Header recommendations

[Rollincoal]

Hey guys, new to the site. I just purchased my first non Ford truck. 2000 GMC Yukon. I’ve done a little bit of research on the truck so far. Curious if anyone can recommend a good middle of the road header for the old 5.3 ? I’m gonna start with air intake and exhaust. Probably do those at the same time. Then it will be time for cam swap, valve springs, push rods etc.
I’m a diesel guy so not very familiar with ls based performance companies. Any suggestions on air intake, and headers to start with? Thanks!

 

[wjburken]

Welcome to the forum from Iowa.

Check out the build threads guys have here.

Careful though, guys like @Rocket Man, @Tonyrodz and @iamdub really like to help you spend your money.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Welcome to the forum from Iowa.

Check out the build threads guys have here.

Careful though, guys like @Rocket Man, @Tonyrodz and @iamdub really like to help you spend your money.

True story

Hey guys, new to the site. I just purchased my first non Ford truck. 2000 GMC Yukon. I’ve done a little bit of research on the truck so far. Curious if anyone can recommend a good middle of the road header for the old 5.3 ? I’m gonna start with air intake and exhaust. Probably do those at the same time. Then it will be time for cam swap, valve springs, push rods etc.
I’m a diesel guy so not very familiar with ls based performance companies. Any suggestions on air intake, and headers to start with? Thanks!

Is it 2 or 4wd? Speed Engineering has a budget minded long tube header and catless Y pipe supposed to be PnP on a 4wd--wasn't on mine tho. I went with the 1 3/4.
Speedengineering.com
Here's a cold start with those headers and Y, along with a 3" in/out MBRP muffler.

 

[Rollincoal]

It’s four wheel drive, yeah I’ve noticed how expensive things get pretty quick. Reminds me of buying parts for my diesel!

 

[Rollincoal]

Man that sounds really good!

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics, please.

I've not done headers yet, but other folks will chime in.

 

[Tonyrodz]

It’s four wheel drive, yeah I’ve noticed how expensive things get pretty quick. Reminds me of buying parts for my diesel!

Imo, not as expensive as diesel. If you do any engine mods, you def will need to beef up your trans.
There's a ton of aftermarket parts out there for the LS based motors. Just gotta do your homework so you're not doing the job twice.

 

[mpope2]

Welcome to the forum and LS world. There are a bunch of great folks here. Personally, I’ve ran K&N and Spectra in the past regarding CAIs. K&N is the staple, but always proud of the product. I was impressed with fit and quality of the Spectra for the price. I currently have factory air boxes on all of my vehicles. Great recommendations above. Also, check out Texas Speed and Brian Tooley. Do yourself a huge favor, and put a larger external transmission cooler on with a Corvette style servo to help save that tranny.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Welcome to the forum and LS world. There are a bunch of great folks here. Personally, I’ve ran K&N and Spectra in the past regarding CAIs. K&N is the staple, but always proud of the product. I was impressed with fit and quality of the Spectra for the price. I currently have factory air boxes on all of my vehicles. Great recommendations above. Also, check out Texas Speed and Brian Tooley. Do yourself a huge favor, and put a larger external transmission cooler on with a Corvette style servo to help save that tranny.

^^^
This. I have a Brian Tooley stage 3 cam, with pushrods and beehive springs. Trans cooler and vette servo make a world of difference. Vinci is also another quality product with great, personal customer service.

 

[Raptor Tahoe]

Hey guys, new to the site. I just purchased my first non Ford truck. 2000 GMC Yukon. I’ve done a little bit of research on the truck so far. Curious if anyone can recommend a good middle of the road header for the old 5.3 ? I’m gonna start with air intake and exhaust. Probably do those at the same time. Then it will be time for cam swap, valve springs, push rods etc.
I’m a diesel guy so not very familiar with ls based performance companies. Any suggestions on air intake, and headers to start with? Thanks!

I have a 2007 Tahoe and went with Kooks headers. I can feel a definite increase in power and really like the sound. Went with long tubes with x-pipe and true dual Magnaflows out the back.

the Kooks are not cheap, but the flanges are thick and the pipes are very strong. Here’s more information about what I installed.

Good luck with your build!

 

[Tonyrodz]

I have a 2007 Tahoe and went with Kooks headers. I can feel a definite increase in power and really like the sound. Went with long tubes with x-pipe and true dual Magnaflows out the back.

the Kooks are not cheap, but the flanges are thick and the pipes are very strong. Here’s more information about what I installed.

Good luck with your build!

View attachment 263948 View attachment 263949

Kooks is a quality product. Get what you pay for. You should post a sound clip--for the ooohs and aahhs

 

[Rollincoal]

A sound clip of those kooks headers would be nice. I have been looking at those. They are a little pricey, but with parts like that you get what you pay for. I’m sure they will definitely outlast cheap Chinese knock offs that you can get for less than two hundred bucks. My question is which ones to get ? I’ve noticed that they have different versions like race version and models that have egr, and a.i.r. What does that mean? Is that just bungs for the o2 sensors? Yukon has egr but I’m not sure on which model I need for the old Yukon? I’m debating on buying the lsx egr delete. Has anyone done that yet? Do you get a permanent cel light?

 

[Tonny]

Do headers fit the original cats, or differs that per brand? Or is it better to take new cats when buying new headers? When looking @ Kooks for example, you can choose between none, race or ''green''. What does the green cats mean?

 

[gat0r]

no, LT headers wont fit orig cats.



green cats have a coating that gets applied to the substrate & have a higher cell count
supposedly, slightly better for environment (49 state [U.S.] EPA legal)
also not supposed to set off CEL


what kind of emission testing do yall have in NL?

 

[Tonny]

no, LT headers wont fit orig cats.



green cats have a coating that gets applied to the substrate & have a higher cell count
supposedly, slightly better for environment (49 state [U.S.] EPA legal)
also not supposed to set off CEL


what kind of emission testing do yall have in NL?

Thanks for the reply. Well that is different per fuel type, and year of the vehicle. I don't know everything about it. At each MOT, each year, they will test it, so I think I will be needing green cats then. This is kinda the translating of our emission test system, but the numbers the car may produce, varies from the build years if cars:

Exhaust gases: Four-gas test and soot measurement
When a car undergoes an MOT inspection, the emission of certain gases is examined, among other things. These are the four-gas test and the soot measurement (for diesels). If certain gases or particles in the emission are too high, the car is rejected and the owner has to put the car in order. Sometimes this is easily achieved by adjusting or cleaning the car, but sometimes it is necessary to make more expensive repairs, for example to the exhaust. Then the car can be presented for retesting. This leads to approval and the car can be deregistered.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

EDIT: But the last years it was perfect with the stock exhaust

 

[gat0r]

yeah, seems like green cats may be more friendly for your inspections