Best headers for L99 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

TocaSeries · 08-26-2012, 10:40 AM

Hey everyone, so far loving these forums as a new member. I just picked up my 2013 Camaro 2SS in Ashen Grey Metallic 2 days ago and the Camaro5 forums are an addiction! ...Anyways, I wanted to get some peoples feedback on different types of header. Which produce the most HP, which sound the best, is there a best brand? and which have the easiest install?

Leave as much information as you can!

FEN · 08-26-2012, 11:01 AM

Long tubes provide the most HP gains. Cant go wrong with any of the big names....Kooks,ARH, Dynatech, Stainless Works,etc.Most go with 1 7/8"... unless your looking at supporting really high HP you should not need 2". I think i will be doing either the Kooks 1 7/8" or Kooks stepped headers. Although there are different types of collectors (ball & socket vs. slip fit), they should all install easily and provide about the same HP as compared to others with the same primary size. Do a "SEARCH" as there are already MANY threads about this topic.

Dertyboi · 08-26-2012, 11:55 AM

Long tube are the best route but to get the full potential you will need a tune that should give you 30 to 40 hp witch voids your warranty but but getting the shorty header and mid pipe with high flow cats doesn't need a tune ( correct me if I'm wrong ) and give you 20 to 30hp

Dertyboi · 08-26-2012, 12:04 PM

Oh yeah obx long tubes headers are good as well some people don't like them cause they aren't made in the the US but the camaro isn't built in the us either

GMTool · 08-26-2012, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TocaSeries

Hey everyone, so far loving these forums as a new member. I just picked up my 2013 Camaro 2SS in Ashen Grey Metallic 2 days ago and the Camaro5 forums are an addiction! ...Anyways, I wanted to get some peoples feedback on different types of header. Which produce the most HP, which sound the best, is there a best brand? and which have the easiest install?

Leave as much information as you can!

What are your thoughts on tuning your car? If I were starting from the begining again, I would just order a package deal from JRE. Intake, Headers, HF Cats, and a tune. All at the same time. If you have the funds, might as well put a no drone cat back on too. Then after that comes the cam, LS3 conversion thinking. Your addition will just get worse.

2SS45th · 08-26-2012, 01:15 PM

Stainless Works! Their long tubes are extremely well made, and it took an hour for me to do them on a lift. But, reuse the stock header bolts, they're better quality. And on a new car, you can reuse your gaskets.

Apex Motorsports · 08-26-2012, 01:21 PM

Selecting long tube headers can be an intimidating task and does require some technical knowledge, but it isn’t the voodoo some make it out to be. In this post I will try to arm you with as much information as I can but if you have any questions feel free to give us a call at (502)930-APEX or shoot me a PM.

Which Manufacturer Should I Go With?

The good news here is that this is hard to get wrong. Ask around on the forums and you will hear some of the same brand names over and over again. The 3 brands that we currently carry that meet the criteria below are ARH, Stainless Works, and Stainless Power. From a performance stand point all of them are pretty close, no one has a secret that makes one brand produce substantially better results than any of the others. It’s mostly a question of quality and, again, most of them are pretty close in this area as well. There are a couple of things to pay close attention to though.

Pay attention to what they are made from. Stainless steel (particularly 304) is what you will want to look for. 304 stainless steel will not rust or discolor from exposure to the atmosphere like the cheaper 400 series stainless steel. Unlike aluminized steel, it will not rust from the inside out due to the corrosive fluids produced during combustion. 304 can discolor slightly from getting extremely hot or if you spill engine oil on them but another attribute is that it isn’t permanent.

Pay attention to how they are made. CNC mandrel bending is the best manufacturing method for producing exhaust systems and headers that flow and fit well. When this process is used in conjunction with the 304 stainless steel it allows for the use of a thinner wall tubing that will weigh less than other headers. Those weight savings will be lost, however, if you opt for the ceramic coating some manufacturer promote. With stainless steel the coating isn’t needed for corrosion resistance purposes (ceramic coating is often pushed because the manufacture is using inferior metal) and I have never seen the claimed reductions in under hood temperature demonstrated in hard numbers.

