E Series HSV Headers

[HEXEM]

Hi all,

I did a search for my question but didn't find anything specific..

I would like to know if I had a set of VE HSV headers, will they bolt straight up to my VE SSV and connect to the existing cats without any modification?

I know for performance etc, it is better to go with a whole new system but I simply cann't afford it atm...

Advise on this would be appreciated...

Cheers
Phil

[Mr_SS-V]

i fit a set when did my cam was in the same boat as u funds wise... no issue at all mate

[macca33]

PM Wonky, or check his 'The Wonkymobile' thread. He had a sert of them on his VE SSV for a while.

Cheers,

Macca

[HEXEM]

Thanks guys for the quick response... :goodjob:

[Wonky]

Hi Phil,

Unfortunately I can't give you any idea of gain in power as the place who put them on (tuner I used to use) didn't do either a before or after run! :mad:

All I can tell you is when I went to 1 3/4 Pacies and high flow cats I picked up 15rwkw which is about what Mustanger picked up when he did the same on his GTS.

Fitting wise they did have an issue which cost me another hour in labour, although by the time they ummed and ahhed it was more like two. The only issue was the oil dipstick clearance - apparently it fouled significantly and sorry, I have no idea what they did to solve it. I asked but about that time one of the key people left and I never got an answer.

I'd be pretty sure it wouldn't take all that long to solve if you are aware in advance that it could be a problem and in fact it sounds like others didn't have that problem.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,
Gary

[HEXEM]

Thanks Gary for your help and advice.. Appreciate it mate..

Phil

[vessute08]

Mate give Aussietone a PM. From what i've heard there was NO gain to be had. Be nice to clear it up

[HEXEM]

Mate give Aussietone a PM. From what i've heard there was NO gain to be had. Be nice to clear it up

Yeah your probably right, (very little or none at all). Bu I am not after any horspower gain by using them.

Now I just got to ask around to see what sort of price I might be looking at..

Cheers
Phil

[Uwish]

I binned mine! Call Liverpool exhaust and ask for a set!
They throw heaps away.

[splcrazy1]

yeah but arnt they cast ? they are not proper steel tubes ,

[AtOmIcUtE]

my dads ve gts came with LS1 heads on it...

[HEXEM]

yeah but arnt they cast ? they are not proper steel tubes ,

The VE HSV's I have seen all have Stainless Steel tubing (like extractors) not the bulky cast iron on the Holden V8 range...

[Mr_SS-V]

they must flow better as Sonny advised me to have these fitted with the cam.. till i could get a decent exhaust.. must be minimal but sumthing atleast.. picked mine up for 200 including cats..

[HEXEM]

picked mine up for 200 including cats..

I could live with that price..

I probably would like a set that have come off a near new HSV though, as I intend of keeping them on the car...

I might PM Sonny and see what he has around to offer etc..

Cheers
Phil

[Wonky]

yeah but arnt they cast ? they are not proper steel tubes ,

They're 'proper' short extractors - definitely not cast.

[Mr_SS-V]

his in the US at the moment...


looked new enough to me... was a temp thing... if u want they will be off the car soon

[Wonky]

my dads ve gts came with LS1 heads on it...

I thought the LS2s (if that's what it was) came with their own specific LS2 heads and the LS3s have the same L92 heads as the L98 (I think). :confused: Could be wrong though...... (first time ever - NOT!). :lol:

[HEXEM]

his in the US at the moment...


looked new enough to me... was a temp thing... if u want they will be off the car soon

I'll keep the offer in mind mate... Thanks

[HEXEM]

his in the US at the moment...


looked new enough to me... was a temp thing... if u want they will be off the car soon

Heya Mr_SS-V,

Have you changed them over yet?..

Cheers
Phil

[AussieTone]

I used the E series headers and cats which bolted straight up. If you are just using the headers and your standard cats then the cats need to be modified to fit.

Mine produced no gain by just bolting them on however I think they would have helped with the overall end result once the Edit was done.

Obviously they are not as good as a dedicated set of extractors e.g. Pacemakers etc but I have been told they flow quite well and better than the short cast stock headers. If you get a set for the right price and can't stretch to Paccies etc then I think they are a good way to go.

Cheers

[HEXEM]

Hi AussieTone.

Thanks for the advice mate..

Cheers
Phil

[BlackCalaisVVE]

Are the headers on the LS3 E series HSV different to the ones on the LS2 E series HSV? and if so are they better or worse?

