recommendation for Headers?

**NetrixTardis** · 09-04-2007, 06:34 PM

looking for some Mid-length headers; any recommendation. I've looked at Mac, tho I've found them with no CATS.

I'm trying to go Mid length, high-flow cats (and already got a catback exhaust figured). I was considering the Pacesetters PSM-72C1349, tho, i'm not sure if i can put high-flow cats to that. any info would be appreciated.

**NetrixTardis** · 09-04-2007, 06:35 PM

Guess i should mention:

This is going for a 02 Trans Am WS.6

**INMY01TA** · 09-04-2007, 06:49 PM

Pacesetter doesn't make mids for the LS1. They are shorties despite what they call them. Mac would be the way to go as far as mids. I still have to ask: Why mids? No point in them anymore. Macs were popular years ago when the only long tubes availible were like $800-$1,000. Nowadays you can get Pacesetter longtubes for same price as macs. Long tubes will make more power and sound better.

**JonB** · 09-04-2007, 07:01 PM

I'm running macs and i'm very happy with them. Mac's in my opinion need a little work. I cut off the ball flange on them it is a big restriction on them I also did a lot of grinding on the primaries if you ever get a set you will see the really shity welds on the inside. I also put on some dynomax cats. I'm sure there will be a million people tell you to go with long tubes but like I said i'm very pleased with my mids. I mostly went mids for ground clearence i'm already lowered and every damn parking lot around here has nasty dip going in an out and huge ass speed bumps. Made great power as well 358rwhp 369ft-lbs with exhaust, lid, underdrive, ported tb. If you decided to go with macs I would honestly try and buy a used set you can always find someone on the ls1 board selling as set for cheap. I picked my set of coated macs for $100 locally.

**shady milkman** · 09-04-2007, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by INMY01TA

Pacesetter doesn't make mids for the LS1. They are shorties despite what they call them. Mac would be the way to go as far as mids. I still have to ask: Why mids? No point in them anymore. Macs were popular years ago when the only long tubes availible were like $800-$1,000. Nowadays you can get Pacesetter longtubes for same price as macs. Long tubes will make more power and sound better.

+1

**JonB** · 09-04-2007, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by INMY01TA

Pacesetter doesn't make mids for the LS1. They are shorties despite what they call them. Mac would be the way to go as far as mids. I still have to ask: Why mids? No point in them anymore. Macs were popular years ago when the only long tubes availible were like $800-$1,000. Nowadays you can get Pacesetter longtubes for same price as macs. Long tubes will make more power and sound better.

Originally Posted by shady milkman

+1

What did I tell you everyone is going to steer you away from mids. It never fails.

**NetrixTardis** · 09-04-2007, 07:10 PM

I'm hoping to stay 50state legal, and not have to worry about ORY or cat-less setups. tho, i'm still questioning if headers are worth it at all at this point. i'm hoping to get some performance, some sound - but yet not going too loud or have clearance issues.

**shady milkman** · 09-04-2007, 07:12 PM

what was your baseline before the mods...you could have a factory freak pushing 320-330 rwhp..so then the mids dont look so well..but you are correct..for ground clearance mids aren't bad..but you can not argue that lt will show more gain then mids

**INMY01TA** · 09-04-2007, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by JonB

What did I tell you everyone is going to steer you away from mids. It never fails.

Originally Posted by NetrixTardis

I'm hoping to stay 50state legal, and not have to worry about ORY or cat-less setups. tho, i'm still questioning if headers are worth it at all at this point. i'm hoping to get some performance, some sound - but yet not going too loud or have clearance issues.

I had Macs before. Ground clearance wasn't much, if any better as the Mac Y hung about as low as my long tube set up. Macs definately dont have problems clearing the K member but that is an easy fix on a long tube set up. Mids aren't any more 50 state legal than long tubes are btw either. Mids move the location of the cats just like long tubes. Ditto on the horrible welds at the primaries on the Macs also.

**JonB** · 09-04-2007, 08:17 PM

Oh yeah macs with the ball flange cut off go in really easy. All i did was remove the first two plugs on each side and slid them in from the top. Took all of an 30min to get them in and bolted to the heads. It took longer to get the stock stuff off then the new stuff on. This was also my first header install on an ls1.

Like I said I modified my macs, once I cut the ball flange off I had 3in bends welded to them and then it went into 2.5 cats and borla y-pipe. It tucks up very nicely I would say it sits right about were it did stock. I was very pleased how it tucked up I really don't like exhaust pipes hanging down.

As stated mids are not 50 state legal its either stock or shorties and don't even get people started on shorties around here.

**AntsSilverC5** · 09-05-2007, 10:12 PM

I know Long tubes is the the way to go but I am stuck right in the middle of CA the "49 state legal" (guess which is the FIFTIETH STATE) and dont drive outside of CA at all. Feedback on shorties? Are they even worth it or should I simply just keep my manifolds and spend elsewhere. Will they be a benefit after I swap my heads cam?

**JonB** · 09-06-2007, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by AntsSilverC5

I know Long tubes is the the way to go but I am stuck right in the middle of CA the "49 state legal" (guess which is the FIFTIETH STATE) and dont drive outside of CA at all. Feedback on shorties? Are they even worth it or should I simply just keep my manifolds and spend elsewhere. Will they be a benefit after I swap my heads cam?

Shorties are not really worth the money usually 10hp gain depending on the year, 98-00 had crappy manifold were 01+ had a better flowing design so they generally gain less from shorties. Again I say look for a used set on any of the ls1 boards. Shorties and macs are frequently up for sale cheap. The price for a new set is really not worth it but if you can get a set for $100-$200 its not a bad deal. I you wish to stay emissions legal thats the route I would take.