Xforce Stepped Headers

[vessm]

Just wondering if anyone has put these stepped headers on a vess "1 1/3 stepped to 1 5/8

wanna know how they are, if there anygood, better then pacys 1 1/3

[SSV8TE]

Gday mate,
Reading through some of the threads the only difference i have read is ground clearance on the pacies. Not saying its real bad just slightly less than the steppers. Other than that i think they are both fairly reputable. Must be better than the crap casties that us porpers still have.:rofl: Im goin the steppers as i have a 2.5 xforce and these bolt straight up easily.
Cheers,
Andy.

[Deanss-v]

I just spent today fitting up my stepped headers 1 5/8 to 1 3/4 with 3 inch collectors today. They look good on the motor, and made the 3 inch cat back a hell of a lot louder to. :)

Any way i thought they only made them in the size i have, not ones with 2 1/2 inch collectors?

[mickve]

Just wondering if anyone has put these stepped headers on a vess "1 1/3 stepped to 1 5/8

wanna know how they are, if there anygood, better then pacys 1 1/3

I dont know about the pacys but stepper headers give better midrange power.

[vessm]

I just spent today fitting up my stepped headers 1 5/8 to 1 3/4 with 3 inch collectors today. They look good on the motor, and made the 3 inch cat back a hell of a lot louder to. :)

Any way i thought they only made them in the size i have, not ones with 2 1/2 inch collectors?




And how does the car go now? does it have fair bit more go?
ive got 3" xforce on aswell

[Deanss-v]

And how does the car go now? does it have fair bit more go?
ive got 3" xforce on aswell

PM sent

If u already have the 3 inch catback then go for it.
If u have a look here russo performance did a fair bit of testing and it shows there gains.

http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=90156&highlight=stepper+headers

[nthnbeachesguy]

And how does the car go now? does it have fair bit more go?
ive got 3" xforce on aswell

Get the mid muffler cut out, sounds a lot better on mine now. Not much increase in drone that I have noticed though I'm not one to care too much about that.

[vessm]

Get the mid muffler cut out, sounds a lot better on mine now. Not much increase in drone that I have noticed though I'm not one to care too much about that.




Did you put hot dogs on or just striaght pipe?

[Y55-7UT]

Did you put hot dogs on or just straight pipe?


do some work you lazy bastard,

now off to wax and claybar my ute
hehehe

[CSP]

off to wax and claybar my ute

I hope not in that order!

wash, clay bar, wash, polish, swirl remover, wax

[Y55-7UT]

I hope not in that order!

wash, clay bar, wash, polish, swirl remover, wax


i dont need swirl remover because my ute isnt holden quality of red.

do you honestly think someone would wax without cleaning first and even put wax or polish on top of all the tree sap, tar and grime then claybar..

[nthnbeachesguy]

Did you put hot dogs on or just striaght pipe?


Straight pipe, I have a thread in the private section doing a drive by, was caught on mobile so sound isnt great quality but you get the idea

[Titanium]

Having had xforce 1 5/8's and Pacies 1 3/4 headers on a cammed / uncammed VE SS, I notcied that the pacies offered more performance over the xforce.

The xforce have a very short merge section from the 4 to the 1, this caused the headers to heat up and glow on the dyno. I also had to run a more aggressive tune to achieve the power being made.

The pacies have a longer merge section to the cat's, the car exhaust and ran much cooler (checked with infra red thermometer) and I could run a safer tune to develop more power.

I was at 292 RWKW with xforce 1 5/8 and ran 299.5 RWKW by swapping to the pacies, no adjustment on the tune.

Xforce however are very good bang for your buck.

Cheers

Peter

[Deanss-v]

As promised a little right up with pics.

