I know this is a dumb question, but im about to invest a lot of money in my car, and im just curious about what kind of hp gain i can hope for.

Right now I have a 94 Z28 with CAI, hypertech, 160 t stat, and a gutted cat.
I am putting on a set of hooker shorty headers, with y pipe, and right off the y pipe i will have my electric exhaust cutout.
just like everyone else, i have high hopes for HP gain, but im just curious as to what i can logically expect. if anyone has any ideas, your input will be appreciated.
Mike

 

If your serious about gains then lose the shorties and go mids or even better long tubes.

 

I would expect to see around 8 - 10hp from the headers and another 5 - 10 with the cutout open. Should be somewhere in the range of 15 - 20hp total gain. It'll be a noticeable improvement in performance and obviously the sound of the car.
Won't be quite as dramatic as you might be hoping for though....you'll likely find yourself planning additional mods a week or two after you've got 'em installed
This is a very addictive hobby....

 

I got more then 15 RWHP from a cutout alone, so I would guess conservativly that you would gain about a good 20+ from everything your plannig to do...

 

the car is my DD, and i didnt want to have to worry about ground clearance issues..also, the guy who is installing everything for me said that its easier on him if i have shorties, lol. ill be happy with 20 horses... what should i do next? i was thinking gears possibly...

 

There are no ground clearance issues. This is a myth spread by manufacturers that make shorty headers lol.

Seriously though, my problems are in the back where my 2 mufflers are. They are big mufflers and dumped, even then they don't really cause any problems.

Install them yourself. If you pay money to have someone install shorties you will prob be dissapointed. If you take the time to do the long tubes right you will not only make more power, but have the satisfaction of doing it.

 

I just installed a set of edelbrock headers and ypipe and my cat was already gutted. I noticed a big improvement in sound and performance. Good luck with whatever you decide to do

 

No, if your serious, lose the longtubes and get some turbo headers for that twin turbo setup

 

Way to be constructive and helpful

Like jsetzer, there will not be ground clearance issues. I'm running LTs with a 3" offroad y-pipe and 3" all the way back to a muffler and don't have any issues. Honestly you have to be somewhat weary of scraping your front fascia more than you do your headers. You're more likely to scrape your electronic cutout than you are the LT collectors.

In my opinion, the most labor intensive part of any header swap is getting the old manifolds off, LT design and construction has come a long way and they slide right in very easily. The did on my '94 Z28 and my friend who purchased a newer 'version' of the Pacesetter LTs and they installed even easier.

Honestly if you don't have to worry about emissions, then go ahead and do the LTs -- you'll be much happier with the performance and the sound. And at any point down the road if you do a cam or heads/cam -- you'll already have a relatively unrestricted exhaust compared to the shorties.

As far as next mod, talk to PCMforLESS and get a tune, Bryan Herter does a great job and the updates are relatively inexpensive as you continue to modify your car.

 

yup. I would have to agree!

If you don't want to go longtubes, though, there are midlengths available too!

 

gee, im gonna start saving for my next mod...that TT setup. maybe by the time the new camaros are released ill have enough saved

 

gee, im gonna start saving for my next mod...that TT setup. maybe by the time the new camaros are released ill have enough saved

 

Ahh yes, I remember when I started off with just a few mods, then one thing led to another, and now I have over 60k invested, and a blower about ready to go in.

Headers will be one of the larger power gains you will recieve from simple bolt ons. However 15 hp increase ended up not being enough for me. I later after having all the bolt ons possible, did a heads-cam package, that was the big difference, until the motor went. Then it came time for my 383, and after getting used to low 400s at the wheels I went with the blower. I say start saving for those TTs or another power adder. But then again, not everyone is not satisfied until they invest a small house under their hood. Good luck.

 

60K and 11.8@118.... i'd be upset. LOL Sorry....

 

Personally, I think long tubes would make any type of maintenance work like plug/wires changes 10 time easier as compared to shorties. Also, as for the ground clearance issue, I have not dragged my long tubes or catted y-pipe once.