ZR-1 Headers

[GregCrowe]

What are the current options? Are Jeal's still available? I'm looking for full length/elimination of the cats and connectability to my Flowmaster cat-back system. Also, where to buy?

Thanks in advance

[Z Factor]

What are the current options? Are Jeal's still available? I'm looking for full length/elimination of the cats and connectability to my Flowmaster cat-back system. Also, where to buy?

Thanks in advance

Jeals can be had, but they are hard to come by and pretty expensive. You will only find used Watson's at this point. The headers most of us are buying now are the Stainless Works which are just as good as the Jeals, less expensive(not cheap however), and American made. The best thing is that you can get them pretty quick through a guy named Brian Alspaugh. His email is

balspaug@indiana.edu

He is a great guy, and will answer all your questions.

:cheers:

[Gasman57]

What are the current options? Are Jeal's still available? I'm looking for full length/elimination of the cats and connectability to my Flowmaster cat-back system. Also, where to buy?

Thanks in advance

Jeals can be had, but they are hard to come by and pretty expensive. You will only find used Watson's at this point. The headers most of us are buying now are the Stainless Works which are just as good as the Jeals, less expensive(not cheap however), and <a href="american%20made" onmouseover="window.status='American made'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">American made</a>. The best thing is that you can get them pretty quick through a guy named Brian Alspaugh. His email is

balspaug@indiana.edu

He is a great guy, and will answer all your questions.

:cheers:

I AGREE. Just Purchased a set thru him. Great person. :thumbsup: :cheers:

[GregCrowe]

Are these full length and will they easily connect to my Flowmaster cat-back?

Also, has there been any kind of dyno test comparing the gains from these headers to the Watson's or Jeal's?

Thanks Guys!

[Z Factor]

Are these full length and will they easily connect to my Flowmaster cat-back?

Also, has there been any kind of dyno test comparing the gains from these headers to the Watson's or Jeal's?

Thanks Guys!

Full length yes, but I don't know the answer to the other question regarding gains from the different brands. I would guess that any difference would be insignificant but I don't know. My suggestion would be to ask Brian because he is a straight forward guy and will give you the answer if he has it.

:cheers:

[bigd]

Also Aaron Scott at South Georgia Corvettes sells the SW headers. Whoever you get them from I think it is worth it to get them ceramic coated. IMO

[Z Factor]

Also, has there been any kind of dyno test comparing the gains from these headers to the Watson's or Jeal's?

Thanks Guys!

I checked with Brian, and he said there is no performance difference between any of the headers.

:cheers:

[mrcrowley]

I am also a Stainless Works dealer if you need some assistance. Let me know!

Thanks in advance,

Mike Ebert

[rkreigh]

my "near stock" 95 had watsons, random SS cats, and a flowmaster and it was one of the best sounding ZR-1s I have heard.

the flowmaster isn't the best for performance and isn't stainless, but it really was a nice sounding combo.

the flowmaster will mate up with the headers, but some simple fabrication is needed to get all the flanges/pipes to align. the random cats don't really hurt HP much either.

as to comparison between headers, I don't think any results are available but my bet is that differences would be very small. watson had a "big tube" and small tube header, but I would think that the jeal and stainless works headers would provide very similar gains. in any event, headers really help the lt5 above 6k rpms where they strut their stuff.

the sound is just incredible too. the stroker lt5 with headers and b&B is pretty agressive, but belts out the big power.

[phrogs]

well I have a set of SSW on my daily driver very nice set of headers.

I also have a set of watsons and to compare them I believe the watsons are much smaller tube and wouldnt flow the same..

But im not expert but If someone would bank roll it I could dyno with one and then change them out and dyno again...

mine are bolted to flowmasters and I love the sound.
it wasnt a straight bolt in I needed to have the RH side extension for the exhaust bent to make it mate up to the headers its not going to be a quick job.

took me about 12 hours to swap mine out but easy enough
you wont be disapointed in the SSW for the $1000 the SSW cost and the price ive seen Jeals at $1500 I think its easy to pick which set to get

[Fort94z]

I've had the Stainless Headers on for about three years now, Best thing I've done!

[Nick]

I like the Jeals if you can find them. Awesome fit and finish! :thumbsup:

[W i l l]

Phrogs,

The Watson headers were offered in two different diameter sizes; 1-3/4" and 2". A few people thought the 1-3/4" were better for the stock displacement engines because of the "backpressure" they provided. Myth or not, most everyone else bought the 2" diameter headers. John Lingenfelter once said the LT5 makes more power with less backpressure. I believe Watson built the original header-cats for GM and then designed and sold headers early on. The Jeal and SSW are basically copies of the Watson design with the SSW having made a couple of changes to the location of one of the tubes for better fitment (Anyone correct me if I am wrong). Brian Alspaugh worked with SSW to make that header become a reality. The quality of SSW is also MUCH better than Watson, who at one time were selling pieces that looked like a child welded them together. I know, because I purchased two sets of Watons back before SSWs were available and spent the better part of a day with a die grinder cleaning them up internally.

