Do you HAVE to use the Hawks Stainless Works Third-Gen/LS1 conversion headers? OBviously you can use the stock manifolds but with 243 heads & a cam, that's just not gonna work. Maybe some block-hugging 4th gen headers exist? What's the big clearance issue? $800 is hard to swallow

 

try ls1tech.com some have made there own and also know of other headers that fit with very little work. shorty headers work but I have been told they offer little to no improvment over the stock manifolds some even claim a loss (which I find hard to belive)

 

Yeah I need to start searching through there, thanks.

And yes, shorties don't do much. On LS2's they're good for 10-15HP and not recommended for H/C packages, so probly not worth my time on the LS1 either.

 

the clearance issue is that the headers on a fourth gen dont go straight back under the floorboard.. they kick outward.

this fits the floor space under a 4thgen, but it goes directly into the front subframe of our cars.

if you cut/bend/move/weld the collector area, and are running a tubular Kmember, then you can make 4thgen headers work.

 

i'm a fan of the hawks headers......but HATE their y pipe/cat combo....i got mine to fit, but had to hack the trans cross member. and it rattles alittle on the drivers frame rail. get the headers and make some custom pipes. thats all i can say.

 

I'm planning on getting the Skulte LT T-56 crossmember and not the Hawks y-pipe; I saw the pics of it, looks like crap!

 

The Hawks headers are worth the price. Stainless, nice flanges, good fit, and they are good quality. Dont by the y-pipe especially if you are buying a crossmember to allow the exhaust to go straight back.

As mentioned above, 4th gen headers just plain old dont fit. You'd have to hack on them to the point where it would be pointless in my opinion. If you are good with that stuff, then you might be able to make it work...

The price... Well, yeah the hawks are expensive. But they are the only bolt on LS1 long tubes that I know of for the 3rd gen cars. And they are stainless...and the quality/fit is good. So...in my opinion they are worth it.

Justin

 

 

How about GMT-900 Truck (Model Year 2007 Trucks) Headers? Or CTS-V (Cadillac LS2) ? I need factory Parts to pass the vissual part of the emissions check

 

um, you can use the fbody exhaust manifolds, no problem.

hell, i put down 380-something on a dynojet with them...



we're talking about longtube HEADER options.. not exhaust manifolds though. manifolds fit fine.

 

Yeah just use the stock manifolds. You could try to get someone to extrude hone them, but reality is you're only leaving ~20HP on the table with stock cam & heads; more with aftermarket H/C.

 

how do they know what you really have anyway? if you use the hawks how would they know they are not another brand?