is there any reason NOT to install shorty ones on a LS1? I'm undecided on what i want to do, i want headers, but i'd like to try to stay legal. "black market" shop are all good for getting stickers, but you can't just roll up and say "hey, how much is a sticker". and just b/c they do it once, doesn't mean they will do it again.

I was looking at Passetter shorty headers with an highflow cat for my car; but, no one here runs that. i was just wondering y no one seem to use them.

Well, even though Long tubes on an LS1 are technically illegal since you can't mount a cat in the stock location with them, I've never heard of someone failing inspection as long as they have a catted y-pipe.

- Justin

failing with what? Long tubes or shorties?

People report minimal gains with shorty headers, enough to almost make it not worth the trouble. Are you going with coated or painted?

i dunno, u tell me. i dont want them to rust in like 6 months and look like butt.

Depending on the year of the car the stock exhaust manifold can handle up to 420HP (bolt-ons) 2001-2002 had the same exhaust manifolds as the Z06 and other corvettes.

Shorty headers would be a waste of money on 01-02 models and would see no gains.

LT headers are great if you plan on putting in a cam in the future. Pacesetters are for the budget minded person and you could get a couple of years out of them before replacements are needed. If you have 1000-1400 then go with Kooks, QTP or Dyno Max setups.

I would love to put headers on, but can't talk myself into the almost 2K to buy them and have them installed.

Long tubes with catted y-pipe.....no reason to fail with shorties - they are legal.

- Justin

That depends on your budget.

In my opinion, I would never buy a set of uncoated headers unless they were a great deal or for a rare application. Even then I'd probably send them away to get coated. They look great for a while if they are coated, plus it keeps underhood temps down which is a big deal in a cramped engine bay.

Shorties give you so little gain over the stock manifold it isn't worth it, IMO. Save up for longtubes if you are going to be adding alot of power, or just leave it alone if you aren't planning on at elast a cam.

i would like to do heads and cam down the line. SLP's L92 heads look badass. I was also thinking about a FastTake intake b/c in a couple yrs (when i get the money) i would love to have a Procharger installed. I'm just tryin to plan ahead.

I like how my Magnaflow exhaust sounds, but i want a louder "rumble", and you need headers for that. It is also a great $ per HP option also.


what do you think of SLP LT's? They're not expensive ($800+). How much lower do they hang comparied to other LT's?

SLP longtubes hang the lowest, and get i think the least power. dont get them, theyre not worth it. pacesetters are in my opinion the best ones you can get. youre only looking at litterally a few horse more in something like kooks then pacesetters, if that. im talking 2 or 3, not 10-15. for the price of JUST kooks headers, i bought pacesetters, TSP catted Y, shipped, AND installed by a shop. take that into consideration when someone mentions kooks makes more power. take the saved money and get some other goodies.

not to mention kooks raised their prices around 10% this month.....

better flowig sets out there, plus with the SLP install kit and the extra work to install them you might as well get KOOKS or QTP setup.

extra work???

pacesetttttters ftw

yup.. ever wonder why shops charge more for SLP header installs.. They are a PITA to put in. When the LSx motor first came out they were the best, but other places have produced a better product.

hmm...never knew that

That is all im kinda worried about. I mean i looked up headers from Pacesetter and they look pretty sweet and are cheap. And i would def use a catted-y, but the only thing that worries me is not being able to find a shop to inspect me.

I obiously wouldn't use state inspection anymore, b/c i know i would hear **** for it. I think private shops are less likely to give you **** as long as you have cats on it and the emmisions equipment still connected.

Eh, most people at the state inspections facility prolly don't know where they are supposed to be located, so as long as the cats are there and your car passes the plug in test, you'll be set.

- Justin

I agree. I woudn't sweat it.

the last time i went through inspection in Nov, they put me on the rollers and put tubes in my exhaust...would that screw me with LT's?

No. Off of the top of my head, aside from catalytic converters, no exhaust component will change your emissions level.

Really? They shouldn't have done that.....

- Justin

Anything prior to 1996 still goes on the roller, after 1996 its plug n play.

o really? i thought "higher flow" is what they check like the amount of exhaust volume that comes out?

so what changes emissions then? The size of your heads and cam?

how about "high flow" cats? I kno most catted-y's come with "high flow". would that change anything? I just want to make sure i have a clear understanding.

I know that, but he's got an LS1 car......

- Justin