What Primary Diameter Should I Go With?

This is the area that seems to cause the most confusion but it is fairly straight forward. Header manufacturers usually offer two or three options when is comes to primary diameters for a specific vehicle. For example, for the Camaro SS most manufacturers are offering 1 3/4 inch, 1 7/8 inch, and 2 inch primaries. Here are some typical results on an otherwise stock SS:

Stock: 372 RWHP 376 RWTQ
1 3/4 headers with high flow cats: 401 RWHP 404 RWTQ
1 7/8 headers with high flow cats: 408 RWHP 409 RWTQ
2 headers with high flow cats: 413 RWHP 410 RWTQ

As you can see, simply switching from the restrictive stock manifolds to 1 3/4 long tube headers is worth approximately 30 RWHP and 30 RWTQ on a bone stock Camaro SS. The larger the primary diameter gets the more air the headers will flow and the further up the RPM range the power band is moved. The impact of the larger primary diameters is amplified the more powerful the engine is, especially when you introduce forced induction. This means that generally the more power you make or the more race oriented your application is the bigger primary diameter you need, the closer to stock or the more street oriented the smaller primary diameter you need.

In the specific example of the 2010+ Camaro SS, we have found that the 1 7/8 long tube headers are the best all around header for the typical bolt on modified car that is driven regularly and occasionally taken to the track. They offer a tremendous improvement over stock with room to grow as owners modify their car further. The 2 inch headers offer very similar numbers to the 1 7/8 headers up to 5000 RPM where the 2 inch headers pull ahead. They are ideal for those running forced induction or for race applications.

High Flow Cats or Cat Delete (Off Road Pipe)

With modern high flow cats there is essentially no performance advantage to a cat delete. They flow 99.9% as well as straight pipe. On a dyno you might see 1-3 rwhp in the mid RPM range. Going with a cat delete does cost less but the biggest draw back for street driven cars in my opinion is the rotten egg smell of running without cats. The other is the potential legal issues. For track cars neither of these are a concern so save the money and apply it elsewhere.

brantley847 · 08-26-2012, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dertyboi

Oh yeah obx long tubes headers are good as well some people don't like them cause they aren't made in the the US but the camaro isn't built in the us either

I really don't care what other people put on or in their cars.. yours is yours, mine is mine... but the issue isnt that they are manufactured outside the US.

The issue is they copied the design of Kooks and (I believe used a cheaper quality metal) without taking the time it takes to R&D their product...similar principle to buying fake oakleys. They will still shade the sun lol.... you might get a good hazing at a car show, but otherwise no one would be the wiser.

FEN · 08-26-2012, 04:27 PM

I wont mention any particular mfg brand. My gripe is not where they are made but rather their quality. Here is a pic of an overseas "clone" and its crappy welds and off center primary.

Dertyboi · 08-26-2012, 06:48 PM

The build quality of the obx is pretty good check out this tread

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...ht=obx+headers

litle88 · 08-26-2012, 07:02 PM

Eeehhhh I use kooks! No issues and I know what I bought and that's quality and 0 figment issues. Just my.2

1989GTA · 08-26-2012, 07:06 PM

Anyone have experience with 1 3/4" to 1 7/8" stepped headers? Just wondering how they compare.

TXM62SS · 08-26-2012, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litle88

Eeehhhh I use kooks! No issues and I know what I bought and that's quality and 0 figment issues. Just my.2

litle88 · 08-26-2012, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1989GTA

Anyone have experience with 1 3/4" to 1 7/8" stepped headers? Just wondering how they compare.

They should speed up the scavenging with a stepped header but hard to say exactly since everyone has different setups. I would say a stepped 1 7/8 to 2 would be nice for others too.

08-26-2012, 10:40 AM	#1
TocaSeries Drives: 2013 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 143	Best headers for L99 Hey everyone, so far loving these forums as a new member. I just picked up my 2013 Camaro 2SS in Ashen Grey Metallic 2 days ago and the Camaro5 forums are an addiction! ...Anyways, I wanted to get some peoples feedback on different types of header. Which produce the most HP, which sound the best, is there a best brand? and which have the easiest install? Leave as much information as you can!

