust for sound....but there is that rare breed of car enthusiast who does it for performance. If you have big plans that require good exhaust flow then you'll want at least a 1 7/8th LT header and 3" exhaust. LT's will give you good numbers and when you get the chance add the 3" exhaust on.

[radz28]

IMHO - Like everyone else has said, LTs are going to give you the most power for the buck, I think. It seems like ARH is going to be a great choice, and they have tons of options, but Stainless Works also has a bunch of goodies too. TAG's car is a great example. I don't think you could go wrong with either of these systems. There are going to be more out there as time goes on, but unless you go with completely custom-tuned-merge-collector LTs, most any of what's available are going to give you pretty close to the same power. I can tell you merge collectors work (I gained 10+ RWHP) on my '02, and ARH comes standard with them. It sounds like the OEM CB is a pretty good design to start with, so maybe when the funds come, you can add those at that time. I think LTs with the OEM CB still sound pretty dang good though

[SGOS252382]

Headers and high flow cat mids = power and sound
Catback = sound


A guy just made I believe 44 rwhp with Headers, mids, and a tune on his Camaro.

[gpr]

Okay here is a similar question for you that have the experience. On the ls3 engine does the 1 3/4" or 1 7/8" make more power? bigger isn't always better so i was wondering if any of the manufactures have played with the different sizes to see if there is a performance gain in the larger headers on a mostly stock engine.

also do these long tube headers bolt up to the factory exhaust? i would assume you have to cut it down and install some sort of connector???

[radz28]

I've been hoping someone would do a test on primary tube sizes, but it seems like most are starting with 1 7/8. It seems that was the trend from many companies since the LS2s and it's continuing to the LS3s. TAG's car has 2-inch primaries and has had a great power increase, so if a person is looking for major mods' down the road, and only want to buy one set of LTs, either stepped LTs or just going for the big primaries are going to be the way to go. I remember when QTPs were hot for LS1s and they were asked why they only offered 1 3/4-inch primaries on their, new-at-the-time, merge collectors, that they said that they felt with the collector, the primary size didn't influence power as much as was expected, so they stayed with "smaller" primaries. That was just them though (and from what I could recall). It seems like the LS2 Goat guys have been getting great results from the 1 7/8-inch tubes though. Maybe we'll see a test eventually.

From what I can remember, it seems minor mods' are needed to get LTs to mount to OEM CBs.

[SSRider]

I'll put my vote in here.

Based on the bolt-ons that are available now or will be soon:

Remember when you add the headers you will need a tune.

1. CAI = Vararam

2. Headers = ARH w/cats
-expect big hp and tq improvement
-expect a more aggressive exhaust note
-keep stock catback for now and monitor results
-research for evidence that a cat back will add hp/tq

3. Performance Tune= local shop or DIY Hptuners
(at the same time as headers)

4. M6 4:10 rearend or A6 3:90

5. Start saving for a new set of tires
-expect to burn off the stock tires then
- buy the CCW wheels with 315 rubber on the rear

[SGOS252382]

Originally Posted by gpr

Okay here is a similar question for you that have the experience. On the ls3 engine does the 1 3/4" or 1 7/8" make more power? bigger isn't always better so i was wondering if any of the manufactures have played with the different sizes to see if there is a performance gain in the larger headers on a mostly stock engine.

also do these long tube headers bolt up to the factory exhaust? i would assume you have to cut it down and install some sort of connector???

I put 1 3/4 on my 05 GTO. I decided to go with 1 7/8 on my 06 GTO.

I definately felt a difference between the two. The 1 3/4 headers definately felt stronger off the line (mashing the gas from a dead stop). The 1 7/8 felt a little stronger on the top end, but they definately lacked some of the low end grunt I felt with the 1 3/4s.
I'm talking about way down in the rpms (the first 1-2 seconds right after you mash the gas). 1 3/4 just hit harder from a dead stop.

So I'll most likely go with 1 3/4 for my Camaro. I preferred the way they made my GTO run on the street.

But the 1 7/8 will work also work well. So your really can't go wrong. Another thing to consider is the 1 3/4 will install easier and leave you more room (no rubbing, scraping, or banging which happens more frequently with the 1 7/8).

[Bell040]

My situation...

I saved about $9700 for the Camaro... yes, it took a while.


I put $7500 down.... spent $400 on tint .... $100 on little stuff.

$1700 left.... for now anyways, untill I save some more.

my wishlist:

ARH or Kooks (or other) headers and catted x-pipe .......... $1800
Magnaflow axleback (2.5" but would rather have 3") ..........$871
CAI (Vararam, K&N, others?... undecided) ........................$350
Cam and springs (GMPP camshaft P/N 88958733)...............???...... later

So I can do the CAI and the axleback and have $400 left....
or the LT headers and start saving for the CAI and mufflers from scratch.

what would you do?

[SSRider]

Vararam first then save some more and then do the headers and tune.

[EVS Motors Inc.]

From my understanding long tube headers void the drive train warranty correct? A tune will definitely void your warranty.

[SSRider]

In regard to the warranty issue, that subject has been beat up on other threads. I suggest you look that up for more opinions. My experience with my Chevy dealer over the past five years and having spoken to them yesterday about my Camaro in regard to future modifications is this: Headers will not void my warranty unless they specifically caused some type of failure (highly unlikely imo) and that goes for the tune as well. I see the tranny as the biggest exposure on the LS3 setup and the Tremec 6060 is rated up to about 550 hp. If your going over 550 hp then prepare to shell out for a built up tranny and maybe rearend. The L99 I just don't know. That's a new engine package and I would have some concerns, that is why I went with the M6 LS3. Now there are many opinions on this so I recommend you speak with your service manager if you are concerned about the warranty. I plan to stay out of the warranty debate.

edit: I just picked up the TR 6060 Spec sheet and it rates the M6 in the SS at 600 ft-lbf of torque so there is a lot of room to play on this tranny. I suspect that if your under 550 rwhp/tq that the stock drive train will hold up very well.

,

[H & E]

O.k. so Veraram CAI, AHR long tubes w/ Cats and a tune it is. There is a local guys here.... PCM4LESS. Anyone familar with him?

[Amelia98]

I had GMPP catback exhaust installed yesterday through the dealership. It was under a grand with labor and it makes a nice rumble without being obnoxious. It was a definite improvement over the stock exhaust. The chrome tips are sweet! I am waiting for GMPP airbox, shorty headers, Grille insert, Hurst Shifter, and subwoofer. I want to keep GM parts and dealership labor on it so my warranty won't be affected. So far I am very pleased with the car.