Newb Q - How to tell if I have headers?

Jaybub · 10-07-2023, 07:36 PM

Hi all. Just picked up a 2020 2SS 1LE manual. My first V8 ever and wow is this thing powerful. I friggen love this car. I just hit 51 when I bought it and figured I should be mature enough to handle this much power by now. However, real world results prove otherwise. God I shoulda got an american muscle car earlier in life.

The car came with some Borlas that sound absolutely fantastic. I'm wondering if that amazing sound is due to only the Borlas, or does this thing have headers as well? I bought it from a dealership so I wasn't able to inquire directly with the previous owner. Features list for the car failed to mention any add ons and stuck strictly with the stock features. I figured if the Borlas weren't added onto the feature list, headers wouldn't either.

I've done my fair share of minor wrenching in the past, but I've never messed with headers on my previous cars. Is there a simple way to be able to tell if the car still has its stock exhaust manifold vs add on headers? I'm thinking the best way to tell is by jacking it up and taking a look at what's coming out from the bottom of the engine. From what I understand, headers should have long individual tubes that meet up at a centralized exhaust pipe that I should be able to see from the bottom. Any way of being able to tell from the top of the engine?

Appreciate any info!

Yang N’ Bang · 10-07-2023, 07:39 PM

Easiest way to tell is send us a pic under the hood, we can tell ya instantly.

arpad_m · 10-07-2023, 09:30 PM

Hey Jaybub, congratulations on this fantastic score, you have chosen very well, as you probably already know

We're the same age, I've had my 6th gen Camaro since 2018 and it's a ton of joy to drive no matter the road or speed or even weather. The 2SS has the convenience and safety features that one expects of a car these days as a bare minimum, and what I love is these safety options inform but don't intervene: there is blind spot monitoring but no autosteering when I'm making a lane change, your car probably has front collision warning but it won't brake for you, the DIC has speed limit indication but the car won't slow down on its own to match that... and that's the way it should be, I want to drive this beast and not the other way around.

Your description is correct, the easiest is to get under the car and check out the collectors, see the picture below (courtesy Phastek Performance), these are of the Kooks longtube headers that I also have. Note also the cats that are different from stock, your car may or may not have them, depending on the product and the options the previous owner chose when ordering the headers.

It's also easy to recognize long tube headers from the top, as Yang N' Bang said, we'll help you out if you post a good pic of the engine bay.

Jaybub · 10-07-2023, 10:22 PM

Appreciate the replies!

arpad_m, thanks a bunch. This sucker was hard to find and a score. The dealer marked it off over $10k from blue book because it was sitting on the lot for so long. They said manual transmission cars are hard to sell now days because not many of the younger generation know how to drive them. Oh well. You don't miss what you never knew. lol.

I'm glad I found a 2SS. That menacing blind spot that every YouTube reviewer goes off about is no longer an issue with the video rear view mirror and the blind spot monitoring. Also agree with you about the safety notifications. It's nice not to be forced into corrections.

I'll get those pictures taken and uploaded asap.

2SS Capt · 10-07-2023, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaybub

Appreciate the replies!

arpad_m, thanks a bunch. This sucker was hard to find and a score. The dealer marked it off over $10k from blue book because it was sitting on the lot for so long. They said manual transmission cars are hard to sell now days because not many of the younger generation know how to drive them. Oh well. You don't miss what you never knew. lol.

I'm glad I found a 2SS. That menacing blind spot that every YouTube reviewer goes off about is no longer an issue with the video rear view mirror and the blind spot monitoring. Also agree with you about the safety notifications. It's nice not to be forced into corrections.

I'll get those pictures taken and uploaded asap.

You are correct, the camera rear view mirror is an absolute game changer! Absolutely NO blind spots if you set that camera mirror and your side mirrors correctly... I was so paranoid driving the car at first (hearing all the horror stories about "no visibility", once I had those all set, I have much more visibility (and "SA" (Situational Awareness)) than I do in my DD (2012 Hyundai Sonata)...

Use the technology to your advantage, it is there for a reason!

Congrats on your score, sounds like a great vehicle with maybe a few bonus extras!

(That pic of the long tube headers above is a thing of beauty and is making me drool!)

