Will brand name long tube headers make more power than cheap ones? For example, for an LT1 car, would Hooker long-tubes make more power at the wheels than Pacesetters? If the more expensive brands only make like 5 more rwhp, then I don't know if I'd be willing to pay almost twice as much for them.

 

Go with the pacesetters. I think they are ONE OF the best baNG FOR THE BUCK HEADERS OUT THERE. i GOT MINE WITH CERAMIC COATING AND THEY WERE STILL CHEAPER THAN UNCOATED HOOKERS. They also fit and performed very well. Equally as well as the hookers for a lesser price.

 

NO

the only real difference is the condition of the welds and the coating. cheaper headers tend to be a little uglier...who cares!!

it is possible that cleaner welds would flow a small amount better. probably enough for about 1hp...which would never be measurable in a comparison due to small changes and margins of error in testing.

one of the cheaper brands i've seen is flowtech, which i do beleive is a sub company of Holley, and it just so happens that Hooker is a subsidary of Holley as well...go figure.

 

Thanks.

I'm asking if they all "bang" the same amount no matter how many bucks they are.

 

As far as hooker vs. pacesetter, Yes. Same bang but you'll spend more for hookers. These are the only two brands that I have dealt with and those are the two brands you mentioned in your post. Just trying to give you some helpful input. There are charts out there that show header comparisons of different headers on the same car on the same dyno. I've seen it here somewhere. Maybe someone else can chime in and direct you towards the link that has that info.

 

They should all be generally the same, some have longer/bigger tubing which will make more horse/different sound. With price comes quality but you are also paying for the name. Personally I'd go with the bigger name because if you have a problem I'm sure they'd be easier to deal with.

 

are they all mandrel bent? thats what you want when making or looking at headers, mandrel bent tubing.

also from what i`ve found, cheaper headers usally dont sound as well because the wall of the tube itself is thinner to save money.
this is all good but it lets sound escape from the actual meterial,

for example, i had a 1986 mustang gt with hooker long tubes and then switched to mac long tubes and O.M.G. my car sounded night and day different, performed about the same but the sound both inside the car and from the rear of the car was greatly improved. the inside was quieter and the rear area of the car had that deep throaty sound that the hookers didnt.

im not sure about camaros as this is my first one but i too will be in the market for some l/t headers soon.

good luck.