I'm considering buying a set of long tube headers for my '97 SS, and I want the best quality out there. That doesn't always mean just buy the most expensive!

I'm in the process of replacing a badly hacked up Y-Pipe, but the more I think about it the more I think I may as well take the opportunity to do a full header and cat-back system. So here are the criteria that I need fulfill, and I'll let you guys tell me who has the best at each, preferrably all!

Thick, heavy duty flanges! I HATE header leaks, and I only want to put the headers on ONCE. I'll use high quality locking header bolts, and I want to buy headers that have heavy flanges that won't distort and loosen later, leaving me to have to put new gaskets in every spring. Been there done that.

Stainless or coated. My car looks awesome inside and out, and I don't want a set of headers that is going to rust in a week and make my engine bay look like sheet.

Cat provisions or included cats. Someone on here pointed me to a set of headers that came with new cats installed at the end of the Y-Pipe. I have to maintain emissions, so the headers have to either include cats or at least meet the Y-Pipe in a way that the factory cats can be included. Basically whatever I buy it has to pass a visual inspection, but no sniffer.

Fit and ground clearance. I want something that I'm going to 'refit' with a ball pean hammer or that is going to drag on the ground every time I hit a bump.

I don't want to give you all the impression that money is no object, but I'd rather wait and save up for the best product for my needs than buy early and cheap and end up wishing I'd have bought something else. I wanted to go with SLP but they don't sell long tubes for the LT1! They have kind of given up on the LT1 since the LS1 came out. Kinda pisses me off considering the number of LT1's that are out there.

So any information you can give me about your best experience, your worst experience, cost, etc., will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Paul

 

I'm ordering my Hooker LT's soon, with matching Y pipe, they are ceramic coated, with mr. Gasket copper gaskets, and stage 8 locking header bolts. I'll let you know what happens when everything is put in place hopefully within the next couple months here.

 

Kooks Stainless Steel LT's..........hands down. KooKs Long Tubes
KooKs Y-pipe w/cats

 

my long tubes are the best because they are MINE!!!!!!

ahhaha i love hooker's!

 

Sounds like the Jet Hots will fit the bill, if the Kooks are too expensive for your tastes. They come with Jet Hot's famous coating, 3" collectors, and with or without emissions provisions (your choice). The ground clearance is not bad at all, but you should understand that with ANY long tube design, you're going to lose at least an inch or so. As far as fitment was concerned, some people have reported needing to drop the k-member, or at least jack up the motor in order to squeeze them up to the heads. I didn't have to do either. I had them in, start to finish, by myself, in under 3 hours on a lift, without jacking the motor one inch.

I ended up mating them to the JH-coated y-pipe, and then to a Hooker catback exhaust.

Pics are available upon request.

Also, FLPs include EVERYTHING you would need, including high-flow cats and replaceable ORPs, but they come at a price. A cool $1200 for the set. They are arguably the best headers out there, next to the Kooks.

 

I vote for the Jet-Hot's too. Fit nicely, with no issues at a reasonable price.

FLP doesn't make the LT1 header any longer....for good reason too. They didn't fit well, plug access sucked, and were way overpriced for what they were.

 

I'd advise against FLP's. My coating has cracks and small rust spots at the collectors after around two years of daily commuting and the spark plug access is a joke. Even after buying SLP's special 30 dollar spark plug socket, it still took me all day to change my plugs. Take a look at Kooks...

EDIT: SS MPSTR beat me to the punch!...

 

Can't beat Pacesetter for the price.

IMHO, Pacesetter or Kooks.

 

so far i like my jet hot lt's. i dident need a lift, have to jack my motor,drop my k member cut anything out they just slipped right in (with my heads off though ) clearence is ok

 

Pics officially requested... All that you have please, I have no limit to my inbox! 350@350350.com

 

Another question for you guys who have LT's...

I live in an area that visually inspects for emissions equipment, but does not test it or do a sniffer test. I would think that if I put on a good set of LT's, Y-Pipe'd them back over to a good, High-Flow cat and then into a good cat-back system it should be legal and should pass a visual inspection.

However, technically my car is a '97 and has two cats, and if they put it up on a hoist they would easily see that I no longger had the driver's side cat. I have no idea how strict they are, as I have yet to get a vehicle inspected and have never had any type of emissions testing or inspection anywhere else I've ever lived.

Can any of you guys who have had your LT's pass a visual inspection tell me what you had to go through? Did you have to shop around to find a 'Good Guy' shop that would kind of let it slide, or do you have to be completely official with your setup? Or are all you LT guys strictly in places that have no emissions requirements at all???

Thanks,
Paul

 

Although I live in an area that normally never passes a set-up like I have, I still run dual cats on my car. If for anything else, I despise the raw fuel smell, and if I get stopped and the cop wants to do a quick review of the car's emission equipment, it 'appears' legit. The plus side is that the tone of the exhaust is a bit better IMO with the cats and open Borla (significantly reduced popping and raspiness).

 

I used to be a firm supporter of Hooker LT's. I just swapped them for a set of Pacesetters and the fit was really good. On the drivers side, running the plus wires over the top of the valve cover is a little tricky, but that's my only complaint. They hug the floorboard really well, and no chance of the #1 primary leaking w/ them as there's no slip fit tube. Additionally, they have a thick and meaty flange. Only mod I did to them was get flanges welded on to the end for my ypipe that is being made.

 

What kind of mating does the Jet Hot collector use between the collector and the Y-Pipe? Is it a ball flange type like on the factory converter or is it the old 3-bolt type that always leaks? I'm kinda leaning towards the Jet Hots...

 

I've never had a problem with a 3-bolt style leaking. Just use a decent gasket and torque them all down equally and hard.