bone stock 2003, original owner - wanting headers ???

[Mike Mercury]

Well; you have my specs, 2003 S10 Crew Cab, 4wd, with 4.3.

I am the original owner. Here is a pic taken on the day I bought her home (Jan 2003):

PICTURE

This is my everyday driver; and one if the best utility type vehicles I have ever owned.
I am wanting to increase the engines power a little bit; with these conditions:

1. remain emissions legal
2. no computer re-tune needed
3. louder sound note not really desired, but a little increase is OK.

I assume the exhaust is one of the areas to make improvement. I did a forum search for "headers"; but all the responses I read didn't mention the mfgrs name of the headers. And I'm having a tough time finding S10 CrewCab 4wd headers doing a Google search.

Was hoping to find a complete system ... headers and cat back; but headers without a complete system is OK as well. I can always add a cat-back. There was one mention on another forum abotu an Edelbrock system, but I don't see one listed for the S10 CrewCab 4wd 4.3.

Any suggestione s would be greatly appreciated.

Link't image over 100k forum limit (barely, but rulez is rulez )-HJ

[F9K9]

Welcome to the forum. I personally do not know of headers offered in a package for our CCs. We do have the same frame as the extended cabs so you may look at other forums. I do know that efforts were made to install headers AFTER a body lift. It was a "no go" due to the steering arm position after the lift. It might be possible without a body lift.

[F9K9]

BTW, good looking CC! Where are you located?

[Mike Mercury]

BTW, good looking CC! Where are you located?

Ohio.

[HenryJ]

The stock manifolds are not terrible. Best gains are seen catback.
If you need headers there are a ton of things that you can do first.
For the price I would not add it to the top of the list.

[Mike Mercury]

The stock manifolds are not terrible. Best gains are seen catback.
If you need headers there are a ton of things that you can do first.
For the price I would not add it to the top of the list.

Great, then you've saved me some money (that I can use elsewhere).

Cold air intake I assume is a given.

Are all catbacks basically created the same ?
Again, my goal is not an increased level exhaust note... but as little as spound increase as I can get, but with some increased mid-range power.

And are high-flow cats a good upgrade (like on the LS1) ?

[HenryJ]

Our cats are already 3" in/out high flow. No gains there. I removed my precat , but it had problems. Our Y-pipe is a good one. No gains there.
I like the custom built 3" single cat back. Check with a local shop and see what holds up the best for your area. A slightly smaller pipe may heat faster and last longer in the northern climates.
Search a little and you will find plenty of help.

Check out the Factory air box and modified headlight support. If I were to do it all again, I would go no farther.

[F9K9]

Where are you located?

...................Ohio.

Ohio covers 44828 square miles! Pretty much narrows down the search in case, a member would like to help you or need assistance when in trouble.

Everything is true that friends have told me! I could not hack being a Wallyword greeter!

I lived in Akron, Cleveland, Athens, Dayton and Ironton at one time or another.

[Mike Mercury]

Where are you located?

...................Ohio.

Ohio covers 44828 square miles! Pretty much narrows down the search in case, a member would like to help you or need assistance when in trouble.

Everything is true that friends have told me! I could not hack being a Wallyword greeter!

I lived in Akron, Cleveland, Athens, Dayton and Ironton at one time or another.

Sorry; SW Ohio (near Dayton). I guess I should fill out my forum profile.

I have a good relationship with a local muffler shop owner. I'm sure he would custom bend a true dual exhaust setup... with two cats (to remain emission legal).

I'll get with him later this week.

[HenryJ]

... Is there room under there for a true dual (with cats) setup ?

I don't think so, but let your local expert offer his advice.

[WVHogRider]

Bobblesmitty is just up in around Cleveland, and he has the cat back dual exhaust. The sound will all depend on what high flow muffler you decide on. There is no need for dual cats.

[MARBLEYARD]

I just got to read your thread and the best mods I have done to my '03 is the cat back with the air box mod. I got a Gibson cat back and installed it myself, I did it when the truck was new so I don't know what 5 years of running does to the gaskets and seals. It is not too loud but sounds full, if that means anything to you. The air box mod (with K&N drop n filter) was the most surprising HP gainer. It adds a little roar when you decide to really get on it though. About the headders, I researched that too and found one set that might work. When I talked to a mechanic, he said when you break the orginal gasket and replace it, you may be replacing that gasket every year or maybe two, probaly not worth it. Good Luck and WELCOME!

[BobbleSmitty]

Welcome to the site Mike Mercury. Here is a video clip of my cat back dual exhaust.

Dual Exhaust

[Mike Mercury]

Cool !!!

my muffler guy said they there's nothign to gain (power wise) by going to true duals... unless I go without cat(s). I can't do that.

I notice many of the dual exhhaust conversions are not true dual exhaust.

Is this because true dual exhaust (with two cats) is not really needed... or because it's an installation nightmare ?

