Headers - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

djaj4 · 09-07-2021, 08:17 AM

Have a 2012 ss, added the borla atack cat back and love it. We were wondering about adding headers, not sure what that would do with the Borla exhaust as far as performance and sound. Also would have to have it tuned I've heard. Is it worth doing? R.J.

1JEWLDSSRS · 09-07-2021, 08:22 AM

Heck yea!!! You really don't have to get it tuned, but you will get a CEL with them, but to get all the benefits of the LT's, you will want to get it tuned for the extra performance they offer. As for the sound, yea she WILL get louder!! We have a club member running the ATAK with LT's and it's pretty loud, but not as loud as my Corsa. lol. Good luck..

djaj4 · 09-07-2021, 08:26 AM

Perfect, Thanks for the reply!!

1JEWLDSSRS · 09-07-2021, 08:43 AM

Yes sir!! Cheers...

sinlinson · 09-07-2021, 09:19 AM

I was in your exact situation. Borla Atak and CAI. Finally got the headers, used off here with high flow cats. Night and day difference with the headers. Sounds better which with the Atak I wasn't expecting and the horsepower is instantly noticable. No cel's for me before the tune.

djaj4 · 09-07-2021, 10:57 AM

Great to hear, Thank you so much.

Greenhornet2 · 09-07-2021, 12:52 PM

Mine sounds like the gates of hell have opened. Get it tuned though.

pyroguy · 09-07-2021, 04:09 PM

Combined with a Borla Atak exhaust it will be freaking loud! That’s one of the more aggressive combos, long tube headers and Borla Atak. You will need to tune your car when you install long tube headers and I wouldn’t recommend wasting your time with shorty headers.

Here are the typical forum recommendations for headers:
Higher priced: Kooks, ARH, Stainless Works
Mid priced: OBX, Texas Speed, Stainless Power
Budget: Speed Engineering

While Speed Engineering are a more budget friendly header, they do not offer high flow cats with their headers, you will have to source them elsewhere. Also, the higher priced the header the less likely you are to have to “massage” them to fit properly (dimple a tube). While the dimple has shown to not impact the performance of the header, they can look a little less ascetically appealing. With higher priced headers you get warranties, lifetime for higher priced and typically 2 years for mid priced. Higher priced headers are made in America too. It’s all about how much you want to spend.

1JEWLDSSRS · 09-07-2021, 04:26 PM

I am running the Stainless Power headers and have had them on since 2012 and they still look new. The fit and finish on them is amazing. Tucked up all nice and neat ans NO "massaging". lol..

morepowerjoe · 09-08-2021, 12:00 AM

I have the Texas Speed LT's on mine with their 3" exhaust and have had them on for about a year and they still look good just a little discoloration from the heat. But I didn't have any problem at all with the installation of the headers but the 3" exhaust was a different story but I think that's probably the story with all 3" systems. lol

0stones0 · 09-08-2021, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1JEWLDSSRS

I am running the Stainless Power headers and have had them on since 2012 and they still look new. The fit and finish on them is amazing. Tucked up all nice and neat ans NO "massaging". lol..

Same here. No complaints on any aspect from quality to installation.

acutron42 · 09-08-2021, 05:54 AM

I have been running Kooks long tubes with high flow cats & GPI tune for a few months now. This winter I'm thinking about swapping my Flowmaster outlaws & going with Borla's. Just watch out for cam fever. It is quite common when you do a header install lol.

Crazych66 · 09-08-2021, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenhornet2

Mine sounds like the gates of hell have opened. Get it tuned though.

LOL exactly! Just installed ARH headers with gutted high flow cats. At low RPMs in is SOMEWHAT docile. However, after a certain RPM, well gates of hell is a good description it is loud and BADASS! I did get a CEL before I got it tuned. Did a remote tune, no CEL and the car is definitely stronger.

Glassman66 · 09-08-2021, 12:08 PM

Go to DynoSteve to get your tune. Simple email back and forth, upload the stock tune, he seems it back, you upload and your done.

09-07-2021, 08:17 AM	#1
djaj4 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS Convvertible Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 11	Headers Have a 2012 ss, added the borla atack cat back and love it. We were wondering about adding headers, not sure what that would do with the Borla exhaust as far as performance and sound. Also would have to have it tuned I've heard. Is it worth doing? R.J.

09-07-2021, 08:22 AM	#2
1JEWLDSSRS Drives: 2011 SS-RS Join Date: May 2011 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 11,449	Heck yea!!! You really don't have to get it tuned, but you will get a CEL with them, but to get all the benefits of the LT's, you will want to get it tuned for the extra performance they offer. As for the sound, yea she WILL get louder!! We have a club member running the ATAK with LT's and it's pretty loud, but not as loud as my Corsa. lol. Good luck.. __________________ TSP STAGE 3 CAM,231/246 @112 LSA 614/641 LIFT, CIRCLE D 5C-4200-4500 CONVERTER,LOD INTAKE.CORSA EXHAUST. DSS 1 PC DS. PEGASUS SOLID CRADLE MOUNTS. 486RWHP/475RWTQ.LOTS MORE.

