Shorties Vs. Long

[Bfh_american]

What's up guys, I'm planning on getting headers. to go withthe SC and Cam I'm installing. Ill be doing all these mods in one shot. Planning on going with the Whipple and still looking for the right Cam. The car will still be on the street, and I'm keeping my mods mild so I don't destroy the engine/add too much strain. I already have a Borla Catback system on the car. Any recommendations? Should I go with long or short for maximum performance, whilst keeping the engine as safe as possible. Not sure if long tubes will effect my catback system?? I'm new to the whole bolt on scene. I generally work just on OEM vehicles. Thanks in advance! I appreciate the advice.

[zz430camaro]

Use longtube headers and cats, almost all of them are designed to hook up to a cat back system so you should not have any issues.

[Bfh_american]

Originally Posted by zz430camaro

Use longtube headers and cats, almost all of them are designed to hook up to a cat back system so you should not have any issues.

Got ya, yeah I was thinking the same. Any company you'd recommend? I was looking at ARH, and Kooks. An engine light won't be an issue, correct?

[pyroguy]

OP go with long tube headers. Shorty headers are primarily good for people who don't want to tune or are stuck in California. Long tube headers will yield more power on a more stock car with greater power gains as you modify.

If you go with long tube headers you will eventually need to get the car tuned as you will throw a CEL (check engine light). The reason for it is two part. 1) You have moved where the front O2 sensor is located so the engine will detect a different time for the gases to reach the sensor and 2) The flow between sensor 1 and sensor 2 is changed so the computer will try to recalculate accordingly. This is true whether you get high flow cats or catless pipes.

Since you're wanting to add forced induction (supercharger) check with the manufacturer of the headers you're looking at to make sure the cats won't melt if you want/need cats. Kooks "green cats" I believe were developed to work with forced induction applications. They're more expensive, but they won't melt.

As for manufacturers, the debate has gone on many a time on here. However, the cliff notes are as follows:
Higher priced: Kooks, ARH, Stainless Works
Mid priced: OBX, Texas Speed, Stainless Power
Budget priced: Speed Engineering

Advantages/disadvantages:
Higher priced: American made, warrantied for life, excellent tech support, high quality control, expensive
Mid priced: Chinese made, typically warrantied for 2 years, good tech support, may be a little less quality control focused, good option for a budget that requires high flow cats.
Budget priced: Chinese made, no warranty, little tech support, hit or miss on quality control (might need to dimple a tube on more occasions), no high flow cat option as a kit, really good way to get into long tube headers with minimal cost.

COPO Camaros use ARH and Cobra Jet Mustangs use Kooks. I personally run Kooks with high flow cats with the headers ceramic coated. They look as good as the day I put them on and I couldn't be happier with the performance and fitment.

[Juiced1]

Nice post Pyroguy. That wraps up a lot. I'd like to mention to the OP that if you're planning on running a cam and a supercharger keep in mind you'll need a custom tune to go with all of that. So I wouldn't be to worried about the headers throwing a code. When you're ready to order swing by our site or give us a call. We have tons of header options and we always have deals for forum members. We are also a Whipple authorized dealer and can help you pick out a nice cam set up to go with.

[Bfh_american]

Thanks for that! I’m definitely not going the cheap route when I do it. I’d rather have quality any day! I appreciate you breaking it down for me

[PepeLePew]

Originally Posted by Bfh_american

Thanks for that! I’m definitely not going the cheap route when I do it. I’d rather have quality any day! I appreciate you breaking it down for me

I just installed a set of TSP headers and I have to say that the quality and fitment is top notch. They may be manufactured in China but they are just as high quality as the more expensive ARH and Kooks headers. Use the $1000 you save by going with TSP over ARH to pay for the cam kit!

[Nighthawk89]

Originally Posted by PepeLePew

I just installed a set of TSP headers and I have to say that the quality and fitment is top notch. They may be manufactured in China but they are just as high quality as the more expensive ARH and Kooks headers. Use the $1000 you save by going with TSP over ARH to pay for the cam kit!

Hmmmm... Just as high of quality?

[PepeLePew]

Originally Posted by Nighthawk89

Hmmmm... Just as high of quality?

From first hand experience, I can say they are indeed legit. There are a ton of reviews and recommendations from fellow enthusiasts online for TSP as well. When I searched for headers, I tried very hard to find negative reviews and the only thing I could find was that some folks were having a hard time mating them to aftermarket midpipes without leaks. Those reviews were rare though.

Nighthawk - Do you have experience with the TSP headers and had problems with them?

[Nighthawk89]

Originally Posted by PepeLePew

From first hand experience, I can say they are indeed legit. There are a ton of reviews and recommendations from fellow enthusiasts online for TSP as well. When I searched for headers, I tried very hard to find negative reviews and the only thing I could find was that some folks were having a hard time mating them to aftermarket midpipes without leaks. Those reviews were rare though.

Nighthawk - Do you have experience with the TSP headers and had problems with them?

No first hand experience... So i can't say that I personally have verified where they fall short but have heard enough feedback from others that i would personally never purchase nor recommend a set.... Especially wouldn't put them in the same class as Kooks or American racing..

[rontammy0]

Op...there are tons of members running cheaper headers here with zero issues. I have Stainless Power and love them.

[PepeLePew]

Originally Posted by Nighthawk89

No first hand experience... So i can't say that I personally have verified where they fall short but have heard enough feedback from others that i would personally never purchase nor recommend a set.... Especially wouldn't put them in the same class as Kooks or American racing..

I appreciate the honesty. Thanks for clarifying. You have no personal experience with them but you’ve heard enough feedback that you would never purchase or recommend them. However I can’t find any negative feedback of TSP headers in the community. Dude I’m not hating on ARH or Kooks... they make some excellent stuff. But let’s get real, just because you bought ARH or Kooks, doesn’t mean you should bash another brand out there if you have no clue about there product.

[Nighthawk89]

Originally Posted by PepeLePew

I appreciate the honesty. Thanks for clarifying. You have no personal experience with them but you’ve heard enough feedback that you would never purchase or recommend them. However I can’t find any negative feedback of TSP headers in the community. Dude I’m not hating on ARH or Kooks... they make some excellent stuff. But let’s get real, just because you bought ARH or Kooks, doesn’t mean you should bash another brand out there if you have no clue about there product.

Have you personally owned Kooks or ARH? Just curious cause in your previous comment you held TSP to the same level of quality? Not bashing on TSP. Just not agreeing with the fact that the build quality in regards to materials used/design/Fitment & welds are in the same category as the American made Kooks or ARH. I’ve had both and just purchased another set of coated Kooks.

[PepeLePew]

Originally Posted by Nighthawk89

Have you personally owned Kooks or ARH? Just curious cause in your previous comment you held TSP to the same level of quality? Not bashing on TSP. Just not agreeing with the fact that the build quality in regards to materials used/design/Fitment & welds are in the same category as the American made Kooks or ARH. I’ve had both and just purchased another set of coated Kooks.

Not sure why you are so bent out of shape here. I never said I owned ARH or Kooks, nor did I say they were not the highest quality. I said that TSP headers are 100% in terms of quality. The welds are amazing. The 304SS is for real. The fitment is perfect. And the dyno results are proven. My point is why pay $1000 more for the same result.

Show me one instance of a bad weld on a TSP header or dyno result that was even marginally less than the ARH or Kooks and then you have a case that the high dollar American made headers are superior. Otherwise stop the nonsense. The proof is in the pudding.

There are hundreds of folks running TSP and Stainless Works on this forum that have had zero issues and dyno results that prove they work.

- Jeff