10-07-2023, 07:36 PM	#1
Jaybub Drives: 2020 2SS Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Hawaii Posts: 12	Newb Q - How to tell if I have headers? Hi all. Just picked up a 2020 2SS 1LE manual. My first V8 ever and wow is this thing powerful. I friggen love this car. I just hit 51 when I bought it and figured I should be mature enough to handle this much power by now. However, real world results prove otherwise. God I shoulda got an american muscle car earlier in life. The car came with some Borlas that sound absolutely fantastic. I'm wondering if that amazing sound is due to only the Borlas, or does this thing have headers as well? I bought it from a dealership so I wasn't able to inquire directly with the previous owner. Features list for the car failed to mention any add ons and stuck strictly with the stock features. I figured if the Borlas weren't added onto the feature list, headers wouldn't either. I've done my fair share of minor wrenching in the past, but I've never messed with headers on my previous cars. Is there a simple way to be able to tell if the car still has its stock exhaust manifold vs add on headers? I'm thinking the best way to tell is by jacking it up and taking a look at what's coming out from the bottom of the engine. From what I understand, headers should have long individual tubes that meet up at a centralized exhaust pipe that I should be able to see from the bottom. Any way of being able to tell from the top of the engine? Appreciate any info!

10-07-2023, 09:30 PM	#3
arpad_m Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 11,625 View My Garage	Hey Jaybub, congratulations on this fantastic score, you have chosen very well, as you probably already know We're the same age, I've had my 6th gen Camaro since 2018 and it's a ton of joy to drive no matter the road or speed or even weather. The 2SS has the convenience and safety features that one expects of a car these days as a bare minimum, and what I love is these safety options inform but don't intervene: there is blind spot monitoring but no autosteering when I'm making a lane change, your car probably has front collision warning but it won't brake for you, the DIC has speed limit indication but the car won't slow down on its own to match that... and that's the way it should be, I want to drive this beast and not the other way around. Your description is correct, the easiest is to get under the car and check out the collectors, see the picture below (courtesy Phastek Performance), these are of the Kooks longtube headers that I also have. Note also the cats that are different from stock, your car may or may not have them, depending on the product and the options the previous owner chose when ordering the headers. It's also easy to recognize long tube headers from the top, as Yang N' Bang said, we'll help you out if you post a good pic of the engine bay. Attached Images __________________ 2018 Camaro 2SS — G7E MX0 NPP F55 IO6 735 rwhp \| 665 rwtq Magnuson TVS 2300 80mm pulley \| Kooks 1 7/8" LT headers \| JRE smooth idle terminator cam \| LT4 FS & injectors \| TSP forged pistons & rods JMS PowerMAX \| DSX flex fuel kit \| Roto-Fab CAI \| Soler 95mm LT5 TB \| 1LE wheels \| 1LE brakes \| BMR rear cradle lockout \| JRE custom tune 1100 - 1/30/18 \| 2000 - 1/31/18 3000 - 2/06/18 TPW 2/26/18 3400 - 2/19/18 \| 3800 - 2/26/18 4300 - 2/27/18 \| 4B00 - 3/01/18 4200 - 3/05/18 \| 4800 - 3/14/18 5000 - 3/16/18 \| 6000 - 3/19/18

10-07-2023, 07:39 PM	#2
Yang N’ Bang 17’ Hyper Blue 2SS Drives: 17’ Camaro 2SS Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Phoenix Arizona Posts: 225 View My Garage	Easiest way to tell is send us a pic under the hood, we can tell ya instantly.

10-07-2023, 10:22 PM	#4
Jaybub Drives: 2020 2SS Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Hawaii Posts: 12	Appreciate the replies! arpad_m, thanks a bunch. This sucker was hard to find and a score. The dealer marked it off over $10k from blue book because it was sitting on the lot for so long. They said manual transmission cars are hard to sell now days because not many of the younger generation know how to drive them. Oh well. You don't miss what you never knew. lol. I'm glad I found a 2SS. That menacing blind spot that every YouTube reviewer goes off about is no longer an issue with the video rear view mirror and the blind spot monitoring. Also agree with you about the safety notifications. It's nice not to be forced into corrections. I'll get those pictures taken and uploaded asap.

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