On Sunday i installed a set of xforce stepper headers with the 3 inch collectors and cats. Took me about 6 hours but i am fussy, but would make it quicker if i could of got some help mainly with guiding them in and out.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii100/deanss-v/HPIM0456.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii100/deanss-v/HPIM0460.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii100/deanss-v/HPIM0457.jpg

First up i did the drivers side as i thought get the worst over and done with.
First removed the leads and plugs, then undo the bolt that holds the dipstick onto the head. Pull the dipstick out and gently pull up the dipstick tube. The tube wont fully come out all together, so i just lifted it up and moved it to one side makes it easier. Undo 02 sensors, Undo the the bolts on the cats then remove the header bolts, leave one of the center bolts to last. Hop under neath the car and remove the old header. Next take the bolt out of the steering shaft and decompress it and move it out of the way. The bolt can be removed underneath the car with a socket and long extension. Next Take out the 02 sensor out of the old header and install it into the new one. Know the new header is ready for install, carefully slide it up from underneath the car this was a tight squeeze so it has to be in the right position or it wont go up. Know the day before i used some silicone around the bolt holes to stick the new gaskets onto the headers, just makes it a lot easier when installing the bolts. Know put all the bolts back in and finger tighten, center the header as there is a bit of movement in the bolt holes and tighten them up. Plug back it 02 sensor and install cats. Know install all back steering, dipstick plugs and leads.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii100/deanss-v/HPIM0458.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii100/deanss-v/HPIM0459.jpg

Passenger side was fairly straight forward except for the rear header bolt, what a mongrel to get at.
Like drivers side undo the 02 sensor plug and take of the cats nuts. Know remove the plugs and leads, i had to use a universal knuckle on the socket to remove the rear plug as i was pushed for room. Know remove the header bolts leaving a middle one to last. As i said before the rear bolt is a prick to get to, the only was i end up removing it with was a curved ring spanner, nothing else seemed to be able to get in there. Know remove header, remove 02 sensor and install into new header. Install new header from under neath the car and put all the bolts back in, center the header and tighten. Plug back in 02 sensor, know this one took a bit as the wiring is just long enough i mean just. Install cats, put back all plugs and leads, start her up, inspect if there is any exhaust leeks and enjoy the sound.

Hope this helps,
Dean.

[nthnbeachesguy]

Good write up Dean, what tools do you need for this and did you do it off ramps or hydraulic jack? It sounded like you used the xforce cats as well is this correct? How much was it all up, pm if required. Thats a stainless system right?

[Deanss-v]

Good write up Dean, what tools do you need for this and did you do it off ramps or hydraulic jack? It sounded like you used the xforce cats as well is this correct? How much was it all up, pm if required. Thats a stainless system right?

I did the install on ramps. I made a set years ago so i just put a couple of blocks of wood down on each side put the ramps down and drive up on them. I suppose i raised it by about 450mm give or take a bit. Just have to make sure u get it up high enough otherwise u wont get the 4-1 in.

If you have a complete socket and ring spanner set you should be ok. The only sort of no standard things thats needed is the curved ring spanner, a long series socket to take out the spark plugs and a universal knuckle joint.
This is basically what i used minus some sockets and ring spanners used that are not in the pic and a light to see with.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii100/deanss-v/HPIM0461.jpg

I used the xforce cats as well, no engine warning light so far. :woohoo:
The catback is mild steel, but the headers and cats are stainless, but dam they livened the catback up. She just needs a bit of carbon in them know as u can hear the engine firing more know but that will die down.

I'll PM u with pricing.

[BadSeed]

hey mate, can you shoot me a pm too with what price you got?
thanks

[nthnbeachesguy]

Thanks mate, replied to your pm.

[Tyre biter]

Deanss-v,

Thanks for the post. I pick up my e-force 3" system tomorrow and your post will no doubt help heaps.

On the error/engine code issue, my friend (uteme here at ls1) installed the same system (prior to fitting his Harrop S/Charger) and the code took about a week to flash up. He was told this is normal (that it takes a few days).

I understand that anyone with VCM Suite or similar can clear the fault code when it arrives and that it should remain cleared, but I am still making enquiries on this front.

Cheers,

[SSV8TE]

Gday all,
Just had the stepped headers and 3"high flows fitted and made 18 rwkw increase.
Not a bad bang for your buck.
I already had a 2.5"cat back so the dyno was done before headers fitted and after headers were fitted.
:goodjob::goodjob::goodjob:
Best of luck in your choice mate.

Cheers,
Andy.