Headers question

**Dave-TransAm** · 03-25-2011, 06:54 PM

How far power wise can our cars go before we should put aftermarket headers on? I have a CAI and a Magnaflow catback already and was thinking about headers but I was also thinking about a mild cam. Would headers be the better choice for now?

**pajeff02** · 03-25-2011, 07:12 PM

Headers are actually your greatest bang for the buck mod that does not involve tearing into your engine. Depending upon the application, you can generally see an extra 25 to 40 horsepower in a small block car. Stock manifolds tend to be pretty restrictive. Also, you can install headers at just about any point during the mod process. I would recommend headers before a cam installation. While a cam will feed more air into and out of the engine, it means just as much to its performance to efficiently expel the spent gases once they exit the heads.

**Dave-TransAm** · 03-25-2011, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Headers are actually your greatest bang for the buck mod that does not involve tearing into your engine. Depending upon the application, you can generally see an extra 25 to 40 horsepower in a small block car. Stock manifolds tend to be pretty restrictive. Also, you can install headers at just about any point during the mod process. I would recommend headers before a cam installation. While a cam will feed more air into and out of the engine, it means just as much to its performance to efficiently expel the spent gases once they exit the heads.

Cool thanks man. Good to know. What do you think about BBK Headers?

**pajeff02** · 03-25-2011, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by Dave-TransAm

Cool thanks man. Good to know. What do you think about BBK Headers?

I do not have any experience with them.

**jrzdude** · 03-25-2011, 07:34 PM

BBK's are great. Fit great and work awesome. Pretty cheap also

**5.0THIS** · 03-26-2011, 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by Dave-TransAm

Cool thanks man. Good to know. What do you think about BBK Headers?

They're among the cheaper headers for an LT1. I've heard a fair share of people complain about them. A good midlength or long tube header is your best bet for power gains.

And Jeff was spot on with regards to the benefits of headers.

**krese** · 03-26-2011, 03:13 AM

Originally Posted by 5.0THIS

They're among the cheaper headers for an LT1. I've heard a fair share of people complain about them. A good midlength or long tube header is your best bet for power gains.

+1 to this. i would stay away from BBK and put something better on my car. when i'm ready i'm going to go with pacesetter coated headers and ory. lots of people use them with great results and they are not too expensive.