OK - I finally got the money to order my LT headers.

I have pretty much decided on the EM LT from Merle.

but the Stainless Works headers are enticing too, and about the same price.

I am planning on buying the Long Tube header, connecting pipes with Random Tech cats and then plumbing this into my existing LT1 center resonator and out through straight pipes. I have no mufflers since I cut them off five years ago. Later if I don't like the sound I can put another kind of Cat-back on it.

Last chance to give me advice! Good, bad, or indifferent I don't care - hit me with it.

Cheers

Sounds good! Do you have a cat on there now? The LTs will make it louder, but the cats should cut down on it a little bit. I figure if you already cut off the mufflers, you won't mind it loud.

Can't wait for pics.

Matthew

I am happy with my SW, particularly the stainless aspect. But I've heard plenty of good things about the EM headers, and with their ceramic coating, I'm sure they'll look nicer (I didn't get any coating on mine).

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Yes - I have been running around with the factory LT-1 exhaust system sans the mufflers for five or so years.
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I havn't minded the sound. Matter of fact I hope it will be more aggressive with the headers and bullet cats.

If you can afford SW I would go with them

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You aint gonna get away with that! Why

I have heard goods things of both Stainless works and Melrose headers.. Melrose also sells a system and all you need to add to it are mufflers.

I vote for the EM's. I have them with their hi-flow cats and a 3" B&B. They are a very high quality product.

I like Hookers. THey look very nice and have a nice growl. I cannot say how they sound with cats, but I have true duals and 2 borla mufflers for tips.

You may want to search around and compare notes on install issues, too - each has its own peculiarities, I'm sure. I've seen mention of frame grinding, switching around motor mounts, etc. with various brands. Here are the SW instructions:

http://www.stainlessworks.net/cart/in ... LATION%20INSTRUCTIONS.doc

and a thread that illustrates a SW install:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showt ... ess+Works+headers+install

My install went pretty much as the one in the thread. I also kept my AIR pump connections - I wound up having to cut the driver's side AIR pipe a little shorter and re-flare it, as it sat up higher with the headers and interfered with my ASR box. I also had gasket problems - I originally tried the Mr. Gasket copper gaskets, but they leaked like a sieve, so I swapped the stock ones back in - no problems after that.

PS - I also had to pull a coolant sensor on the passenger side in order to snake the header up there. Be prepared to lose some coolant ;-)

okay lol. I'll elaborate

Stainless > Other

lol

Any header, coated, uncoated, or painted, if its not stainless WILL rust eventually.

Stainless also helps even more in retaining heat.

Also the install on the SW seems better than most, I could say the same for EM as well.

But if I could afford the SW, thats what I would go with

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That's odd. I ran SW headers and Mr. Gasket coppers for 2 or 3 years with no problems. I even had them off and on more than once, reusing the gaskets with no problems. I'm still using the same gaskets after switching back to my DRM headers.