[JSH]

Originally Posted by clg82

Does a ported supercharger including the 103mm throttle body require headers?

This raises the interesting question of, which single mod provides the most HP/$?

Surely headers are near the top of the list.

[Z OH 6]

Originally Posted by JSH

This raises the interesting question of, which single mod provides the most HP/$?

Surely headers are near the top of the list.

Nothing is cheap on these cars. For a forced induction vehicle though, typically increasing boost is the most cost effective HP mod which means a pulley swap, however because the stock exhaust manifolds are so restrictive on these cars, it pretty much becomes necessary when increasing the boost. Headers are not cheap, nor is installation if you pay someone to do it and hen you must also have the PCM tuned which adds more cost. The way these cars are designed, its almost like there are no cheap effective HP mods without some expensive supporting mod to go with it. Even after you go full bolt on, then you have to go into the engine to add a cam for more fuel, even if you didn't want a cam, it becomes a necessity to continue to increase power.

[Stealth7]

With respect to Headers, just remember that they pose warranty challenges and almost always make the car less drivable. There are also often issues with heat in the engine bay (requiring ceramic coating or heat wrapping) and non-– OEM gasket fittings. So while headers may be very effective, you will be happiest if you know what to expect.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Stealth7

So while headers may be very effective, you will be happiest if you know what to expect.

I haven't noticed any negative effects of my Kooks. On the other hand they look good, sound good, and add 15 hp or so

[Z OH 6]

Originally Posted by Stealth7

With respect to Headers, just remember that they pose warranty challenges and almost always make the car less drivable. There are also often issues with heat in the engine bay (requiring ceramic coating or heat wrapping) and non-– OEM gasket fittings. So while headers may be very effective, you will be happiest if you know what to expect.

I don't know if less drivable is a good description of the cons. There are some tradeoffs if you install uncoated headers, but a good ceramic coating goes a LONG ways to preventing heat buildup in the engine bay. My 2" Kooks have the ultra extreme 2500 degree coating and its cooler in the engine bay than the stock manifolds by far but it did come at a hefty expense ($800). I'm not aware of any gasket issues that I've heard of. Bottom line in my opinion, headers aren't cheap at all, factor in that you will also need a tune as well which is an additional cost and you can't reuse the OEM catalytic converters, so you'll have to go catless or high flow cats (additional expense). The only real negative I see other than cost is that headers will hang a little lower than the stock exhaust which means ground clearance could potentially be an issue but won't for most.

[Vigilante375]

Originally Posted by Stealth7

With respect to Headers, just remember that they pose warranty challenges and almost always make the car less drivable. There are also often issues with heat in the engine bay (requiring ceramic coating or heat wrapping) and non-– OEM gasket fittings. So while headers may be very effective, you will be happiest if you know what to expect.

How would headers make the car less drivable? More heat? Just wrap them or coat them. Non oem gaskets? Ok..... don't see the issue there.

What I think of for daily use issues would big a big ass cam. Exhaust is at the bottom of my list on making a vehicle less drivable.

[Stealth7]

Originally Posted by Vigilante375

How would headers make the car less drivable? More heat? Just wrap them or coat them. Non oem gaskets? Ok..... don't see the issue there.

What I think of for daily use issues would big a big ass cam. Exhaust is at the bottom of my list on making a vehicle less drivable.

Have you ever had headers on the car? I have on many cars. They leak, they throw off heat, they cause drone, etc., etc., etc. They also posed emissions and warranty issues in applicable states, including my State of California. Another way to think about it is that manufacturers do not often "leave a lot on the table" in terms of power/drivability. In other words if you want to increase the power or an existing set up, you will likely sacrifice drivability and reliability. Of course, moving to a larger capacity supercharger, additional fuel and a tune (warranty and breakage issues aside) modifies the existing set up to allow more headroom.

What comprises an acceptable modification will vary from person to person and especially from state to state. People in some states (for example Texas) seem to be more willing to accept big camps, no catalytic converters, etc. in a daily driver.

My point is simply that the person choosing the modification should just understand what they are getting into.

[Vigilante375]

Originally Posted by Stealth7

Have you ever had headers on the car? I have on many cars. They leak, they throw off heat, they cause drone, etc., etc., etc. They also posed emissions and warranty issues in applicable states, including my State of California. Another way to think about it is that manufacturers do not often "leave a lot on the table" in terms of power/drivability. In other words if you want to increase the power or an existing set up, you will likely sacrifice drivability and reliability. Of course, moving to a larger capacity supercharger, additional fuel and a tune (warranty and breakage issues aside) modifies the existing set up to allow more headroom.

What comprises an acceptable modification will vary from person to person and especially from state to state. People in some states (for example Texas) seem to be more willing to accept big camps, no catalytic converters, etc. in a daily driver.

My point is simply that the person choosing the modification should just understand what they are getting into.

Yes. I had full exhaust on my 6 spd 06 GTO. Living between NC and GA I never had any issues from it, 0, nothing. No exhaust leaking, no droning (though that's mainly cat back/axle back exhaust root cause), no overheating or noticeable heat difference, etc., etc. I didn't have any heat wrap or coating.

My point is that headers do not cause any significant issues to the car being drivable. It made it perform better and had 0 side effects. A cam is what I consider something that'll affect a vehicle driving aspect or a very stiff clutch.

Living in California, people might as well just drive hybrids or EVs. California even hates OEM parts. They stopped the selling of Camaro's...... just saying.

[Sickspeedkuwait]

Update for my setup and some tests

Added a braided snow WMI (40/60) using a single 9GPH nozzle.

Fuel adjustment only for cooling purposes (Summer is HELL here)

95F temp & 93 octane

Same tune - 626whp (AFR was in high 10's) WMI ON
Map 1 - 676whp (AFR High 11.8-11.9) WMI ON
Map 1 - 661whp (AFR 12.3-12.4) WMI OFF
Map 2 with 1.5* of added timing - 685whp (AFR 11.8-11.9) WMI ON

Goal was to add this for cooling only and not be dependent on meth whatsoever since I am against these kits as a fuel source and ultimately ran out of options

[MakCamaro]

Great thread. Why did you ever stop posting!

[Blackdevil77]

Any drivability issues going with a larger TB?

[Z OH 6]

Originally Posted by Blackdevil77

Any drivability issues going with a larger TB?

None that I've seen since mine was installed. My car was tuned with the larger TB also.

[radz28]

When we switched the car over to a 103, it acted like it didn't even care. It could be because we fought with an over-ported LT5 TB earlier, so some of the homework was already done, but moving to a 103 didn't change much. The torque model is off, because calculated HP has gone up crazy, but drivability-wise - no biggie.

[SOCAL.M6.ZLE]

Originally Posted by JSH

This raises the interesting question of, which single mod provides the most HP/$?

Surely headers are near the top of the list.

Thats a great question... I would guess a FlexFuel kit would win hands down?