So I want to put some long tubes on my 05’ Tahoe 2wd 5.3. I want the best performance and sound I don’t want to have something obnoxiously loud with little power gained . Also when I put them on will I need to have it tuned or no ? Thanks in advance!!
Long tube headers
- Thread starter Peezer123
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American Racing Headers FTW. Tune depends on if you want to make the most advantage of the power gain and whether you want to get rid of the cats.
iamdub
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My opinion is that the exhaust is going through a metal tube and it doesn't care who made it or how much it cost. What I have seen is the difference between the brands is the quality of the materials used, the craftsmanship and the fitment. But, when comparing a $300 set of headers to a $1300 set, if the inner diameter of the tubes and the bends and general shape is the same, I don't see how one would perform better over the other.
As far as sound, they should have the same affect on sound if they are both the same material and thickness.
Kooks and American Racing are known to be the best fitting and made with the best quality of materials. Personally, I'm likely to go with a $300 set of Speed Engineering headers because I can modify them for fit if need-be. They seem to have their fitment issues sorted out, though. Your engine mounts just have to be in good shape. Although they are stainless, they're probably not the same grade as what the more expensive brands use but rust isn't a concern where I live. I'd like to have them coated for temperature and sound containment which, in my opinion, would make them better than the premium brands and still be cheaper overall.
A tune is not absolutely necessary, but it will certainly optimize the gains from the headers. This applies to any of the other functional mods (muffler, intake, etc.).
As far as sound, they should have the same affect on sound if they are both the same material and thickness.
Kooks and American Racing are known to be the best fitting and made with the best quality of materials. Personally, I'm likely to go with a $300 set of Speed Engineering headers because I can modify them for fit if need-be. They seem to have their fitment issues sorted out, though. Your engine mounts just have to be in good shape. Although they are stainless, they're probably not the same grade as what the more expensive brands use but rust isn't a concern where I live. I'd like to have them coated for temperature and sound containment which, in my opinion, would make them better than the premium brands and still be cheaper overall.
A tune is not absolutely necessary, but it will certainly optimize the gains from the headers. This applies to any of the other functional mods (muffler, intake, etc.).
The bends may not effect the amount of flow but the efficiency of the flow. Think of it as a foot race, if you run straight and then around a corner to the finish line but another guy has to run around a corner then straight then around another corner, might still end up in the same place but not at the same time. I’ve seen the reviews comparing Kooks to in particular American Racing, on LS based engines and thats what has been said, fitment is almost 100% every time with Kooks, and the bends are far less complex. Also has a lot to do with if your going with a catted y or an off-road y, if your going with an off road y, then run which ever.
If you're 4wd be aware the Speed Engineering might or might not work for you. 2wd is no problem. Just ask @Tonyrodz ; he had to remove his front drive shaft and even then he had problems. For my Denali, I wouldn't have even attempted a cheap set. No way would they have worked. My AR's were built specifically for my truck and fit like a glove, with 2 midpipes all the way to the muffler just like stock. Very easy install, and when I needed to replace my trans everything from the muffler to the headers themselves came apart and went back in easily. Just something else to consider. Sometimes more money is well worth it.
Tonyrodz
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Yup. Better to spend the money if you have it, for the right quality parts. Doesn't pay to cheap out if you don't have to.
zraffz
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The primary tube length, diameter and collector diameter are the biggest determining factors with the order being primary tube diameter, collector diameter and then primary tube length (this is what "tuned" primaries means).
I have read that a merge spike in the collector helps for scattering too.
As far as a $300 vs $1,000 set of headers, it's probably a slightly better fit; thicker flanges on the heads and perhaps thicker tubing. I've always bought cheap headers until I needed a set of LSx swap headers for my S10 - HUGE difference in quality but I can't speak for performance!
I have read that a merge spike in the collector helps for scattering too.
As far as a $300 vs $1,000 set of headers, it's probably a slightly better fit; thicker flanges on the heads and perhaps thicker tubing. I've always bought cheap headers until I needed a set of LSx swap headers for my S10 - HUGE difference in quality but I can't speak for performance!
iamdub
Full Access Member
Yes, that's pretty much what I said. I've never compared the bends of the Kooks or AR or SE headers side-by-side. But they can't be all THAT different when looking at the basics: long tube primaries of X diameter, meeting at a collector located in generally the same location. That's as deep as I was going with it since I'm not a header reviewer. If the premium brands have less bends and better fitment, well, they damned well should at their prices. I understand there are possible fitment issues and maybe less performance gain from the cheaper brands. But, some minor tweaking for clearance (if even necessary) and maybe leaving a couple of HP on the table isn't worth the extra $800-$1,000 to me. They're all still a great improvement over stock manifolds.
I'm not bashing the premium brands for their cost. You get what you pay for. My budget usually requires me to do more grunt work than simply paying more, but I'd still end up with essentially the same result.
I'm saying the cheap ones would be nearly impossible to make work on my truck, it's not that there's just some minor tweaking that would be needed. Like I said, if you're 2wd you have more options but if you look at mine, for instance, you'd see why those SE would not work. Not unless you want to go uncatted, and even then you'd be forever just trying to get a set of midpipes bent up. Sure the headers themselves would bolt up but good luck on the rest of it. Unless you've actually installed a set of headers on one of our trucks, especially a 4wd one, your opinion is pretty unbased. Go take a look at Tonyrodz's build thread where he tried installing the SE. He still doesn't have 4wd and probably never will unless he replaces those headers. Apologies if I offended you but I believe the OP should know all the facts before he gets into a situation where it gets ugly.
He went mysteriously missing while we carry on without him. Maybe SOMEBODY is reading besides us though!
Tonyrodz
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And I'm still pissed about that!
iamdub
Full Access Member
No offense taken. True that I didn't specify that I was talking about 2WD vs. 4WD, but I was talking about 2WD. The OP stated his Tahoe was 2WD so I didn't think bringing up the 4WD fitment issues was relevant.
Yes, the OP should know all the facts and I believe he pretty well got that with everyone's replies on the first page:
*More expensive headers have less or no fitment issues and may be made of better material
*You can save a load of money with cheaper headers if you don't live in a salted area and if you don't mind possibly having to tweak them for fitment
*Cheap or expensive long tube headers will result in better performance over stock manifolds
*Cheap or expensive headers will result in about the same sound, primarily dependent upon thickness of material used
*A tune is best, but not absolutely necessary after headers
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I completely missed the OP was running 2wd, for some reason I thought he had 4wd. D'oh. That was a great post @iamdub - nothing left unanswered! 
Oh man there you go again stirring the pot lmao. Theyre not a problem if you get the right ones. My AR's were extremely easy to install. And I'm not the type to go the cheap route on anything anyway so all the talk about the $300 headers doesn't matter to me. Even if they did fit, I'd never put them on my truck. It's just that you 2wd guys sometimes forget there are differences in our trucks so having been there and done that I try to make sure the bases are covered for the rest of the (4wd,) world.
Grind
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Old post, I know. But yes, SOMEBODY is reading this. I'm planning on getting a Denali, and LT headers are on the short list, so this is very good info!
livingez_123
Full Access Member
I had no problems with my long tubes and 4x4 on my 01 Denali. I just made a new Y pipe and had plenty of room for my front drive line. You don't have to have 2in of clearance to the shaft because it doesn't move up and down.
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