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American Racing Headers 50 State legal Shorties Install

6K views 19 replies 9 participants last post by  yammyboy113 
#1 · (Edited)
Hey everyone, Let me start out by saying as some of you may remember, I posted previously that I had a ZL1 on order which I had to cancel. Anyway since I canceled the order I got the itch to do some mods to the car I was planning to trade in, my 2012 L99 SS. My first thought was my dealer is really not to keen on mods but will tolerate some as long as it is not too over the top. At this point I only have a cold air intake. I remembered reading that American Racing Headers had developed a shortie header that they claimed to be 50 State Legal and from the looks of it, had some pretty neat features. I did some investigating and found out that they were approved by CARB or ARB. Apparently from what I could decipher the American Racing Headers passed the strict CA emission laws with flying colors.

After talking to Nick, the owner of America Racing Headers, I made an appointment to have the Shorties done. The install was fast and neat. Everything bolted up and cleared nicely. I really liked the ARH wire insulators. They dressed up the engine compartment nicely. As soon as they fired up the car I could tell right away the sound was throatier than the stock exhaust manifolds. The throttle response seemed quicker. At the time I really couldn’t get on the car due to heavy rain. On my drive home, about 35 miles, my highway mileage seemed to be about the same as before, around 25.8 mpg.

As I got closer to home I encountered some dry highway roads where I went WOT and I immediately knew it felt stronger than stock. The real test didn’t come till this morning where for the first time, with traction control off, it lit the tires from a standing start like never before. And it did multiple times. I didn’t dyno the shorties but the gains have to be pretty substantial. Overall I’m impressed with American Racing’s shorty headers. It was a mod worth doing, especially since I don’t want hassles. Next up, I’m saving for the ARH full catback. I can’t wait to get their X-pipe installed and I’ve heard their mufflers on other Gen 5’s. I’ll keep you all updated with sound clips and my experience with the system. Thanks.
 

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#2 ·
Second Day Run

So today I took the car out for a nice spin and was pleasantly surprised. Before
with the stock exhaust manifolds when I would put the car in sport mode and
start out in first I would just get a small burn out of the car. Today did
everything the same disabled traction control and stabilization. WOT floored the
car in 1st burn baby burn. Up shifted to second got the tires to chirp in second
gear.This never happened before just awesome. The ARH shorties have so far been
a real good mod for me. I intend to put up some videos of the car at idle and on
the road soon.
 
#4 ·
Video of Shorty American Racing Headers

So as promised i have a short video of the car under some acceleration with stock exhaust. All in all it sounds pretty good for stock exhaust with the Shorty American Racing Headers.But i am still going to put the ARH catback system on when i have some extra cash:thumbsup:





View My Video
 
#6 ·
So i have put over 100 miles on the car since the shorty install and the grin on my face is ear to ear. The headers have really woken up the car. Off the line this is a totally different car compared to the stock exhaust manifolds. My throttle response is noticeably quicker and more responsive. My highway mileage has increased to an average of 27.7 mpg. Before the header install my average was around 25.8 so this improvement is an added bonus. Next test will be a tune i have access to a hand held tuner which i will post my results.
 
#12 ·
So are you still enjoying those shorty headers? Ive been going back and forth about going to a set of shorties this time around instead of long tubes and not have to worry about state inspection they have been talking about here that maybe coming soon?. I had long tubes on my 2011 1LT V6 and once in awhile I would scrap the cats on certian bumps, besides my CEL was constintly coming on untill I finnaly got a Trifecta tune done and it stayed off. I wonder if the shorty headers are lighter than the stock manifolds? I think I might just get the shorties for my 2012 2SS convert to compliment my cat back ,X pipe Gibson exhuast I already have on it. I don't want to loud of an exhaust.I also believe you don't have a problem with the CEL coming on with the shorties either. Then I always can get a tune later on. Funds getting low,LOL.
 
#9 ·
Okay, I haven't really had it long, just passed 3000 miles, and I drive a combination of work and errands (of course my first 650 miles were to get it home and I dont really remember the mpg). The work mileage is about 32 miles each way and the errands are about 10 miles each way - almost all of this driving is at about 63-65 mph mostly on cruise control except maybe the first 2.5 miles. Some slightly hard starts, but haven't even spun the wheels once yet. I'm only getting an average of about 19 mpg ... how the heck are you getting 25 mpg?
 
#11 ·
I looked in my book today ... mpg is one of the things I track ... the best I have done is a bit over 22mpg and that was on my 600 mile trip home, I think. After that, it looks like I did better on summer gas with a couple of 20 mpg (but not all) tanks and the rest is 19 to 19.5 ish.
 
#13 ·
Well I just ordered a set of BBK ceramic tuned shortys. I was going back and forth on LT headers or ST headers and after hearing a story in my local gym by a guy in a newer mustang gt how a cop pulled him over and asked if he removed the factory cats on his car and he didnt, I figured if this type of harresment is gonna start then im just going to install the shortys and keep the stock cats on my SS. I know im going to give up some power, but really im just improving the exhaust system and staying legal. If some people are happy with the results and are getting even better gas mileage, that is a pluss for me. Got the BBK ceramic shorties for $339.00 shipped from auto any thing. Ill report back with my observation and if any gas mileage increases. Im still using the stock intake also .mileage is around 19-20mpg now average here in the GA mountians.
 
#14 ·
Yea you have to do whatever makes you comfortable. And despite what others say, I am sure you will see some results with the shorties. Those stock cats will still hold you back but there should be some gain, despite what those idiots on C5 say...
 
#15 ·
I hear ya. I can always in stall the magniflow 49 state legal high flow cats later on if i want just a little more power. I also decided to get a hand tuner. This way i can go back to a
stock tune if I need any warrenty work done.
 
#18 ·
Well I have the BBK ceramic shortys on now for about two weeks. I haven't done any long highway trips yet with my SS since the installation. I can say that the car now has a slight increase in lowend and midrange TQ feel. No big improvement, but it is there. I think next year ill be getting the 49 state legal high flow cats to improve the exhaust a little more. Im still waiting for my Variram intake, they just told me another 30-35 days for them?
 
#20 ·
Im pretty sure im going to feel a difference in the Variram set up when it FINNALY come to age,LOL. I took my SS covert to the Dragon today for the first time and got to test out all the new syspension addon's ive done so far. I have traveled the Dragon many times on my cruisers and sport bikes. today was a special day and the honda su2000 clubs were there. lets just say my 4,100lb modified syspension SS did a very admirable job of keeping my front bumper with their rear bumpers,LOL. I can't wait till next year when I save up for a set of Z28 or ZL1 tires and rims. Then its back to the dragon slayer. I only live 120 miles south of it any way. I did not instal any after market trailing arms or tie rods on my SS as I had done on my 1LT. I don't think my convert needs them, The convert has alot more under body frame braceing and I hardley have any wheel hop so far at all. This car as set up for me considering I live in the GA mountians is a very forgiving car in the handeling dept. I am very pleased with it and I have owned Corvettes for 19 years a while back.:thumbsup:Im going to post some of my Dragon pic's as soon as they come out on Kill Boys web site.:lol:
 
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