Can anyone point me in the right direction? I wanna put headers on my LS1 that is going into my 87 Trans Am. The HAwks Long tubes seem like to much trouble for the price and Long tubes might not be the way to go if I lower the car. Will regular headers fit in a third gen? Like slp (ls1) or anyone else?

 

No, the Hawk's swap headers are the only ones available currently. Unless you have a custom set fabbed up.

 

Might run your question by JTmiller92. He has an LS powered third gen.

 

Phoenix... There is a thread near this one with a pretty detailed desc. of the stainless works (hawks) headers. However...one thing I DO like is the ground clearence. I have plenty. In fact...I think the collectors may sit above the lowest point on the trans crossmember. So dont let ground clearence scare you away. Not sure how low things will be once I get the y-pipe on though...

Justin

 

The clearence issues with LT headers are more caused by the Y-pipe and Cats, not the actual headers.

And seriously, how many of these threads are going to be started. As its been stated many many times, the only header choice that has been confirmed is the Hawks (Stainless Works) LT Headers.

I just saw in another thread that someone has found some mid-length, those are more likely to fit because they dont go low enough down to hit the frame rails like most LS1 headers do on our cars.

But for the price of Mids, the performance gain is kinda iffy, and you might as well stick with a 01+ Manifold.

 

The user here Drews makes (maybe modifies) the tranny X-member so it will accomodate for the y-pipe and cats. Check out this thread.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/exha...ml#post2618106

Dingle

 

THATS what i want to do. Unfortunetly...I have the spohn torque arm that mounts to his crossmember. Its a great piece...and Im keeping it. But it doesnt look like it allows you to use a crossmember like drews...or even to modify the spohn unit to make it like drews. I was going to do a custom torque arm mount and I still might. But as of right now it doesnt look like I can. Anyone have any experience with modifying their crossmember while using that type of spohn set up???

Justin

BTW: Phoenix... I just realized after looking at the post its going into a hijack situation. I apologize. You might still find some of this info helpfull since, as stevenk stated, you are pretty much stuck with Hawks if you want LTs. It would be cool if MrDude comes up wtih a way to easily modify another set of headers to work too!

 

I am sorry about starting another ls1 third gen thread. I am not going to run cats so will that help alot in ground clearence?

 

the problem is getting the exhaust out of the "frame rails"..
you have thoes two "frame rails" on each side of the trans tunnel... the exhaust has to come out of there...
the clearance issues comes from most people having it come out under the rails or under the trans crossmember... unless you can keep the pipe partway tucked up in there, its going to be low.
so you can either make a crossmember with room, cut and mod the cars rails... or have a exhaust that cuts under it and hangs low there.

 

I have heard but not seen a set of third gen headers with the LS flanges on them after some minor moving of the tubes. Seems like I was told that two tubes are close and the others are waay off but it can be done with a little fab knowldge. My question would be if I went with a shorty conventional header, how much angle change is there at the flange as far as the exhaust port height and direction. I can get the flanges from Pace Performance but not sure if I want to try and hog up a set of headers just to suit my cheap ***!! Just can't justify a set of headers like that when I need more parts that are far more important.

 

if you want shortys, either get 4thgen shortys, or keep the manifolds...... id just keep the manifolds, since you wont see a gain from the shorties.
we're talking about actual performance headers.. so they MUST be longtubes... you dont see a gain with shorties because the factory manifolds are that good...i put over 366hp to the ground with the exhaust manifolds...

 

yea, I know the shorties suck for performance gains but the manifolds are just so damned ugly!!! So the 4th gen shorts will work still? Hmmm, might not have to change a bunch of exhaust if I go that route until those header prices come down some!!

 

I ended up using the Hawks Headers and Y-pipe but modded the y-pipe in several places. Still not happy with the fit amd plan on c-notching my frame so that i can tuck it up more.

 

You could always try to make your own exhaust. We're just finishing up on mine. Nothing special, exhaust manifolds, 2 high flow cats from ebay with a hooker aerochamber. It runs above the crossmember. Here is a pic of it so far, its all in just tacked. Best pic I can find as of right now...

