Thread: 04+ Exhaust Questions

Alright guys, I'm kind of setting up a shopping list and trying to figure what all the heck I'm gonna need. I've read through that Safely Modding your 3800 thread several times now and holy crap! Kudos to the guys that put that together. So what I will start off asking about is the exhaust stuff. I understand that if I were to buy zzp headers then that is all the exhaust work I would need before I can get the 3.4 pulley, but then I'm faced with the dilemma of headers vs. DP & plog.

Here are the options I think would cover what I need, feel free to point out any mistakes. I only know what I've read today in that Safely... thread.

Option #1: ZZP Downpipe 2.5" with Cat and O2 extension for 04+($189.99), ZZP 304 Stainless Powerlog($191.99), Total: $382

Option #2: Pacesetter Headers w/ ZZP pro kit and DP w/Cat, Total: $515

Option #3: ZZP Headers w/ EGR, 3" gasket and DP w/Cat, Total: $860

Just lookin for suggestions, experiences, obviously I would prefer option #1 as I don't have any plans yet on going overboard on the mods, just want to get to a 3.4 setup.

First off, get a 3" if you are getting a downpipe. Secondly as your car is an 04+ you can't drop to a 3.4 due to your supercharger being more efficient. You could drop to a 3.6 or maybe a 3.5 and make the same power as the 03's and older on a 3.4 pulley. The plog/DP would only be good to this limit. If there is any chance that you will ever want to go beyond this setup, get the headers right away and get it over with. What year exactly is your car? I only ask because different years have different programming options on the 04's and newer and this may affect your decision on what you want to do. That thread was mainly written for the 03's and older but most of it applies to you and your car too. You do not have the u bend in your exhaust and you have a more efficient gen V supercharger(about twenty extra horses ) vs. the gen III on the 03's and older(through 97) Do you have any way to scan for knock? Do you have anyone in your area who can give you a custom tune or would you be getting an off the shelf tune?

I have an 06, and boy am I glad I asked about that. Everyone kept saying "read the thread" but if there are differences I would really like to hear it all first. I was planning on working my way very slowly through that list. Maybe very long term I would go bigger but I'm only planning on upgrading pulley size once in the next maybe 4 years, so I don't mind going with the cheap way now. I guess a good thing to ask about would be where can I find some of these 04+ aftermarket parts? And I don't know anyone personally around here but I'm on the local forums as well, maybe someone on there could help.

I'm not sure how to scan for knock, so I would like some advice in that and the PCM field as well. Thanks

Originally Posted by ZR1Vette09

Option #1: ZZP Downpipe 2.5" with Cat and O2 extension for 04+($189.99), ZZP 304 Stainless Powerlog($191.99), Total: $382 - Since you are boosted a 2.5" is lame...3" or nothing. If you have the money to get headers...do it then.

Option #2: Pacesetter Headers w/ ZZP pro kit and DP w/Cat, Total: $515 - The ZZP Pro kit is crap. Get catless coated Pacesetter's...

Option #3: ZZP Headers w/ EGR, 3" gasket and DP w/Cat, Total: $860 - ZZP headers are nice as you get what you pay for ...I'd still go catless but that is just me...as for that...if you get Pacesetter's...think about it...you then have an extra $300 or so to spend on other mods...such as a ZZP MPS with a 3.6" and a HP Tuners custom tune.

Just lookin for suggestions, experiences, obviously I would prefer option #1 as I don't have any plans yet on going overboard on the mods, just want to get to a 3.4 setup.

GUY...as in singular that was me that wrote it and had help from a bunch of forum members here See reply in red above^^.

To get to a 3.4" your going to need more as the GenV blower you have is more efficient than the Gen III that the 97-03 guys have. A 3.4" on a Gen III is like a 3.6" on a Gen V...or a 3.4" on a Gen V like you are wanting is comparable to a 3.2"-ish pulley on a Gen III. Tell you what...if you don't buy the headers...get a 3" Downpipe...then save up for a intercooler and buy that. Then you'll probably be able to get away with a 3.4" easily or even smaller. Just my 2 cents worth though...and you've got a bunch of guys that live pretty close to you that know their stuff. Don't hesitate to ask for help on the local boards man!!

Yeah, scratch my plans for the 3.4 then. That's why I'm on here, to learn, and I really just want the equivalent so i guess the 3.6 is what I'm going for. I really don't think I'll drop lower than the 3.6 for a long time, so I would like to set my mods accordingly. Where price is close, I'm all about going with the better object.

As far as the cat goes, I wanna keep it street legal and able to pass inspection. This will be my daily driver and in 2 years when I leave stupid community college for a university, I've heard the cops on the way down are sticklers for rules.

Get headers and be done with it.

I was kinda wondering about the tune. I PM'd reptile over a week ago, nothin yet. And none of this is going down soon, I just like to get a plan in my head, set some goals, and then go for it. I was kinda feeling the headers, but if I do, I'll probably go pacesetters. Any cons to keeping the stock cat?

being that you have the 06, you will need someone to tune for you otherwise when you get the 04-05 computer, your gas gauge would read backwards. You have plenty of people in your area who tune, so that shouldnt be an issue. You can order the pacesetters with a cat from some places. Otherwise, just get a plog/DP with cat. It is up to you though....good luck. The stock cat is not high flow and more restrictive than the other cat's. If you get a DP from ZZperformance, they are offering to give you $50 off your next purchase if you will send them your stock cat.

well let me know what you hear when you find out. The only thing I've seen for our cars so far is some cheapo superchip thing

Why would I not want the ZZP pro kit?

Pro-kit includes O2 extension, upgraded flange gasket, O2 bung plug, and matched piping for better sealing.

whatever you do, do not get a zzp pcm. They are known to shorten the life span of your motor by a lot.

I've heard that from EVERYONE

Thoughts on these headers??? Pontiac Performance Racing Products for International Sales from SSAutochrome Inc.

Trying to figure out if the 97-03 headers are compatible on the 06

those headers will fit and install well. SSAC are actually pretty nice headers.

I run them. Just get some good band clamps and a lot off copper rtv for the slip joints.

Originally Posted by Bio248

those headers will fit and install well. SSAC are actually pretty nice headers.