09-07-2021, 08:43 AM	#4
1JEWLDSSRS Drives: 2011 SS-RS Join Date: May 2011 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 11,449	Yes sir!! Cheers... __________________ TSP STAGE 3 CAM,231/246 @112 LSA 614/641 LIFT, CIRCLE D 5C-4200-4500 CONVERTER,LOD INTAKE.CORSA EXHAUST. DSS 1 PC DS. PEGASUS SOLID CRADLE MOUNTS. 486RWHP/475RWTQ.LOTS MORE.

09-07-2021, 12:52 PM	#7
Greenhornet2 Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS LS3 Whipple Join Date: May 2019 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,925	Mine sounds like the gates of hell have opened. Get it tuned though. __________________ Whipple 2.9 CAI ID1050x injectors ZL1 Pump JRE FPCM JMS Voltage booster JRE Rough Idle blower cam BTR .660 springs CHE trunnion kit 1 7/8 Speed Engineering Borla Atak JRE scoop 1.5" lowering springs BMR trailing arms and toe links Cradle inserts 704WHP 603WTQ 93 octane

09-07-2021, 04:09 PM	#8
pyroguy Started#gottalovethatblue Drives: ABM #831 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: TN Posts: 6,919 View My Garage	Combined with a Borla Atak exhaust it will be freaking loud! That’s one of the more aggressive combos, long tube headers and Borla Atak. You will need to tune your car when you install long tube headers and I wouldn’t recommend wasting your time with shorty headers. Here are the typical forum recommendations for headers: Higher priced: Kooks, ARH, Stainless Works Mid priced: OBX, Texas Speed, Stainless Power Budget: Speed Engineering While Speed Engineering are a more budget friendly header, they do not offer high flow cats with their headers, you will have to source them elsewhere. Also, the higher priced the header the less likely you are to have to “massage” them to fit properly (dimple a tube). While the dimple has shown to not impact the performance of the header, they can look a little less ascetically appealing. With higher priced headers you get warranties, lifetime for higher priced and typically 2 years for mid priced. Higher priced headers are made in America too. It’s all about how much you want to spend. __________________ '10 Camaro 2SS/RS \| Aqua Blue #831 of 3,903 \| Silver Stripes Check out my build thread

09-07-2021, 08:26 AM	#3
djaj4 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS Convvertible Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 11	Perfect, Thanks for the reply!!

09-07-2021, 09:19 AM	#5
sinlinson 2016 2SS Convertible Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS convertible Join Date: May 2019 Location: NY Posts: 85 View My Garage	I was in your exact situation. Borla Atak and CAI. Finally got the headers, used off here with high flow cats. Night and day difference with the headers. Sounds better which with the Atak I wasn't expecting and the horsepower is instantly noticable. No cel's for me before the tune.

09-07-2021, 10:57 AM	#6
djaj4 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS Convvertible Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 11	Great to hear, Thank you so much.

09-07-2021, 04:26 PM	#9
1JEWLDSSRS Drives: 2011 SS-RS Join Date: May 2011 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 11,449	I am running the Stainless Power headers and have had them on since 2012 and they still look new. The fit and finish on them is amazing. Tucked up all nice and neat ans NO "massaging". lol.. __________________ TSP STAGE 3 CAM,231/246 @112 LSA 614/641 LIFT, CIRCLE D 5C-4200-4500 CONVERTER,LOD INTAKE.CORSA EXHAUST. DSS 1 PC DS. PEGASUS SOLID CRADLE MOUNTS. 486RWHP/475RWTQ.LOTS MORE.

09-08-2021, 12:00 AM	#10
morepowerjoe Drives: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro l99 Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,110	I have the Texas Speed LT's on mine with their 3" exhaust and have had them on for about a year and they still look good just a little discoloration from the heat. But I didn't have any problem at all with the installation of the headers but the 3" exhaust was a different story but I think that's probably the story with all 3" systems. lol __________________ DSS FX Forged Pistons, Eagle ESP L19 Forged Rods, ARP Head and Main Studs, TSP PRC 260 CNC Ported Heads milled .030, Cometic .040 Head Gaskets, GPI SS3 VVT Camshaft, GM Performance Racing Lifters, CHE Trunnions , Molly Pushrods, Melling 10355HV Oil Pump, Cold Air Inductions CAI, Fast LSXR Intake Manifold, Nick Williams 103 TB, TSP 1 7/8" Longtubes with 3" TSP Exhaust, ZL1 Fuel Pump, Mishimoto Radiator, Mishimoto Oil Cooler, Tru Cool 40k Tranny Cooler, 3600 Circle D Converter, Fluid Dynamics Balancer Build Thread https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609817

09-08-2021, 05:54 AM	#12
acutron42 Drives: 2013 Camaro 2SS AGM Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: WNY Posts: 733	I have been running Kooks long tubes with high flow cats & GPI tune for a few months now. This winter I'm thinking about swapping my Flowmaster outlaws & going with Borla's. Just watch out for cam fever. It is quite common when you do a header install lol.

09-08-2021, 12:08 PM	#14
Glassman66 Drives: 2014 Camaro 2SS/RS 1le Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Denver Co Posts: 260	Go to DynoSteve to get your tune. Simple email back and forth, upload the stock tune, he seems it back, you upload and your done. __________________ 2014 Camaro 1LE SS/RS THE MISTRESS