 

Great minds think alike. That's what I was thinking of doing, that way I would have as much ground clearance as possible. I take it you used the same size pipe from the manifolds (2.25") to the Y (where did you buy that?) and then a 3" out the back?

 

I think it was flowmaster, but I'll have to check. We had to cut the intakes off and weld them to the pipes then weld it back to the collector. It's a pretty impressive piece. There is so much ground clearance on this setup, it stays above the torque arm al lthe way back too. Hopefully it al lworks out and I'll be driving by sunday. Will let you know how it turns out....Let me know if anyone is interested in any pics.

EDIT: here is a link to it, I think it's the same one. Motorsport Technologies, Inc. -:- LS1 F-Body Exhaust Upgrades

 

I need more pics of this, various angles. Looking at this pic, and looking at pics of my car with headers only, I see no way of getting the exhaust like that.

 

Well I'm using a tko transmission instead of a t56. It leaves a lot more room. I have yet to see how a t56 fits in these cars, but I'm guessing it makes it a little harder. Tomorrow, we're going to finish welding it all together and probably paint it. Friday it's going back on. I'll try to grab as many pics for you as I can.

 

thats almost the same setup im using in my car also except i have a th350. A 3'' y pipe runs though the spohn trans x member and then connects with a 3'' Y connector.

 

Don't use Putfile; images disappear after time, and (in this case) you can't hotlink them. Just add them as an attachment, or send it to me so I can shrink it for you.

 

his transmission is physically smaller.. you cant route it that way with a T56....

 

Well wanted to give you guys an idea anyway. Here is a link to some picutes of the exhaust before paint:

Index of /cars/camaro/exhaust

 

Thats a nice looking piece!! Wish there was room on mine to do that...but I just dont see it happening. I do have a quick question for you though. What are you using for the connections of the pipes? The flanges I mean? Are those things welded onto the pipes themselves? Then a regular gasket goes between them? Ive used the ones before that come with the short little piece of pipe...but the flange part is loose on them until bolted up. THis idea looks better and there is no way for the pipes to move or settle once bolted up. Where did you get em from? Thanks!

Justin

 

They are all hooker header flanges. The ones that bolt to the exhaust manifolds are custom made 2.5" flanges with 3" bolt pattern.

 

Hawks SW LT's all the way... then use the "drews" xmember and to get the pipes thru the x-member and tucked up high just use the hedman headers "s-bends"... mandrel bends and they work perfect... just a little cutting/welding to get it all lined up and tucked. Then you can do a y-pipe or x-pipe after that.

 

Is this what you use? If so do you have any pics?

 

Subscribing. Will this setup work/clear with 4L60E?

 

Now for the BIG question. Will the 3inch collector option work like this too or am I just asking for trouble?

 

3" collector option? What?

 

Take a look at the page were Hawks sells the LTs and they have a new upgrade option for $50 plus a 4 week wait to get 3 inch collectors. They come with 2.5 if I remember correctly.

 

I bought mine with a 3'' inch collectors but it rubs on the passanger side rail which I got fixed.

 

Yeah, I saw that on their site... I've always considered cutting my 2.5" collectors off and having a friend TIG some 3" stainless ones on.Not really worth it to me right now... guess I'll find out on my new motor. Should be 525RWHP or more NA.

 

I emailed Hawk's last night about what the wait time would be for a set of his LS1 conversion headers with no AIR fittings and 3" collectors. He responded to me 2 hours later saying that he had them in stock, and would ship within 24 hours of my payment. With that said, I bought them right on the spot. I will probably be getting them this week or early next week. I was kind of worried that I wouldn't see them for 4-6 weeks from now, and that it would hold up my project. I'm quite impressed with the service from Hawk's!

 

for anyone interested in a used set of hawks lt's and y-pipe, I am selling mine

 

I'm interested....how much are you looking to get for them?

 

heddman is suppossed to be coming out with a shortie header for a ls1 into 3rd gen swap early '07, but they reccomend/require you to use trans dapt motor mounts
heddman # 62800
transdapt # 4592

 

I was going to get the 3" collectors, but I didnt really see a need to. Even with all my mods the 2.5" collector and y-pipe will flow good enough for now. Like mentioned above...later on I might add the 3" collector to the headers and make a new ypipe.

Justin