Headers on a 6.2L with Stock Muffler/Cat-Back?

[91RS]

I wanted to put a Corsa cat-back on my Escalade but after thinking more about how I wanted to spend the money I've been thinking about doing ARH long tubes and a tune, which appears to be good for 40-45 WHP. I'd love to do headers and a Corsa but I only will have the money for one or the other. I'd like the power increase but I've only been able to find a few videos on YouTube of headers and the stock cat-back on a 6.2L. They sound good at idle but in one of them where he revved it a little, I'm not 100% sure I like it but I know the sound can be deceiving. If anyone has this setup, I have three questions. Is there any drone? I cannot deal with any drone (which is why I've always spent the money on Corsa). Is the volume unbearable on long drives? Does it sound like an old 80's truck with a Flowmaster?

Thanks.

 

[91RS]

And the reason I ask if it sounds like an 80's truck with a Flowmaster is because of this video:

. It sounds great until he revvs it a bit. It could just be crappy microphone and YouTube video compression so that's why I ask.

 

[Big Mama]

Shoot the exhaust out in front of the rear passenger tire!!! Couple of those videos out there

 

[91RS]

Not interested in that. This is a family vehicle, I'm not looking to make it annoying. My choices are either headers and the stock cat-back or the stock manifolds and cats stay and I'm doing a Corsa Sport side exit (BEHIND the tire!).

 

[Big Mama]

Just fooling around. The tune is going to make the biggest difference so maybe consider which you’d like more, the sound or the power. If you get the tune you’ll want to have the headers on first so the tune can account for it. If you watch the marketplace here they come up once in a while

 

[08HoeCD]

OP, I'd be interested in what you find out and what you end up with. I run a 5.3L now, but I can see a 6.2L in my future.

You referenced a video, but who knows what the true tone is, since videos are notorious for variability in sound quality. And lots of people shoot the video with the recording device right next to the tail pipe, which is not a valid approach in my book. I doubt that adding headers to an otherwise stock exhaust system will change the tone much---probably add just a little volume while deepening the exhaust note. Would be surprised if it induces drone, since you are retaining stock cats and resonator.

Again, please keep us posted with what you end up with.

 

[91RS]

Just fooling around. The tune is going to make the biggest difference so maybe consider which you’d like more, the sound or the power. If you get the tune you’ll want to have the headers on first so the tune can account for it. If you watch the marketplace here they come up once in a while

The headers would give power and sound I'm just worried about it sounding bad. I can only afford one or the other and probably won't be able to do anything else for a few years. I started off wanting a Corsa cat-back because I love their sound and looks of the dual side-exit tip. Then I thought that money could buy a cam and kit but the little power gain from a small cam with stock manifolds isn't worth the time it'll take me to put it in. Then I found out the headers even with a stock engine and cat-back were good for about 40 whp with a tune. I'd love to do the headers and the Corsa but if I had that much money I'd probably still want to do one or the other and get my bumper covers replaced and painted.

 

[91RS]

OP, I'd be interested in what you find out and what you end up with. I run a 5.3L now, but I can see a 6.2L in my future.

You referenced a video, but who knows what the true tone is, since videos are notorious for variability in sound quality. And lots of people shoot the video with the recording device right next to the tail pipe, which is not a valid approach in my book. I doubt that adding headers to an otherwise stock exhaust system will change the tone much---probably add just a little volume while deepening the exhaust note. Would be surprised if it induces drone, since you are retaining stock cats and resonator.

Again, please keep us posted with what you end up with.

That's what I was hoping. It does look like the camera/phone/whatever was pretty close to the exhaust. I really like how it sounds at idle in that video. I just don't want it to sound like an 80's beat up truck with a Flowmaster!

 

[08HoeCD]

That's what I was hoping. It does look like the camera/phone/whatever was pretty close to the exhaust. I really like how it sounds at idle in that video. I just don't want it to sound like an 80's beat up truck with a Flowmaster!

I'm with you, brother!

 

[Big Mama]

So how does it sound now? Are the headers going to change the tone and sound that much? Is your resonator and muffler in tact? I have zero experience with adding headers to a stock exhaust but I can’t imagine the sound being that different. What if you do just the tune then stash the headers money away til you can get the corsa? Just tossing stuff out there.

 

[91RS]

Because the tune will have to be redone if I change anything and there’s a very good possibility that this will be the last want I can do to this truck. If I do the headers with the stock exhaust and it turns out sounding fine, if I get another $1000 I can spend on something not exactly necessary I’d probably rather replace and repaint both of my bumper covers.

 

[Big Mama]

Gotcha I think you just answered your own question. Corsa it is. If you are adding more goodies to where the tune has to be redone and you know Corsa can accommodate your future plans that makes sense.

 

[91RS]

I'm actually leaning more towards the headers because of future possibilities. If I get the headers and do the tune now, I get the benefits of the tune plus a little power bump. If I do decide to get a Corsa later, I don't have to retune for that. Also, if a lifter or something goes bad where I can then justify an aftermarket cam (because I would already be going in there so what's the difference of using aftermarket or stock at that point) then I can use a "bigger" cam because I already have the headers (if I ever did a cam it wouldn't be huge because I don't want to change the torque converter). My only worry with the headers was the sound with the stock cat-back because of that one video. I did find this video of a guy doing 0-100+ with headers and stock catback and it sounds fine, he's also cammed in this video but that shouldn't affect the sound much.

