Headers question!

chrislcrews · September 26, 2016

Hey guys I finally found a shop to put headers on my truck for me, I'm going to be leaving the cats on there.

The guy told me just putting headers on will not throw a code is this true??

And what brand is the best to choose here? I'm going to his shop Wednesday to pull the trigger so I need some idea of what to buy here ASAP

I'm assuming all I'll get is a little more aggressive sound and small horse power gain?

Rawyzf · September 26, 2016

Are you doing shorty headers or long tubes?

LTs, you might have a hard time (or at least some pretty high labor costs), fabbing up the OEM Y pipe to mate with the LTs. If you do go this route, your best bet would be a header that has a good connection piece between the LT Headers and Y. So, Kooks, American Racing are your best bets.

You actually might be better off just getting the full Kooks LT headers and Catted Y pipe. More simple and straight forward.

My bet would be that you would still throw a CEL, but I don't know for sure. I am curious to find out (if you indeed do keep the stock Y pipe and Cats).

Good luck!

PS - Maryland Speed has great prices on the Kooks setups if you call them directly.

chrislcrews · September 26, 2016

Well that's what I'm

Looking for if I should go short or long? Looking to see if anyone else hs already done this before? I need info ASAP lol.

Is the headers and cat setup you said sold as a set or separate?

TJay74 · September 27, 2016

If you are going with LT and using that companies catted Y pipe you will throw O2 codes, they will be the rear O2 codes. No way around it, caused by the longer warm up time from the after market cats being moved further back from the engine which causes longer warm up times for the cats which is what trips the rear O2 efficiency codes.

Rawyzf · September 27, 2016

I think you need to look into this a bit more. Sounds as if you need to do a little more research. (I say this in the nicest way)

Are you going to tune the truck? If not, then I suggest not going with headers at this point.

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TJay74 · September 27, 2016

Correct, if you are adamant about not tuning then I would skip long tube headers and either check into shorties or else maybe try using the manifolds from another GM vehicle (IE the new C7 Z06 manifolds). Thought the gains and cost may not be worth it.

chrislcrews · September 28, 2016

Well here's the deal. I was thinking about tuning it and wanting too but this person at the service department told me that if I start tuning my truck that it could blow up my engine???

Dunno how accurate this is.

I don't mind going for short headers. If they go into the OEM cats. I'm looking into headers for the gain in sound. You mention that I wouldn't see much a change?

So my sound wouldn't change at all?

I'm going to the guy to look at my truck today. Haha. Does kooks make short headers?

Rawyzf · September 28, 2016

If you're really only after sound, swap out your muffler or catback exhaust. Headers will increase sound on the truck, but from what you are saying, I don't know if you're ready to do this yet. Muffler swap will get you the same results, a sound change. You also won't have to worry about tuning or check engine lights, etc.

Your tech might be right about the truck blowing up, if you were tuning your truck yourself with no tuning experience. However, if you have someone with knowledge on tuning, tune the truck, then you're in good hands and will be happy with the results in most cases.

markreed · September 28, 2016

Stock manifolds on your truck are great. Even a very quality set of aftermarket shorties will net very minimal gains or significantly alter the sounds. Cats will keep the sound down.

I never recommend shorties on these trucks just due to the lack of return. As other have said, a muffler will give you a large change in tone. Long tubes will give you a nice bump in power all through the powerband, but it come with a sacrifice (should tune, check engine light, more drive train noise...)

You need to decide what you are comfortable living with. It sounds like what you are after would be met with a muffler change. If you are not pleased then revisit in a few months.

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chrislcrews · September 28, 2016

Okay so update. I just left the muffler shop and was talking to a guy up there and he said our trucks have 3 CATs would removing the 3rd cat still cause a code to come up, would this help with sound?

I love my super 10 flowmaster. I am just curious if I remove the CATs could I just buy a diablo tuner and have the code removed?

This will only void my exhaust warrenty right?

cmysstailights · September 28, 2016

From my understanding u need a full custome tune to tune out the cats. Years ago slp used to sell o2 simms, noone sells them anymore. I have a 10 2ssrs camaro. Did long tubes with cats, needed o2 extension harness. Had to get a tune which i knew i would need one. Not my first modded car. I gained over 30 rwhp with headers n a tune.

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Rawyzf · September 28, 2016

Okay so update. I just left the muffler shop and was talking to a guy up there and he said our trucks have 3 CATs would removing the 3rd cat still cause a code to come up, would this help with sound?

I love my super 10 flowmaster. I am just curious if I remove the CATs could I just buy a diablo tuner and have the code removed?

This will only void my exhaust warrenty right?

Didn't know you had a super 10 already. Sounds like you're going for Nascar loud ;).

When you had your super 10 put in, did you remove the resonator as well?

Any tune / handheld tuner can void your full warranty through your dealership. It all depends on your relationship with them is. I have no idea what the exhaust warranty is, besides the cats being warrantied for a certain time frame.

chrislcrews · September 28, 2016

Didn't know you had a super 10 already. Sounds like you're going for Nascar loud ;).

When you had your super 10 put in, did you remove the resonator as well?

Any tune / handheld tuner can void your full warranty through your dealership. It all depends on your relationship with them is. I have no idea what the exhaust warranty is, besides the cats being warrantied for a certain time frame.

Haha i dunno about NASCAR loud but I want it a little more beefy. So that's why I am wondering if cutting th CATs are worth it? I know some people have. I also spoke to someone about the headers and they said the same thing as other people on here I'll have little change at all.

I'm fine with tuning the truck if I delete the CATs I mean. Idk. What do you guys think?

Rawyzf · September 28, 2016

Catless with a Super10 will be definitely be loud.

Listen to some of the videos on YouTube of these trucks with Catless headers. Mine was borderline too loud, and very raspy, so I put the stock resonator back on. I can't stand raspy.

I don't know your budget, but the best result would be going with Long Tubes, then a Y Pipe (catted or not, your call), then a custom tune.

I think I have all the dyno numbers and gains in my build thread.

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chrislcrews · September 29, 2016

Catless with a Super10 will be definitely be loud.

Listen to some of the videos on YouTube of these trucks with Catless headers. Mine was borderline too loud, and very raspy, so I put the stock resonator back on. I can't stand raspy.

I don't know your budget, but the best result would be going with Long Tubes, then a Y Pipe (catted or not, your call), then a custom tune.

I think I have all the dyno numbers and gains in my build thread.

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Do you have any videos of your trucks sound?