Headers Installed

[Kb7tif]

Ya Baby. What a difference. A Must do mod for the LT-5. :-D
My Set up is Watson 1 7/8" Small tubes Ceramic Coated, Random Tech cats (with shields) Straights back to Borlas . I was lucky and got a deal on the headers the cats/pipes were top notch done as it bolts right to ware the resonator should be Hangers and all. Much Louder. Resonance has been introduced into the system. I Like It.
Took her for a neighborhood drive under 1500-2000 rpms there is a definite increase in torque/power.
I dont know if these will pass smog so I just cut the pipes and used Butt Stainless connectors (nice) in my exhaust so I can replace my stock manifolds if needed. Need to really get a camera to show.
Install was really not bad at all Put in fresh O2 sensors, Made my own extension weather pack deal, (nappa) Dip stick lined up perfect, no new grommet needed. I wrapped all Wires and hoses (clutch line) with Thermo tech wrap, (very similar to the wrap used for the motor mounts).
Next stop Mild porting. Here is a pic of the headers before cleaning/purchase. http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/illenema/Headers1-1.jpg

[Aurora40]

Cool!

[carter200]

Nice addition :thumbsup:

[DMark]

Hmmmmm...., Those Heat Shields make great sense. :thumbsup:

Wonder if anybody knows where a set could be found. The cats on the end of my SW tend to warm up my floorboards.

[Jim Nolan]

What cats?

[Eric870]

pics please

[Dynomite]

What year ZR1 and where did you pick up the headers ;)

[Kb7tif]

What year ZR1 and where did you pick up the headers ;)

The car is a 92. I bought the headers from a forum member, (they wouldn't pass visual Calif inspection).
When installing these i found in my exhaust system when they eliminated the Resonator, they cut off the resonator 2"pipes and welded right over them leaving a choke point. Well I cut this out.
Removing that choke point, installing new 02 sensors and the headers made a definite power increase really woke up the car, I wound it up to about 4K plus and started a sideways traction thing. Not wide open. Never did that before. Also noticed a slight miss now at idle.

[XfireZ51]

Myself and Lgaff both have 92s with the same Watson's.
=Jeff= has the 2" version.

[GOLDCYLON]

Myself and Lgaff both have 92s with the same Watson's.
=Jeff= has the 2" version.

And I have the exhaust sytem that came coupled to those Watson that Dom bought. Small tight community :mrgreen:

[LGAFF]

I have a set of Watson 2" going on the 90.....should be interesting. Too many projects to get these on right now.

[GOLDCYLON]

I have a set of Watson 2" going on the 90.....should be interesting. Too many projects to get these on right now.

So many Z's so little time :mrgreen:

[npritchard777]

Does anyone know of a set that is CARB certified/approved?

Damn CA SMOG Nazi's...

-Nate

[Pete]

Does anyone know of a set that is CARB certified/approved?

Damn CA SMOG Nazi's...

-Nate

Watson's had all the smog stuff but are NLA.

Call Stainless Works see if they can make a set with the AIR tubes.

Other choice would be cut off stock AIR tubes and have them welded on headers.

Pete

[Kb7tif]

Well these had all the smog stuff, but it was all welded shut and ground off then they were ceramic coated. I love these things, and no lt-5 should be without headers.
Before I put these on and the fidanza, the lt5 was kind of boring after having the lt1 and lt4. the 2 mods completely transformed this car. This is a very powerful engine.

[Paul Workman]

Before I put these on and the fidanza, the lt5 was kind of boring after having the lt1 and lt4. the 2 mods completely transformed this car. This is a very powerful engine.

Yes...Yes they are. :thumbsup: Your next forray should be to P&P the top end.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x220/6PPC_bucket/tech%20files/ZR-1008.jpg

(I damn near swallowed my teeth, first time I whacked the throttle last spring! I have to feather the throttle in first, and it squirms like a snake in second now!)

Gawd, I love these engines! Soooo MUCH return for relatively simple DIY mods! :dancing

[ittlfly]

Does anyone know of a set that is CARB certified/approved?

Damn CA SMOG Nazi's...

-Nate

There are NO long tube headers made for any smog compliant vehicle that are legal in California. The only way around it is to stuff the LT-5 into a 1972 or earlier car...... At least for the moment. Who knows what those bastards in Sacramento will try next. damn SOB's!

[Jeffvette]

Watson's had all the smog stuff but are NLA.

Call Stainless Works see if they can make a set with the AIR tubes.

Other choice would be cut off stock AIR tubes and have them welded on headers.

Pete

Doesn't matter if they have all the fittings. They do not have a CARB approved number on them.

[LGAFF]

How does CA or other states account for the need to replace Cats? No replacements, so there has to be a rule or way to address this. Is there not an exemption..all else fails get a damn PO Box in IA, SD or some place.:mrgreen:

[Pete]

Doesn't matter if they have all the fittings. They do not have a CARB approved number on them.