 

[08HoeCD]

If you're going to go with headers and a tune, you will definitely NOT stop there.

 

[01FormulaTA]

I'm actually leaning more towards the headers because of future possibilities. If I get the headers and do the tune now, I get the benefits of the tune plus a little power bump. If I do decide to get a Corsa later, I don't have to retune for that. Also, if a lifter or something goes bad where I can then justify an aftermarket cam (because I would already be going in there so what's the difference of using aftermarket or stock at that point) then I can use a "bigger" cam because I already have the headers (if I ever did a cam it wouldn't be huge because I don't want to change the torque converter). My only worry with the headers was the sound with the stock cat-back because of that one video. I did find this video of a guy doing 0-100+ with headers and stock catback and it sounds fine, he's also cammed in this video but that shouldn't affect the sound much.

Thats actually a video from a member on here @randeez

my 2 cents.....if this a daily driver/family hauler I would say go with just the Corsa, if you go with a catted y pipe I don't think you will have an issue with drone but the headers will transmit more engine noise into the cab and while you will get a nice power increase with the tune realistically you will only notice the extra power at WOT...also would like to mention headers are not required to do a cam, I have stock manifolds and Y with a Corsa and a small cam on my 6.2 and it runs great and hauls ass, nothing wrong with doing headers, Im not against them and I have had longtubes on many, many cars and trucks but for me personal preference is factory manifolds and Y with a catback on a daily driver

For reference here is vid of my truck with Kooks Longtubes, off road y pipe and Corsa catback, I later switched it back to factory manifolds and Y pipe, and while it does feel a little slower now overall I am happier with the quieter ride...

 

[randeez]

that is i,

headers/no cats and stock catback with resonator sounded pretty good to me, no drone, was maybe a touch to loud i wanted to add back in another small muffler/resonator but eventually ditched it due to something rattling inside, internal baffle or something coming loose

 

[91RS]

If you're going to go with headers and a tune, you will definitely NOT stop there.

If I had more money, you'd be correct! I sold an LSA blower to have the money I'm spending on the exhaust.

 

[08HoeCD]

If I had more money, you'd be correct! I sold an LSA blower to have the money I'm spending on the exhaust.

I remember buying my Tahoe and thinking I'd keep her clean but wouldn't do any mods.
Then I had a great opportunity to get a Black Bear tune in person, so I did.
Then I wanted a little more sound so installed a Magnaflow muffler.
Lately I keep wondering, since a tune alone has been so fun, what about a cam or a blower and/or headers---what would that be like?
I'm talking myself out of stuff these days on a weekly basis. LOL

 

[91RS]

Thats actually a video from a member on here @randeez

my 2 cents.....if this a daily driver/family hauler I would say go with just the Corsa, if you go with a catted y pipe I don't think you will have an issue with drone but the headers will transmit more engine noise into the cab and while you will get a nice power increase with the tune realistically you will only notice the extra power at WOT...also would like to mention headers are not required to do a cam, I have stock manifolds and Y with a Corsa and a small cam on my 6.2 and it runs great and hauls ass, nothing wrong with doing headers, Im not against them and I have had longtubes on many, many cars and trucks but for me personal preference is factory manifolds and Y with a catback on a daily driver

For reference here is vid of my truck with Kooks Longtubes, off road y pipe and Corsa catback, I later switched it back to factory manifolds and Y pipe, and while it does feel a little slower now overall I am happier with the quieter ride...

It isn't the full time family hauler but for trips and stuff it is. It was supposed to be hers but I fell in love with it and she still likes her 07 SRX and since it was worth so little I just said we'll keep it so she still drives that. My daily driver (still part time daily) before I got this truck is a 2016 Chevy SS sedan manual with heads, cam, headers, into stock dual-mode mufflers (that I always keep the flaps open). and I don't consider it too loud to take on a trip. I traded a Corvette with headers and a Corsa Xtreme for the SS. I did have a Trailblazer SS years ago that was cammed and had headers with a Corsa sport and that actually was kinda loud but mainly I think because of the raspiness the Corsa has.

I know it's possible to do a cam without headers but I talked to three different sources that said I might get 20hp from a cam with the stock exhaust and that isn't worth the effort to me to install it if I can get the same gain just from headers. I was ready to pull the trigger on headers today and now you're making me second guess.... Do you happen to have a video of the same type of run with your current exhaust without the headers?

 

[91RS]

I remember buying my Tahoe and thinking I'd keep her clean but wouldn't do any mods.
Then I had a great opportunity to get a Black Bear tune in person, so I did.
Then I wanted a little more sound so installed a Magnaflow muffler.
Lately I keep wondering, since a tune alone has been so fun, what about a cam or a blower and/or headers---what would that be like?
I'm talking myself out of stuff these days on a weekly basis. LOL

I'm pretty sure "I won't do any mods" has never been uttered from my lips. Lol! I'm just very careful about what I do now because I've had some bad experiences with stuff I've done in the past.