what headers to get??

[mike3]

im thing about getting headers instead of a new manifold. ive narrowed it down to these ones. im looking to spend somewhere around $200 plus shipping if you have any other suggestions that would be great.

stainless steel
http://got-jdm.com/JDM/8895-chevy-gmc-truck-stainless-steel-headers-exhaust-manifold-p-555.html?zenid=tomhcio9krd5u6uqios8nvuum1

chrome
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Chevy-88-95-Truck-Chrome-Headers-305-350-5-7L-GMC_W0QQitemZ330299154682QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors _Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item330299154682&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A15%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

ceramic coated
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Chevy-88-95-Truck-Ceramic-Headers-305-350-5-7L-GMC_W0QQitemZ380095654397QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors _Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item380095654397&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A15%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

stainless steel
http://cgi.ebay.ca/88-97-92-93-94-95-96-CHEVY-GMC-SMALL-BLOCK-TRUCK-HEADER_W0QQitemZ160290567120QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMot ors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item160290567 120&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A15%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[Tweaks]

I'm not a fan of ebay. I recommend a direct-fit set of Edelbrocks if you want to keep the costs down.

[mike3]

what is best, longest lasting finish?

stainless steel
chrome
ceramic coated
painted

im thinking of getting stainless steel

[Tweaks]

Ceramic is good if you are worried about underhood temps or frying spark plug wires. I went with Edelbrock's Ti-tech coated headers and if I had to do it over again I would opt for stainless steel. Sure they might discolor a bit, but at least they won't rust.

[mike3]

so the ss ones are the best?

[mike3]

i ordered the ss ones off ebay. i hope there good.

[Toadz]

Let us know how they look and fit. What truck are they for?

[Underpowered]

i had teh stainless ones on my OBS. they were ok, but not a good quality stainless, as to be expected. they corroded easily, looking almost as if they had rust on them. you get what you pay for with them off ebay.

my current headers are ebay stainless headers, but by a decent company, so far they are holding up great

[Toclcl]

Underpowered did you notice a difference with those obx headers? And are they long tube or shorties? Sorry to thread jack as well but if you ordered a ceramic coated from a good company (thorley, edelbrock, etc) would you have any problems with discoloring and or burning plug wires?

[Pauly]

You can still burn a plug wire on ceramic headers. These things get hot. Ideally uses some sort of jacketing over the plug wires. But I havent. I just keep the wires loomed away from teh headers best I can.

Cheap quality stainless steel will rust.
I run the Hooker ceramic coating, I have had them on for over 8 years daily driving thru the salty winters. There is some surface rust on parts of them, but I used to go through 1 set of painted headers every single year for 3 years straight. So the extra $200 I paid for the ceramic coating has paid for itself 8 times over.

You often get what you pay for. No one wants to shell out $400 plus for headers, but to get good ones, you just may have to. But of course there are exceptions to every rule.

If I was wealthy, I would have a pair of $800 2806-1hkr ceramic coat 1 3/4"x3" 18 ga Hooker Supercomps on my truck, but I went for the $400 thicker 16ga and more budget 2462 1hkr ceramic coated 1 5/8"x 2 1/2" Comps instead.

peace
PAuly

[mike3]

ya im just getting these ones for now, they are goin on a 1995 sierra z71. they still havent came in yet but ill let you guys know how they fit, sound and the quality of them once they're on

[TEE]

I have the TiTechs and after 4 years...so far so good.
And our winters are pretty harsh.

[TigerEyz3]

Ceramic coated Thorley Tri-Ys... no discoloration or rust after 4yrs - still look the same as the day I installed them. :rocking:

[mike3]

i got the ss ones off ebay and the look and sound so much better ill take some pictures of them today if i get a chance. im pleased with them

[Toclcl]

Thanks, I wi have to check into those. I had heard from the main owner of the exhaust shop that I go to that your better off to not put headers on due to the fact that you always be tightrning header bolts, and that the fitment isn't good enough to warrant performance. That's just what I heard from the owner, they don't do headers. And the other two shops I went to the one won't touch em, the other might. But assuming its a direct fit I'd just tackle it with some buddieS

[TigerEyz3]

I haven't HAD to touch my headers since I installed them. I checked them, but no loosening had/has occurred. Fit/finish have been top notch, too.

[Toclcl]

Oh okay gotcha, you did them yourself then, did you use those stage 8 locking header bolts or no? And I would imagine In the future I'd either put on the tri-ys or some hooker longtubes, just not too sure. I want as close to a tuned header as possible for performance.

[TigerEyz3]

Yes, I installed them myself.

No, I did not use Stage 8 (locking) header bolts. I used the hardware that came with the headers.

The Tri-Ys are as close to tuned headers as you're gonna get unless you fab them yourself (NASCAR style). The Tri-Ys are tuned to optimize the low-/mid-range torque (what your vehicle sees on a daily basis and/or when towing) and are more tunable than LTs. Here's some good reading on header design:

Link #1 (http://www.dougsheaders.com/prod/ex/dougs/facts.aspx)
Link #2 (http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tech/0310phr_jack_burns_exhaust_manifold_header_tech/index.html)

[Toclcl]

Wow!! Thanks for that read on headers, very good read!!!! I will definitely be purchasing those tri-ys hands down in ceramic!! I have the part number handy on my computer, so I don't need that but where is the best place to go order from, shipped to canada? Maybe summit?

[TigerEyz3]

Summit's where I ordered mine. :thumbup:

[ragmc]

I bought a set of the SS headers off ebay. They fit really well the only thing I didnt use the hardware that came with them I used a ARP kit that I had.