I figure if it passes emissions then your good to go.
A visual is a whole other story.

In IL if it passed there was no visual.
I thought the same for CA.

In IL they did away with OBD I emissions :dancing
When IL had emmisions for OBD I there were ways around it like show car, basicly insure it as a show car limited miles (3K year)

Pete

[npritchard777]

How does CA or other states account for the need to replace Cats? No replacements, so there has to be a rule or way to address this. Is there not an exemption..all else fails get a damn PO Box in IA, SD or some place.:mrgreen:


I was looking through some old posts and saw TomC (tccrab) had done his homework. I sent him a private message and this is what he sent back. Sounds like I might as well give it a shot;

-------------------------------------------------


Nate:

Howdy!
It's a legal loophole that allows us to have non-CARB approved aftermarket exhaust headers on '90-92 ZR1's only.
Here's how it goes:
First, take the car down to a SMOG shop and have them fail it for the bad Cat. Make sure they document that the Cat is bad and needs replaced.
Get the smog shop to set help you set an appointment for a referee inspection.
Then go down to your local Chevy shop and have them search for a replacement exhaust header/cat.
They will tell you that there are none, haven't been any for years.
Have the parts manager write you a note stating this.
Order up a set of headers, but be sure to have the air injection hoses and pipes installed on them. Buy a pair of Cats that are CARB approved (there are quite a selection)
Take the headers and the cats down to the referee, explain to them that the old cat has failed and there are NO OEM replacements available anywhere.
Remind the referee that you know that you can't legally buy a used cat here in CA so that means you have to go with aftermarket equipment.
No headers for a ZR1 were ever CARB approved, so they will have to accept whatever headers you show them as long as they have all the correct SMOG hoses.
The referee will write you an exemption.

You can of course buy a set of good used stock manifolds and cats from a fellow forum member and install them yourself. It's not exactly legal, but nobody but you would ever know that you illegally bought a used catalytic converter and installed it on your car.
This is actually the cheapest way to go, there's a lot of guys who have headers on their cars in places where the SMOG nazi's haven't taken over.
I've seen them sell for as little as a couple of hundred dollars for the pair.

Good luck!!

TomC
"Crabs" __________________
TomC
'90ZR1 #792
Honorary Pirate
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i159/tccrab/arg.gif

I can break every speed law in the country going into 2nd gear.
There's 4 gears after that.

[ittlfly]

I was looking through some old posts and saw TomC (tccrab) had done his homework. I sent him a private message and this is what he sent back. Sounds like I might as well give it a shot;

-------------------------------------------------


Nate:

Howdy!
It's a legal loophole that allows us to have non-CARB approved aftermarket exhaust headers on '90-92 ZR1's only.
Here's how it goes:
First, take the car down to a SMOG shop and have them fail it for the bad Cat. Make sure they document that the Cat is bad and needs replaced.
Get the smog shop to set help you set an appointment for a referee inspection.
Then go down to your local Chevy shop and have them search for a replacement exhaust header/cat.
They will tell you that there are none, haven't been any for years.
Have the parts manager write you a note stating this.
Order up a set of headers, but be sure to have the air injection hoses and pipes installed on them. Buy a pair of Cats that are CARB approved (there are quite a selection)
Take the headers and the cats down to the referee, explain to them that the old cat has failed and there are NO OEM replacements available anywhere.
Remind the referee that you know that you can't legally buy a used cat here in CA so that means you have to go with aftermarket equipment.
No headers for a ZR1 were ever CARB approved, so they will have to accept whatever headers you show them as long as they have all the correct SMOG hoses.
The referee will write you an exemption.

You can of course buy a set of good used stock manifolds and cats from a fellow forum member and install them yourself. It's not exactly legal, but nobody but you would ever know that you illegally bought a used catalytic converter and installed it on your car.
This is actually the cheapest way to go, there's a lot of guys who have headers on their cars in places where the SMOG nazi's haven't taken over.
I've seen them sell for as little as a couple of hundred dollars for the pair.

Good luck!!

TomC
"Crabs" __________________
TomC
'90ZR1 #792
Honorary Pirate
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i159/tccrab/arg.gif

I can break every speed law in the country going into 2nd gear.
There's 4 gears after that.

What Tom says is the truth on 90-92's only due to the OEM configuration of the exhaust manifold and cat. If you try to sneak headers by the inspector you are taking your chances. Even if the car passes emissions, they will flunk it on the visual. Some guys have gotten by the visual because our cars do ''show off'' the headers and are some what hidden by inner fender well etc. You just have to lucky.

The only legal header is Cal is a ''shorty'' with a CARB # affixed. Gotta just love this GD state.