08-26-2012, 11:01 AM	#2
FEN Drives: BLACK 2SS/RS Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 1,092	Long tubes provide the most HP gains. Cant go wrong with any of the big names....Kooks,ARH, Dynatech, Stainless Works,etc.Most go with 1 7/8"... unless your looking at supporting really high HP you should not need 2". I think i will be doing either the Kooks 1 7/8" or Kooks stepped headers. Although there are different types of collectors (ball & socket vs. slip fit), they should all install easily and provide about the same HP as compared to others with the same primary size. Do a "SEARCH" as there are already MANY threads about this topic. __________________ CCW polished 505a's Front 20x10 w/275/40/20's Rear 20x11.5 w/305/35/20's Eibach 1" Pro Spring Kit Factory GFX MPD1 spoiler painted bowties 15% tint Last edited by FEN; 08-26-2012 at 11:23 AM.

08-26-2012, 11:55 AM	#3
Dertyboi SS1 Drives: 2015 Camaro 1SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Paulding County, Ga Posts: 144	Long tube are the best route but to get the full potential you will need a tune that should give you 30 to 40 hp witch voids your warranty but but getting the shorty header and mid pipe with high flow cats doesn't need a tune ( correct me if I'm wrong ) and give you 20 to 30hp __________________ Speed Engineering Long tube header CAI intake resonator delete with x pipe and magnaflow bullet mufflers hotchkis 1in springs tuned by Josh Spartan LSX

08-26-2012, 12:04 PM	#4
Dertyboi SS1 Drives: 2015 Camaro 1SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Paulding County, Ga Posts: 144	Oh yeah obx long tubes headers are good as well some people don't like them cause they aren't made in the the US but the camaro isn't built in the us either __________________ Speed Engineering Long tube header CAI intake resonator delete with x pipe and magnaflow bullet mufflers hotchkis 1in springs tuned by Josh Spartan LSX

08-26-2012, 01:15 PM	#6
2SS45th Drives: 11 Seconds or Faster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Arvada, Colorado Posts: 2,797 View My Garage	Stainless Works! Their long tubes are extremely well made, and it took an hour for me to do them on a lift. But, reuse the stock header bolts, they're better quality. And on a new car, you can reuse your gaskets. __________________ I Ain't About That Stock Life.

