I know a lot of people do headers pretty early in the mods. But my question is just that, when does not having them actually hinder the performance of the motor? I helped install a pair on a buddy's formula and he is having nothing but problems with them leaking ever since. It will be fine for a few weeks then they are leaking again, mostly around the cat on the drivers side. Worse, he saw little to no gain because they are short tubes and on a dual cat car. So needless to say I am not going to do them until i have too. Any opinions on when that may be?

TIA
Craig

 

For LT1's, the moment you buy the car.

Lance

 

I knew that was coming.. lol

 

Id say right after tha cold air intake

 

If you're thinking about the regular shorty headers for the 2 cat cars, better not do it at all. I've read they don't offer much over the manifold. Long tube header, now this is a different story.
If you can't go with long tubes, look into SLP LT4 manifold, it a stainless steel casting with better flow and less headake.

 

If i bought another LT1 i would do it right when i bought it, i got a hugh gain from my MAC headers.

 

CAI, Catback then headers.

 

I second that notion.

 

When it feels too slow again after the other bolt ons.

 

Yeah, I would have to say ASAP. Everything you do to the car before hand, is just being restricted by the exhaust.

Jason

 

I agree with Canadian. Headers made my car feel like another car. I don't have any times or dyno runs to prove this, but I can honestly say the car runs completely different after I put in the MAC headers.

 

Hooker long tubes, high flow cat ypipe (or offroad), 3inch cat back exhaust will add a good 50-60 horses. 290-310wrhp with those mods.
i gain about 20 horses from switching to long tubes over slp shorties.

 

ASAP... As soon as you can afford them.... Giving they are installed right. you should have no problems...... Well worth the gains...

 

They seem to "hinder" the performance of the motor when going to a bigger cam before doing headers. The few people that I have heard that went that way say they did not notice much of a gain from the cam with stock manifolds. I would bet you would probably see the same or even bigger gains from adding a good set of headers than you would from adding an average cam like the hotcam while using stock manifolds. Any set of headers out there are a big improvement over the stock manifolds.

 

I put on a CAI, that was neat. Then the cat-back, neater still.. a bit more noticeable. Then mid-length 1¾" headers. Those uncorked a pretty noticeable amount of power. Once you get a stock manifold off and compare it to a good header, it's pretty funny. Those pesky manifolds have got to go!

As for the leaks and general annoyance.. it's just part of the game. Problems can (but don't necessarily have to) get worse and more frequent the more mods you do.. but you do learn along the way, and there's loads of fun to be had in between. And there's nothing - nothing like firing up the engine after your first cam swap.