Will

[GregCrowe]

well I have a set of SSW on my daily driver very nice set of headers.

I also have a set of watsons and to compare them I believe the watsons are much smaller tube and wouldnt flow the same..

But im not expert but If someone would bank roll it I could dyno with one and then change them out and dyno again...

mine are bolted to flowmasters and I love the sound.
it wasnt a straight bolt in I needed to have the RH side extension for the exhaust bent to make it mate up to the headers its not going to be a quick job.

took me about 12 hours to swap mine out but easy enough
you wont be disapointed in the SSW for the $1000 the SSW cost and the price ive seen Jeals at $1500 I think its easy to pick which set to get

Hey guys, thanks for all the info the past few months.............. been working too much and have had no time to play with the car. I'm ready to jump back on the header project now.

One thing that confuses me is why these SSW headers do not bolt up directly to the Flowmaster cat-back system or any system that was a direct bolt-on to the stock exhaust manifolds/cats. Is this a flaw in the design? Shouldn't they be made to attach directly to the stock system or any other system(Flowmaster, etc.) that was a direct bolt-on to the stock exhaust manifolds/cats? I guess it's not that big of a deal to bend one side up the Flowmaster system Y-pipe up(as mentioned above) but it just sounds like a design flaw.

Also, what kind or normal/average hp gains(dyno proven) are normally seen with the installation of ZR-1 headers? It has to be significant given the high rpm operation of the ZR-1 motor, better flow, lack of cats, etc.

Figured you guys might enjoy a pic of my car and it's personalized tag http://www.zr1netregistry.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif Notice the tag on the Yamaha YZF-R1 back in the garage (R-WON). The white car is has a Lingenfelter 383, runs mid-11's in the 1/4 mile..... personalized tag "LINEMUP".

http://www.visionautoworld.com/Greg/3R1s.jpg

[Z Factor]

Nice picture and custom plates Greg. :thumbsup:
However, as much as I like bikes, I'd prefer to see your Lingenfelter 383's rear end rather than the Yamaha R1 in front of it.

As to the HP gains, I'd say you are looking at about 40 hp increase.

The need to fab a hook up with a cat back to headers is common, especially with no cats. I have Watson headers, and needed to have collectors fabricated to my B & B system. Any good muffler shop can do it with very little time and cost involved.

:cheers:

[Jeffvette]

As to the HP gains, I'd say you are looking at about 40 hp increase.


Hopefully the 40 you ar guessing is at the crank.

You will see the biggest results up at higher RPM. The power level will not fall of very much from 6K-7.2K

[Z Factor]

Hopefully the 40 you ar guessing is at the crank.

You will see the biggest results up at higher RPM. The power level will not fall of very much from 6K-7.2K

Indeed Jeff, I was referring to the crank as well as with a cat back system. I will always put RWHP if referring to it. :wink:

:cheers:

[cuisinartvette]

So 40 at the crank would figure to 33-34 (-15%)rwhp? THis correct?
Can you tell a SOTP difference or track times? Does the chip (Haibeck) need to be reburned?
Boy, I'm full of questions tonight!

[bike01]

anybody got a photo of the SSW headers?

How much hp and cash for a set of them, heat coated, and some good cats .

I have to run cats in Houston or it will not pass inspection.

Also, I;ve heard about heat coating the inside and outside, is this true or BS.

I would not worry about a direct bolt on, any muffler place could probably do the fabrication, but what about the header install, o2 sensors, and o2 wire extensions ?

[Patton]

Yeah, I have that same question about the AIR shyt and O2 sensors.

[1990 quasar blue]

Header pix http://www.acsvette.com/headers.html

cats http://www.martelbrothers.com/menu_search.php pn703000

header completion kit http://www.zr1products.com/products.html

ceramic coating http://www.swaintech.com/header.html#price

:cheers:

[bike01]

hey, thanks for the links, great looking set of headers.


Anybody had the inside as well as the outside of the headers coated before ?

Might be a stupid question, but somebody told me you should do both.

[cuisinartvette]

Had other headers coated inside and out and it definitely works as far as heat goes. No experience with Z headers yet.

[GregCrowe]

Do the SSW headers come with all necessary bolts, hardware, O2 senser extensions, etc? ............... or do you need to buy the header installation kit referenced above?

[Jeffvette]

Greg, you have to buy the header extension kit, and also be prepared to modify your dipstick tube. I advise buying a new one from GM to work on.

[Patton]

Hey Jeff,

What needs to be done to the tube?

[Jeffvette]

Tab needs to be welded on in a different location.

[Patton]

Ahhhh, i see. Jesus that was a fast response. :thumbsup:
Thanks!

[Locobob]

You'll need a new set of header gaskets too. You can use many of the stock header bolts if you want, however some will not clear due to the spacer. I used ordinary 10mm hex bolts from the hardware store, sized a bit shorter to eliminate the length of the stock spacers.