07-10-2013, 09:46 AM | #1 | |
Founder - Michigan FBody
Drives: 1994 Camaro LT1, 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2008
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ATTENTION: No, your 2012+ Camaro LFX (LS, LT models) cannot have headers!
Since this seems to be a recurring topic in the LFX section by folks new to the 2012+ 3.6L LFX engine, I figured we should compile a single thread and hopefully get it stickied so it's easier to find and reference.
With the release of the 3.6L v6 named "LFX" in the 2012 Camaro LS and LT models, General Motors released an engine with a radical new head design: the exhaust manifold is integrated into the heads. This means that you cannot "install" headers on an LFX engine. Additionally, the 2012+ LFX engine uses a composite intake manifold instead of the metal previously used. While the knee jerk reaction is "I WANT HEADERS!" - as a new owner to a vehicle with an LFX engine, you'll soon realize the advantages outweigh the negatives. For starters, the LFX engine is 20 pounds lighter than the previous 3.6L LLT engine used in the 2010 and 2011 Camaro LS and LT models. The composite intake manifold combined with the integrated exhaust manifold allowed GM to shed weight from the engine. The composite intake manifold helps to reduce heat soak, so while guys with LLT engines need to add spacers to isolate their intake manifold from the engine block to minimize heat soak, we (LFX owners) do not have to! Additionally, the LFX engine makes 11 horsepower more than the LLT. One other thing to mention would be that the MAF was changed from LLT to LFX so you cannot use a cold air intake designed for a 2010-2011 Camaro unless the manufacturer specifically states it will work on a 2012+ Camaro. While it may be unfortunate that we can't get the exhaust tone that normally comes with a set of headers, consider it a savings to your wallet - focus your attention to the true bottle necks on the LFX engine -- the catalytic converter and muffler. Buy a nice set of high flow cats and a new exhaust (axle back or cat back) and you're done with the exhaust. For more information on the LFX engine, check out the communication from GM: http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chev...ro_engine.html
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2012 Camaro 2SS/RS L99 - "Zooma"
1994 Camaro LT1 A4 - "Red Alert" - v6-to-LT1 Swapped Cruiser; Cammed, Stalled, Enjoyed "Gone But Not Forgotten" 2016 Camaro 1LT A8 - "Elmo" 2014 Camaro 1LT M6 - "Cherry Bomb" 2012 Camaro 1LS M6 - "Clifford" Michigan FBody Association http://www.mifbody.com/ Last edited by meissen; 07-11-2013 at 08:32 PM. |
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07-10-2013, 09:57 AM | #2 |
Founder - Michigan FBody
Drives: 1994 Camaro LT1, 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: New Haven, MI
Posts: 2,599
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If anyone has any changes or additional items they want added, please feel free to post and I can revise the first post.
Could a mod sticky this? I think having this clearly defined in the title and having it be a sticky would help cutdown on a lot of the repeat threads.
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2012 Camaro 2SS/RS L99 - "Zooma"
1994 Camaro LT1 A4 - "Red Alert" - v6-to-LT1 Swapped Cruiser; Cammed, Stalled, Enjoyed "Gone But Not Forgotten" 2016 Camaro 1LT A8 - "Elmo" 2014 Camaro 1LT M6 - "Cherry Bomb" 2012 Camaro 1LS M6 - "Clifford" Michigan FBody Association http://www.mifbody.com/ |
07-10-2013, 10:10 AM | #3 |
Team LFX
Drives: Fast Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: TX
Posts: 621
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07-10-2013, 10:10 AM | #4 |
Drives: 2012 Camaro 45th Anniversary RS Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: New York
Posts: 2,418
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Good post....but what if I use duct tape? :-)
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07-10-2013, 12:33 PM | #5 |
Drives: 2013 2LT/RS Summit White Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NY
Posts: 1,283
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maybe add there's no need for an isolator because the IM is now some type of non-heat-conductive plastic.
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07-10-2013, 01:20 PM | #6 |
Emerald Coast Camaros
Drives: 2010 Camaro 2LT/RS M6 Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Tallahassee FL
Posts: 9,687
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Now just have a mod make it a sticky
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07-10-2013, 03:38 PM | #7 |
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great post.
I'm also sick of all the threads people start about what exhaust to get. |
07-10-2013, 03:49 PM | #8 |
Drives: Chevys at the limit Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SLC, UT
Posts: 9,621
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Good post! Sticky for sure!
Best regards, Tyler 888-308-6007 Last edited by JDP Sales; 07-10-2013 at 06:07 PM. |
07-10-2013, 05:36 PM | #9 |
KaBoom1701
Drives: 13' ZL1 Red M6 Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: I.E. SoCal (Yucaipa)
Posts: 8,630
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So wait.... I can't have headers? Lol
Sorry, couldn't resist.
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07-10-2013, 05:42 PM | #10 |
7 year Cancer Survivor!
Drives: 17 Cruze RS, 07 G6 GT, 99 Astro Join Date: Dec 2007
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Great idea, I had to send an e-mail to one vendor on here that listed headers fitting the 2012 and 2013 Camaro V6.
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07-10-2013, 05:50 PM | #11 |
Drives: 45th Anniversary Convertible Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: North Texas
Posts: 348
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Someone needs to make this a sticky in this forum.
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07-10-2013, 09:17 PM | #12 |
Drives: 2013 Camaro 2LT/RS Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Allentown, PA
Posts: 483
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Good post
Most of them know that they cannot install headers on LFX. Now they will know why they cannot
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07-10-2013, 09:28 PM | #13 |
knows 2 facts about ducks
Drives: ...and they're both wrong Join Date: Aug 2009
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Huzzah!
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07-11-2013, 08:22 AM | #14 |
Drives: 11 F150 EB/13 Sonic RS/15 Z06 Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Little Rock, AR
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What, no headers. Why not.
J/K
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