[BOWTY]

I bought a set of the SS headers off ebay. They fit really well the only thing I didnt use the hardware that came with them I used a ARP kit that I had.

Have you had any problem with them discoloring? I am looking at getting a set when I put the new motor in just aven't decided which ones.

[mike3]

theres a pic of the header and the tips i had put on.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s12/mikeleigh/012.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s12/mikeleigh/013.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s12/mikeleigh/014.jpg

[Toclcl]

Looks good man!

[ragmc]

Have you had any problem with them discoloring? I am looking at getting a set when I put the new motor in just aven't decided which ones.


They have discolored a little bit but not much. I kinda wish I would have gotten a coated header instead. But there on a show truck and I really dont drive it much

[brittonp]

Sorry guys, I hate to jump in but I'm looking for these Tri-Y's on Summit and can't find them, they look to me like they are for a 6 cylinder, but of course I've been called every catorgory of stupid there is. I've got a 03 5.3 323 ECSB with true dual and magnaflo, spectre 4" intake and I'm looking to put on headers for around $300 or $400. Any suggestions?

[Tigwldr]

Ceramic Thorleys Tri Ys for me :), even though I dont have them installed yet :(

britton,
Call Thorleys, talk with (hhmmmmmm let me think) Mike I beleive is his name. He will get you in touch with a company who will more than likely have the Tri Ys you need BUT, they wont be $300-$400.

[TigerEyz3]

brittonp...
I purchased my ceramic Thorley Tri-Ys from Summit... and they still carry them (DTE-302Y-FED-C (http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?Ntt=DTE-302Y-FED-C&x=33&y=11&searchinresults=false&Ntk=KeywordSearch&DDS=1&N=700+115)). As Tigwldr stated, they weren't $300-$400. However, I have an OBS Tahoe.

For the NBS trucks (LSx engines), the Thorleys are either shorty or LT in design (rather than Tri-Y). The shorties are in the price range you mentioned, but I don't know if the benefit of shorties offsets the cost - since you basically have shorties from the factory. The OBS manifolds were FAR more restrictive than the ones you have - pretty much anything outperforms the OBS manifolds.

Here's a link (http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?SearchType=Make&N=700+4294924641+4294908216+4294907438+4294923429+ 4294839969+4294839039+115&Nao=30#rstop) to what Summit carries for your truck

[dave94K1500]

looks nice but the stainless will discolor. but who cares! :dunno:

[Toclcl]

Yep, tri-ys are the way to go, another question tigereyez3, they come with everything from the heads to your cat back correct? Or do you still need to put the cats in. Ie if you put these on will you have issues with your engine light if you don't have cats..
But as for stainless, do It up. We put a set of painted shorties from summit on a truck in shop class and damn those things smoked and stunk!!

[TigerEyz3]

Yep, tri-ys are the way to go, another question tigereyez3, they come with everything from the heads to your cat back correct? Or do you still need to put the cats in. Ie if you put these on will you have issues with your engine light if you don't have cats..
But as for stainless, do It up. We put a set of painted shorties from summit on a truck in shop class and damn those things smoked and stunk!!
My Thorley kit came with everything necessary to install (headers, cross-over piping, flanges, gaskets, bolts, nuts, and washers). The kit has hardware to connect the heads to the cats... not the cat-back. In order for the CARB/EO number to be valid, cats are required. Factory cats are reused, or if you prefer, install aftermarket cats...

A check engine light will occur if you remove the cats (without a custom tune to disable the rear O2 sensors).

Painted headers (shorty or otherwise) will smoke during the first few heat cycles.... that's the shipping paint burning off.

[Toclcl]

Ahh okay got you. I will be probably puttin in hi flows, I am undecided. Everyone has their own opinions. But yes for sure when I come up with a grand for just headers ill go with these for sure. and as for the painted headers yes you are right. Would only be on for a few drives here and there, but then you are dealing with just straight metal. And that's a no no up here where we have salt, prepare to replace those every few years lol.

[TigerEyz3]

Mine were under $600 when I got 'em and that was the ceramic coated variety.

[Tigwldr]

Mine were just over $600 shipped for the ceramic headers.
I'm going to a shop tomorrow to set a date to have them installed. Its been too long.

[Tigwldr]

Mine were just over $600 shipped for the ceramic headers.
I'm going to a shop tomorrow to set a date to have them installed. Its been too long.

[Matt99Silverado]

Mike3, are those headers bolted right to your factory exhaust? Did it make a noticeable difference?

[Matt99Silverado]

Mike3, are those headers bolted right to your factory exhaust? Did it make a noticeable difference?

[mike3]

Mike3, are those headers bolted right to your factory exhaust? Did it make a noticeable difference?


ya they did just bolt up but i needed a new y pipe because the old one was sh!t. and ya it feels like it has more of a low end grunt now. it made the truck have a deeper sound and it stops backfireing now when your revving it.

[Toclcl]

Well, on summit the headers are 700 something for the tri-ys. Plus shipping to canada and the conversion. So it'll be up there.

[lone_american]

hey guys i have a 00 z71 and i just ran into yur post and this is the first iv heard about tri y's. most guys go with long tubes and i was headed that way myself till this post. now im not to sure. i see the thorleys on ebay but the models are 375Y,372Y,& 364Y. have no idea what the differance is. any1 know? and also, will they interchange with the 6.0? thanks

[TigerEyz3]

You can research Thorley headers here (http://www.dougthorleyheaders.com/)
I purchased mine from Summit Racing.