Headers on a 3800 Camaro with stock internals?

[Doug96CamaroRS]

Hey guys, I was just contemplating another upgrade to the Camaro after this winter, or as soon as I get the extra money, and headers seem intriguing to me. I was also wondering about what kinds of opinions and experiences other people have had with headers on a v6... I can't find a good video on youtube of an example with stock internals, and I haven't heard one in real life either... Would it sound meaner? nastier? better? So far, the only mods to the car are the Magnaflow hi-flow catalytic converter and a dynomax super turbo muffler with 2 1/2 inch dual outlets. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

-Doug

[Dummybait]

Just from my experiance ( i know few peeps with grandprixs) The 3800 is a pretty obnoxious sounding beast after putting headers and a high flowing exhaust on ... not to sweet to the ear, a bit raspy under WOT IMHO... i suggest looking at some youtube videos of grandprixs... as far as gains.... not really sure. I'm not big on sound quality.. sure it's nice.. but it doesn't necessarily mean you are faster, so i could really care less about what it sounds like...as long as the gains are nominal...

[97rs4life]

Just from my experiance ( i know few peeps with grandprixs) The 3800 is a pretty obnoxious sounding beast after putting headers and a high flowing exhaust on ... not to sweet to the ear, a bit raspy under WOT IMHO... i suggest looking at some youtube videos of grandprixs... as far as gains.... not really sure. I'm not big on sound quality.. sure it's nice.. but it doesn't necessarily mean you are faster, so i could really care less about what it sounds like...as long as the gains are nominal...

a grand prix is going to sound different than an fbody....


Anyways, your options for headers on a 3.8l fbody are

1. Pacesetters shorties
2. RKsport shorties
3. CIA shorties
4. EBAY pacesetter ripoffs
5. FFF longtubes

Most popular are the pacesetters, cons of them are the egr tube connections, not a big deal, just takes a little bit to seal. RKsports have two bolt flanges, people hack them off and install 3 bolt flanges to stop the leaks at the flange. CIAs fit the newer cars best, the 96 for example you would have to bend your ac lines slightly to clear. ebay headers are identical to the pacesetters other than they are stainless steel and the pacesetters aren't. FFF longtubes are stainless and don't come with a ypipe. Longtubes are for the guys that are going all out with their cars and not a simple bolt on car.

Sound will change from the stock RESTRICTED manis to the headers. No matter what a v6 fbody is going to have top end rasp, there is no getting away from that since its a v6. From what you are looking for, go with pacesetters.

[98blackbeauty]

If all you want is meaner better sound then don't bother with headers. To costly for the sound you get. If you want a gain in performance you'll get maybe 10% more HP from long tubes. Just my opinion

[97rs4life]

If all you want is meaner better sound then don't bother with headers. To costly for the sound you get. If you want a gain in performance you'll get maybe 10% more HP from long tubes. Just my opinion

??? His sound would definitely change with headers. Also painted pacesetters can be had for $150-$300 for the painted ones, not costly at all for picking up some power and making the exhaust sound better. Longtubes cost $700 plus you have to have a ypipe made to mate up to your exhaust system. Yes gains will be larger with longtubes, but to fully benefit from longtubes one would want a modified engine or FI of some type

[MunsterZ28]

i have a stock exhaust on my car and with the cutout closed you would never be able to tell i have long tubes. joel had a z28 dual exhaust he put on his v6 when he had it and it sounded good for a 6er. maybe think more towards catbacks is your going for sound and not overall hp gains.

edit** vid proof http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meM6Oe8Q6aI

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

Travis is wise...V6s can sound very nice when properly done...and they can sound awful if done poorly...the 89 has a full Magnaflow on it and actually sounds pretty subtle compared to some others...

[JoeliusZ28]

3.8s with true duals sound great!

[jderry]

I personally like my system a lot.
I have pacesetter shorties.
3in pipe with cat deleted (cutout in it's place)
And then a Muffler off of a 1999 Camaro SS.
Sounds really nice and was not too costly honestly.

[Kwazrollinz28]

i have headers on my GTP and it sounds Good, but i have a few things to make it sound better. unless that 3.8 is gonna be boosted, Not really worth it unless you have other mods.

[04DetroitLS]

i have headers on my GTP and it sounds Good, but i have a few things to make it sound better. unless that 3.8 is gonna be boosted, Not really worth it unless you have other mods.

+1

ive got some vids of the Wimpala on youtube (search 04detroitls)

[phoenix_rising]

Travis is wise...V6s can sound very nice when properly done...and they can sound awful if done poorly...the 89 has a full Magnaflow on it and actually sounds pretty subtle compared to some others...

Agreed. Travis is one of the best resources for V6 performance on the online forums.

I have Pacesetter shorties on mine and a 2.5" Goerlich Xlerator Muffler and I love them. They sound like a V8 and remarkably little rasp at WOT. In my opinion, the cat back will produce the tone of the exhaust more than headers will. Headers just increase the output and volume of the exhaust note. You will notice a boost in mid range power, although I also noticed a drop in low end torque ( Not that the 3.8 is known for torque). Definitely look better and make swapping spark plugs easier. I recommend it. Good Luck!

[93formulalt1]

Agreed. Travis is one of the best resources for V6 performance on the online forums.

I have Pacesetter shorties on mine and a 2.5" Goerlich Xlerator Muffler and I love them. They sound like a V8 and remarkably little rasp at WOT. In my opinion, the cat back will produce the tone of the exhaust more than headers will. Headers just increase the output and volume of the exhaust note. You will notice a boost in mid range power, although I also noticed a drop in low end torque ( Not that the 3.8 is known for torque). Definitely look better and make swapping spark plugs easier. I recommend it. Good Luck!

Not to rain on your parade, but your car does NOT sound like a V8. It sounds decent, but not like a V8 by any stretch of the imagination. The exhaust pitch is too high, it has some rasp (noticeable outside of the car), and it just doesn't rumble enough. That said, it sounds a lot better than the stock V6 exhaust, and the high-end RPM range gains make the headers worth having.

Just voicing my opinion, I'm not ragging on your car at all. Once the 'bird is running again, we'll grab a soundclip for the OP to hear the difference from his stock 3.8.