I want to get some headers for my 94Z. Delaware checks emissions every other year and I'm due this february. Wife is going to get them for my Xmas present. Who makes the best fit, lasting finish, won't brake the bank, adds great power(duh) and of course is emissions legal. Also anybody know of any good local shops to get them put on.

 

if longtubes are legal in your state you can get a set of pacesetters for ~$400. mine have been good to me.

 

I believe Kooks are generally considered to be the best header available for the LT1, but they aren't cheap.

 

Any board supporters sell Kooks? I heard of some fitment battles with pacesetters.

 

Also didn't SLP used to make emission legal headers?

 

I believe some of the supporting vendors may carry Kooks, but I'm not certain. I'm planning to buy some of their race headers in the next month or two. Maybe we could get a group purchase going and save ourselves 10-15 bucks.

 

Define what Delaware looks at as part of emissions. That will determine what is "emissions legal". In general, long tubes are not legal because they relocate the cat(s), in violation of Federal law. Some states enforce the Federal requirements, others don't. Even if they do not enforce the Federal regulations, they may look at the headers for a welded on tag with the authorization number, indicating the headers are emissions legal in either 49- or 50-states. Will they do a visual check to see if your AIR and EGR systems are still present?

If they do not do a visual inspection to enforce the above mentioned regulations, you will not generally have a problem passing a dyno emissions test with headers. They do not really affect emissions, as long as you keep the cat(s) and the EGR system working.

 

They never look, just stick a sensor up the tailpipe and make me take the engine up to certain rpms since it does not have OBD1. If it had ODB1 they would just plug into the computer. That's what they do to my truck.

 

I think you have it backwards.... your 94 is OBD-I. The only hook the inspection station computer up to the OBD-II cars in most states.

 

So any header with emission hookups for the exhaust sensors should work then as long as I keep my cat. Also heard I should get a highflow cat or the headers won't do much.

 

Number one thing is to know what what is allowed in your area. If federal regs pertain to you, e.g. not moving the cat (s) from their original location or reducing dual-cats to single cat, etc. then you risk getting caught ---although probably a slim chance---and having to comply and maybe pay a fine or something.

Yes, on the hi-flow cats. Just look at the whole exhaust system from the manifolds/headers to the tail pipes and everything in between. You want little or no back pressure----which normally calls for 1 3/4 headers (preferably long tubes) hi-flow cats and free-flowing exhaust.

---and throw in some 1.6 rockers on the exhaust side.

If you are afraid of the emissions cops, then you'd best go with 50-state certified headers. JMHO

 

Who makes 50 state certified headers?

 

There's a listing of 50-state approved headers (unfortunately buried in with all other aftermarket auto parts) on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) website. Many states accept the CARB-EO emissions ceritification.

 

SLP for one, probably more out there though---others will know.

 

SLP only makes LS1 headers that I could find. BBk says they are 50 state legal. I'll post in exhaust if they are any good or not.