Which size headers? 1 5/8, 1 3/4 or 1 7/8??

[shaunve]

Hi guys,

Just after some quick advice from those who have experience in this area. Im looking at getting some Xforce headers and cats for my VE SS Sportwagon. They'll bolt up to my HiTech 2.5" exhaust and ill do the install at home. The tune will be done by Dave at Silverwater Automotive, who has tuned some pretty serious cars ive owned before, and ive found his work to be of the highest quality.

Anyway, im pretty sure ill stop here in regards to mods; no cams or forced induction; its just got a VCM OTR. So what size headers should i go? Im leaning towards the 1 5/8 as the car has to be drivable and this diameter is more suited to these mods. What do you experienced guys reckon? Also, will the car be ok to drive an hour and a half from Gosford area to Silverwater after ive done the install, as it'll be untuned?

Ive looked a Pacemaker and the others, but ive decided to stick with Xforce, as they're thick walled stainless, bolt up to the factory position and i can get em for $1200 with hi flow cats. Id rather buy Australian, but cant justify it atm.
Anyway, thanks for any advice,

Shaun.

 

[Munz]

have you sussed surelflo in ingleburn

Sureflo Exhaust: Top Quality Custom Performance Exhaust/Muffler Systems and LS1 Tuning

 

[jaffassv]

I was in this position at start of year and just bit the bullet and went the big ones, 1 7/8 size
Can't notice and power loss down low and is as easy to drive as ever pulling from low revs

 

[WogBoyz]

If your not planning any other mods get some ceramic coated 1 3/4 headers, id recommend pacemaker instead of xforce ones as there alot better quality, i went the 1 7/8 i noticed a little bit of loss down low not much but gained more up top, i now have a cam and its pretty awsome all around

Cheers

 

[K-Man]

+ 1 For Pacemaker and 1 3/4.

 

[Lumps of cheese]

Don't go any smaller than 1 3/4"
I'd also go pacemaker.

 

[showxpony]

If your not planning any other mods get some ceramic coated 1 3/4 headers, id recommend pacemaker instead of xforce ones as there alot better quality, i went the 1 7/8 i noticed a little bit of loss down low not much but gained more up top, i now have a cam and its pretty awsome all around

Cheers

Pacies are the only way to go. 1 & 7/8s if you're going to cam/supercharge/turbocharge in the future. 1 & 3/4s if you plan to keep it bolt on only. 1 & 5/8s if you have no clue wtf is going on and just bought something because it was the cheapest you could find...

 

[dredrum]

Pacies are the only way to go. 1 & 7/8s if you're going to cam/supercharge/turbocharge in the future. 1 & 3/4s if you plan to keep it bolt on only. 1 & 5/8s if you have no clue wtf is going on and just bought something because it was the cheapest you could find...

Thankyou sir, your last insult just Snapped me out of purchasing the system I've been looking at with 1 5/8 headers.

 

[shaunve]

Okay, thanks for the replies. 1 3/4 seems like the general consensus then. Any reason not to go the Xforce? I mean, has anyone actually experienced them cracking or had had first hand experience with their crapness?

What about driving before the tune? Will the CEL just come on and thats it?

Thanks,

Shaun.

 

[showxpony]

Thankyou sir, your last insult just Snapped me out of purchasing the system I've been looking at with 1 5/8 headers.

In all seriousness, if you're now choosing the 1 & 3/4 over the 1 & 5/8s, you're making the right choice. The 6L are a big engine and can handle big primary pipes. Go 1 & 3/4s as a minimum. I noticed in your ride section, you own a omega? Is this the car you're putting extractors on? If so, 1 & 5/8s is plenty for the 3.6L. Dont go any bigger. I was referring to the 6.0L only.

Okay, thanks for the replies. 1 3/4 seems like the general consensus then. Any reason not to go the Xforce? I mean, has anyone actually experienced them cracking or had had first hand experience with their crapness?

What about driving before the tune? Will the CEL just come on and thats it?

Thanks,

Shaun.

Xforce have shown less power than pacemakers across all primary and secondary pipe sizing. As they are roughly the same price, pacemaker (a dedicated extractor company) make a better product. Xforce will still make more power than stock, and probably be fine in the long run, they're just a lower quality design.

And yes, the CEL will come on, but other than that, you'll have no dramas driving around without a tune.