[BobbleSmitty]

It's not really needed for one. Second, they may have a very hard time fitting two cats and two mufflers under the truck. Third, it's a 4.3L V6, it won't do too much for you. Stick with a catback setup.

[killian96ss]

my muffler guy said they there's nothign to gain (power wise) by going to true duals... unless I go without cat(s). I can't do that.

Well, I'm going to say that not's true because a true dual exhaust with 2 cats, 2 mufflers and a balance pipe will definitely make more power than a single exhaust because of better scavenging and better balance of the exhaust pulses between both sides of the engine.

The reason nobody does this on our trucks is because of space problems, smog issues (if you have inspections in your state) , and the problem you run into with dual cats and only one 02 sensor available after the cat (not that it would natter much, but it would also cause you to fail a visual inspection if applicable).

The dual exhaust set ups that you see on these truck is one pipe from each manifold merged into a single pipe that goes into a pre-cat and then the larger cat then into a single inlet muffler with dual outlets.

Basically it's a dual single dual system while stock is dual single single.

The dual outlet mufflers do sound better, but at the expense of a little low end torque.

I've tried both and the single seemed to have a little more power, not much but enough that I could tell the difference.

Steve

[Mike Mercury]

I had an experience many years ago with my 1980 Corvette

http://mikemercury.home.att.net/heritage/tim-1980-1.jpg

I bought this car new, and it had a standard 5.7L where the exhaust was combined into one cat, then split again after the cat into two mufflers.

One day I got under the car and discovered that there were indentations and pathways for a second cat and piping. I bought an identical cat and had a different muffler guy turn it into a true dual exhaust with dual cats.

A very noticeable difference in the way it ran, and the dual note sound was cool. But back then, there was a lot of room for improvemwnt over the stock factory exhaust.

I imagine that to get todays power out of these smogged down motors... the factory systems are fairly efficient and not lagging much.

BTW; I got an email from Edelbrock saying that their headers only work up to a 1997/98 S10 and nothing newer.

[killian96ss]

Nice Vette!

Dare I ask if you still have it?

There is always room for improvement over the stock exhaust systems even on the newer vehicles.

Steve

[Mike Mercury]

No; only kept it for about 2 years.

So, now it looks like an aftermarket Y pipe and cat back system are they best way to go.

That takes me back to my orginal question... which emission-legal headers to buy?

[HenryJ]

... it looks like an aftermarket Y pipe and cat back system are they best way to go.

That takes me back to my orginal question... which emission-legal headers to buy?

...Our Y-pipe is a good one. No gains there.

Did you read any of this thread?
No on y-pipe. No on headers.
Those are my suggestions.

[Mike Mercury]

... it looks like an aftermarket Y pipe and cat back system are they best way to go.

That takes me back to my orginal question... which emission-legal headers to buy?

...Our Y-pipe is a good one. No gains there.

Did you read any of this thread?
No on y-pipe. No on headers.
Those are my suggestions.

yes I did, but was hoping for something new that may have been introduced lately.

So now we're at a cat-back and cold air induction kit ?

Doesn't seem like much... but that's why I'm here. You folks have experience with this style truck.

[HenryJ]

Nothing new has been introduced as far as I know. It is not likely that something new will arrive for a discontinued model and engine.

[F9K9]

Nothing new has been introduced as far as I know. It is not likely that something new will arrive for a discontinued model and engine.

That is a sad reality but, I would go to the bank with his advice.

[BobbleSmitty]

If you want a little more performace, get a custom tune or buy the Hypertech Power Programmer (HPP3).

[Mike Mercury]

Nothing new has been introduced as far as I know. It is not likely that something new will arrive for a discontinued model and engine.

I really appreciate all the replies and straight talk.

[HenryJ]

There is no magic cure. Lots of little things can make improvements, but they are small.
If you are really looking for power, get a bigger motor, and more than likely a bigger truck.
If you are looking for mileage, tune it well , let it breathe and keep your foot out of it.

I am happy with the performance of mine, but that took way more money than it was worth and six years.

[bwenny247]

if you really want to "boost" performance there's really only one bolt on way to go

[Mike Mercury]

There is no magic cure. Lots of little things can make improvements, but they are small.
If you are really looking for power, get a bigger motor, and more than likely a bigger truck.
If you are looking for mileage, tune it well , let it breathe and keep your foot out of it.

I am happy with the performance of mine, but that took way more money than it was worth and six years.

I priced a 2008 Silverado crew cab V8 varidisplacement with short bed... around $37,000 they way I liked it 'quipped. But there's a problem with that style (and the Colorado)... IMO I don't like the way they look. The S10 Crew Cab is one of the best lookign trucks ever produced.

Because of this... I decided to do some "freshening-up" of my S10 instead fo byuying a new full sized.

Naw, I'm not wanting to run the S10 at the track or anything like that; just wanting to stay with simple no-tuning-required bolt-ons.

Of the three major catback systems, which one would be the quietest:

Magnaflow 15825
Gibson 14433
Dynamax 19409