I am shopping for a set of headers for my 1996 Z28 LT1. I want to keep the emmisions functional. I am considering Kooks with their y-pipe. Does anyone have any experience using these? Is there a better header out there? Sorry for the questions but the last Camaro I modified was a 68 ragtop back in the 70's and have been out of the game for a while.

Thanks in advance

 

Looks like you are stock: Consensus is that going with a long tube v. a short tube gives the most gains overall. I assume you have dual cats. The first thing you need to decide is whether you can legally install long tubes---basically it is not legal to move the position of the cats, which would be required to install long tubes.

If you decide to go with the Lts you have many choices, however there a few things you should consider including, size, which should be 3/4". Material, which should be stainless steel and cermaic coated. Ease of installation, which varies. Access to plugs for changing. Access to fasteners of the header flanges and overall cost.

Kooks have great rep for quality, etc. however you need to get some feedback regarding the things mentioned above. Many tout the Pace's for cost and ease of access, etc. I leave it up to those experienced with the product to guide you further.

Going with a Cross-pipe, straight pipes, Y-pipe, cut-outs, etc. are all options when installing a header system. You can spend a few hundred to a couple of grand easily. You gains over stock can be from 15 to 50 RWHP +-,depending on your combination.

Having said this about that, remember that improving the breathing of the engine includes front to back, including, induction improvment using CAI, etc. Cams and High ratio RRs, port and pocket heads, headers, exhaust pipes and mufflers. This is of course based on stock displacement, compression, etc.

I.e., putting a couple of grand into the exhaust system without improving the intake does not provide maximum performance. JMHO

 

BTW: I opted for SLP shorties for my 97SS. I bought the headers uncoated and had a professional do the ceramic coating. I would have gone with Lts, but didn't want to chance getting caught. While Lts would have provided me with more bottom end, my baby cam is a low-end cam and my 4.10 help in the low-end department. So I'm hoping that the shorties will help top-end a bit. My rational is that if I can put the power to the ground, my car is competitive from light to light with bigger cam cars with lts---forget about the quarter though. JMHO

 

Ooops, I meant 1 3/4" primaries, not 3/4". I.e, the 1 3/4 " recommended over the 1 5/8" which many offer. I guess the larger size is preferred for the 350 as compared to a 302, etc. Now a good 1 5/8" like Clear Image, which also requires a random tech. y-pipe has been rumored to fit nicely and provide as much or more power than some larger 1 3/4" headers. It depends a lot on how the headers are made. The Clear Image is a 4 in 1 design. Problem is that the Clear Image cost over a grand with the y-pipe. AS&M also a good choice, but then again they are pretty spendy.

The SLP dual-cat shorties look terribly convuluted/twisted, etc., however they are made to fit your car. So going with a set might be the way to go if you go with shorties, and there are probably lots of used ones FS by those who upgraded to LTs. They are also 50 -state legal--whatever that means.

And since they are Stainless, you really don't need them to be coated---even though coating helps to keep the insides hot (for velocity exiting) and cool on the outside to help keep underhood temps cooler for a cooler intake charge.

But you can get away pretty cheap getting some used ones along with felpro gaskets and ARP SS 1 " bolts, which is probably the best way to go in your present situation. JMHO

 

Thanks Bubba,

I searched SLP's website and cannot find the shorties. I will call them Monday for availability and price. I have a set of BBK shorties that came with the car, but I am just thinking ahead of future mods. Initially I do not expect any big gains and would just like to do the job once. I have a CAI ready to put on the car, I have the timing tweaked a few degrees via SLP's electronics and plan to do more. You make some great points and is food for thought.

I am used to back in the day when you slapped on a set of headers, intake, Holley Double Pumper and a dual point distributor with Accel wires and you were good to go.

Thanks,

John

"The older I get, the faster I was"