08-26-2012, 01:21 PM	#7
Apex Motorsports Drives: 2000 Camaro SS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Louisville, Ky. Posts: 25,179	Selecting long tube headers can be an intimidating task and does require some technical knowledge, but it isn’t the voodoo some make it out to be. In this post I will try to arm you with as much information as I can but if you have any questions feel free to give us a call at (502)930-APEX or shoot me a PM. Which Manufacturer Should I Go With? The good news here is that this is hard to get wrong. Ask around on the forums and you will hear some of the same brand names over and over again. The 3 brands that we currently carry that meet the criteria below are ARH, Stainless Works, and Stainless Power. From a performance stand point all of them are pretty close, no one has a secret that makes one brand produce substantially better results than any of the others. It’s mostly a question of quality and, again, most of them are pretty close in this area as well. There are a couple of things to pay close attention to though. Pay attention to what they are made from. Stainless steel (particularly 304) is what you will want to look for. 304 stainless steel will not rust or discolor from exposure to the atmosphere like the cheaper 400 series stainless steel. Unlike aluminized steel, it will not rust from the inside out due to the corrosive fluids produced during combustion. 304 can discolor slightly from getting extremely hot or if you spill engine oil on them but another attribute is that it isn’t permanent. Pay attention to how they are made. CNC mandrel bending is the best manufacturing method for producing exhaust systems and headers that flow and fit well. When this process is used in conjunction with the 304 stainless steel it allows for the use of a thinner wall tubing that will weigh less than other headers. Those weight savings will be lost, however, if you opt for the ceramic coating some manufacturer promote. With stainless steel the coating isn’t needed for corrosion resistance purposes (ceramic coating is often pushed because the manufacture is using inferior metal) and I have never seen the claimed reductions in under hood temperature demonstrated in hard numbers. What Primary Diameter Should I Go With? This is the area that seems to cause the most confusion but it is fairly straight forward. Header manufacturers usually offer two or three options when is comes to primary diameters for a specific vehicle. For example, for the Camaro SS most manufacturers are offering 1 3/4 inch, 1 7/8 inch, and 2 inch primaries. Here are some typical results on an otherwise stock SS: Stock: 372 RWHP 376 RWTQ 1 3/4 headers with high flow cats: 401 RWHP 404 RWTQ 1 7/8 headers with high flow cats: 408 RWHP 409 RWTQ 2 headers with high flow cats: 413 RWHP 410 RWTQ As you can see, simply switching from the restrictive stock manifolds to 1 3/4 long tube headers is worth approximately 30 RWHP and 30 RWTQ on a bone stock Camaro SS. The larger the primary diameter gets the more air the headers will flow and the further up the RPM range the power band is moved. The impact of the larger primary diameters is amplified the more powerful the engine is, especially when you introduce forced induction. This means that generally the more power you make or the more race oriented your application is the bigger primary diameter you need, the closer to stock or the more street oriented the smaller primary diameter you need. In the specific example of the 2010+ Camaro SS, we have found that the 1 7/8 long tube headers are the best all around header for the typical bolt on modified car that is driven regularly and occasionally taken to the track. They offer a tremendous improvement over stock with room to grow as owners modify their car further. The 2 inch headers offer very similar numbers to the 1 7/8 headers up to 5000 RPM where the 2 inch headers pull ahead. They are ideal for those running forced induction or for race applications. High Flow Cats or Cat Delete (Off Road Pipe) With modern high flow cats there is essentially no performance advantage to a cat delete. They flow 99.9% as well as straight pipe. On a dyno you might see 1-3 rwhp in the mid RPM range. Going with a cat delete does cost less but the biggest draw back for street driven cars in my opinion is the rotten egg smell of running without cats. The other is the potential legal issues. For track cars neither of these are a concern so save the money and apply it elsewhere.

08-26-2012, 04:27 PM	#9
FEN Drives: BLACK 2SS/RS Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 1,092	I wont mention any particular mfg brand. My gripe is not where they are made but rather their quality. Here is a pic of an overseas "clone" and its crappy welds and off center primary. __________________ CCW polished 505a's Front 20x10 w/275/40/20's Rear 20x11.5 w/305/35/20's Eibach 1" Pro Spring Kit Factory GFX MPD1 spoiler painted bowties 15% tint Last edited by FEN; 06-11-2013 at 09:07 PM.

08-26-2012, 06:48 PM	#10
Dertyboi SS1 Drives: 2015 Camaro 1SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Paulding County, Ga Posts: 144	The build quality of the obx is pretty good check out this tread http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...ht=obx+headers __________________ Speed Engineering Long tube header CAI intake resonator delete with x pipe and magnaflow bullet mufflers hotchkis 1in springs tuned by Josh Spartan LSX

08-26-2012, 07:02 PM	#11
litle88 V8 Lounge member #2 Drives: 2001 Ws6 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Burbank,IL Posts: 6,373	Eeehhhh I use kooks! No issues and I know what I bought and that's quality and 0 figment issues. Just my.2 __________________ 2001 ws6, 40k miles, Ls3 416 stroker, short block built by PER the rest by me. LPE Ls3 heads milled to 12-1 comp, FAST 102, NW 102, kooks 2", dual DMH cutouts, Magnaflow C/B, BTR cam + springs. Full UMI suspension.

08-26-2012, 07:06 PM	#12
1989GTA Drives: 1989 GTA Trans Am Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Cypress, California Posts: 610	Anyone have experience with 1 3/4" to 1 7/8" stepped headers? Just wondering how they compare.