Hey Everyone.

Im at the point in my swap where i need to make a decision on exhaust.

Ive got truck manifolds, and they wont work, so i need to either buy F-body Mainfolds/Cats, Stainless works LT headers, or make my own headers.

Im trying to justify to myself spending $800 on headers, when ive spent $1000 over budget already, but im not exactly looking forward to doing the exhaust twice.

If anyone could give input to ease my decisions, that would be awesome!

Sheldon

 

Hey,

I just used the stock Fbody manifolds and then made up my own ypipe...

It seemed like the cheapest thing at the time

My car is also pretty low and i dont know if I could have run longtubes....

edit: Buy this guy's stuff

http://forums.kwmuscle.com/viewtopic.php?t=2493

 

Been thinking about the same thing myself over the last couple of days... And pulling my old headers off this weekend reminded me of the "joy" involved with swapping them when the engine's in the car. Looking at the prices that people are asking for used F-body manifolds, I thought that the people selling them were deranged - and then I found that if you buy 'em new, you're gonna spend something like $400!!!

I've just about talked myself into either buying the $uper-pricey headers, or getting a set of the big-block swap headers, & seeing how much work it'd be to make them fit the LSx flanges, because it appears that there's really no good answer for this...

 

I'd look at it like this. If your planning on staying stock'ish then pass on the headers. If you want to start modding then headers are a must have as they are required to support any real big power modifications ( well naturally aspirated at least ) Dont get me wrong you can build a decent set up in the 350-375 rwhp range on manifolds but at that point the LT's are worth at least 30 rwhp and that numbers grows exponentially as you shoot for more power. Either go big or go home if you drop the coin on the headers plan on a cam swap too.

As for ground clearance? These suckers are TUCKED there is ZIP all ground clearance lost with Hawks LS1 headers. They are very nice pieces.

 

The person who gets pissed at the current option and makes the first set of good ls1 conversion headers for $500 is going to PROFIT!

 

What we need is a set of mild steel headers. Your not going to see ANYONE making cherry stainless headers like Hawks for any less than they sell them for IMO. Just compare Stainless Works other offerings the price point is the same and they sell well and its not because they are cheap. They are on the top of the heap in terms of quality and performance.

For us third genners ( real hot rodders ) who like to make stuff as often as possible and lets face it... not spend a ton of money its frustrating indeed to have these pricey headers aas our only option but at least you can sleep well knowing you have bought some very nice stuff.

I think in time you'll see flowtech or equivalent $400 range junk arrive but for now Hawks is all we have. Unless of course you want to make some up but its a ton of work to do even a half decent job of it and welding isnt free either. Lots of gas, electricity and materials to do it. Not to mention time


***Edit*** Of course you can always mod a set of other third gen sbc or BBC ( ??? ) headers to fit if you have some lying around

 

No what we need is a set of hedman longtube $149 headers for the ls1 swap, just like the ones they sell now for the SBC that work great.
My question is people have modified the more expensive hooker ones with ls1 flanges. I wonder how easy it would be to do the same with the hedman ones.

 

Yeah well I can assure you when headers first debuted for third gens they were no where NEAR $150.00 and neither will any new development either so if you want to wait twenty years for LS1 third gen swap headers to sell for $150 you will probably find them everywhere.

Only trouble with modding other headers for LS1 swaps is if your not going to run a 1 3/4" primary then run the F body manifolds and I bet you make at least as much power. LS1's need a 1 3/4 primary they flow some serious air hence the high power output. 1 3/4" headers for third gens are only offered from a couple of vendors and they too are in the high end price range because once again your looking at a very hi perf product so as I said unless you had a set lying around I certainly wouldnt even entertain this idea you wont save much if any coin and still end up with an inferior product.

So again it starts to make sense with third gen LS1 swaps its pretty much either stay stock and enjoy 330ish rwhp which is plenty for 12's or go for the gusto and mod for big power and then add headers, cam etc etc.

 

Thanks for your input Cam.

Ive got neither manifolds, nor headers at the moment as my truck manifolds dont fit.

Im really thinking i should fabricate my own headers. $169 for a build kit. Im certainly VERY good with a welder, so thats no issue, and i figure as long as i spend a good deal of time doing it properly ill have no issues.

Even if they just last this year, i can save my pennies for the stainless ones for next year.

Sheldon

 

True enough and you can always sell the ones you make if you ever do upgrade. In fairness to performance if you careful to protect the integrity of the pipe and especially the bends ( Ie dont cut angles to fudge fit always have straight cut fits ) then they should perform as well as Hawks.

Just dont say I didnt warn you...

It takes a lot of time to do well but in the end you will be rewarded with something unique and carry some bragging rights for doing it yourself.

Good luck Sheldon!

 

Yeah, just as a data point for anyone who's interested, I checked out the Hooker BBC swap headers last night - they have 1-7/8" primaries, which (for me) eliminated them as a possibility...

(I read a thread where a couple of LSx tuners apparently built identical headers using 1-3/4" and 1-7/8" primaries - the larger ones showed no benefit, & since it's a bit tight to change plugs anyway, I figured I'd stick with the 1-3/4" headers...)

 

The Patriot Clippster H8012 are 1-3/4". Have been used for 3rd gen BBC swaps https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engi...ap-header.html , would probably work for LSx 3rd gen as well after modifying the flanges.

 

Cool - Looks like they're pretty inexpensive too! Thanks for the pointer!

 

What you save in $'s you spend banging the floor on the passenger side. Not sure if that's a desirable route.

 

Nope - if that's the case, then it's not worth it at all to me. Shoot, I guess I'll keep looking...

 

If your still looking for a set of manifolds.I have a set from an 01 SS.The 01-02 were the best flowing stock manifolds.I also have a set on my 00 motor that I could sell.LMK