[SV346]

If youre looking at headers, why not just get what you ultimately want 1st, save the hassle of doing it twice, and the extra dollars in the long run... :)
Just keep to the 1 3/4 on the ve's!

[BlackCalaisVVE]

If youre looking at headers, why not just get what you ultimately want 1st, save the hassle of doing it twice, and the extra dollars in the long run... :)
Just keep to the 1 3/4 on the ve's!


Yeah i know but i can pick up headers and cats from my mates Maloo for basically nothing and thought it would be better than nothing and a whole lot cheaper i will also get the tune updated so this would also help gain some more power

[sixlta]

Yeah i know but i can pick up headers and cats from my mates Maloo for basically nothing and thought it would be better than nothing and a whole lot cheaper i will also get the tune updated so this would also help gain some more power


Many people will say don't do it, go the real thing, but i also picked up a set for nothing, Fitted fine to the Ute, no messing around, done in shed off jacks, Ute is better for it, feel a difference without a doubt.

You will have no issue's fitting them if you use the cats from the Hsv as well!
good luck

[NuffNuff]

sixlta, any difference in sound when fitting them?

[sixlta]

sixlta, any difference in sound when fitting them?


Tad quieter, but deeper at low revs

[HEXEM]

I havn't gone any further with getting the headers and cats. I phoned some placed here in the ACT and was quoted $600 + even one place said $1000.

My reply was, for something that you consider 'Crap' you sure charge alot of money for.... Ripping people off comes to mind!!...

I was wanting to get a set that have come off a recently new car to avoid any issues... But my experiance with talking to some of these exhaust shops (ACT and NSW) they just don't sound convincing of the products condition when you ask...

Cheers,
Phil

[Wonky]

I havn't gone any further with getting the headers and cats. I phoned some placed here in the ACT and was quoted $600 + even one place said $1000.

:shock: I paid $400 for mine two years ago when they were very hard to come by and sold them less than a year later for about 3/4 of that. Nowadays when people often pull them off their E series to put Pacies or DFs etc on you should be able to pick them up for next to nothing. If you have to pay more than $150 - $200 max for headers and cats forget it and save up for Pacies or DFs instead. Big gain in power for them over HSV. I and others have picked up around 15rwkw with Pacies and high flow cats over HSV headers and cats.

[SSV8TE]

Allthough the hsv headers are better than stockers they still dont cut it compared to a set of pacies or xforce stepped or any other extractor or header.
The extra cost is well worth the performance gain compared to the hsv headers.
Any tuner can fix any code that may come with the new headers or extractors.
Just my opinion but down the track like most others you will replace the hsv items with brand named exhaust mods so save the bucks and go straight to the top. It will be worth it.
Cheers,

Andy.

[AussieTone]

:shock: I paid $400 for mine two years ago when they were very hard to come by and sold them less than a year later for about 3/4 of that. Nowadays when people often pull them off their E series to put Pacies or DFs etc on you should be able to pick them up for next to nothing. If you have to pay more than $150 - $200 max for headers and cats forget it and save up for Pacies or DFs instead. Big gain in power for them over HSV. I and others have picked up around 15rwkw with Pacies and high flow cats over HSV headers and cats.

Wonky and others who have put extractors on.

What extractors and cats did you fit i.e. try y 'shorties' or full length 4 into 1
Cheers
Tony

[Wonky]

Wonky and others who have put extractors on.

What extractors and cats did you fit i.e. try y 'shorties' or full length 4 into 1
Cheers
Tony

Tony,

I went full length Pacey 4-1 and the Mega cats KPM provide with their full 3" system. I'm sure Mustanger also went Pacey 4-1 but not sure what cats he originally had (he has cooked a few :D)). He picked up 15rwkw too over the HSV set up.

Pic of mine:

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o274/gcovo/Misc/KPM%20Exhaust/Exhaust1.jpg

Gary

[AussieTone]

Gary
Thanks for the info. What did you pick up with your paccies and cats

[ringram]

Gained 40rwhp with just a tune and otrcai and rockers on my HSV E Series, so the exhaust isnt too bad. 270rwkw.

[sixlta]

Gained 40rwhp with just a tune and otrcai and rockers on my HSV E Series, so the exhaust isnt too bad. 270rwkw.


Yeah i reckon they ain't to bad, I noticed a fair difference over the stock cast manifolds on the ss-v, and for the price, cant hurt,
Ain't had the tune tweaked but i would guess it helped Nm

[Wonky]

Gary
Thanks for the info. What did you pick up with your paccies and cats

14rwkw Tony, similar to Mustanger's 15 and someone else I heard picked up about the same.

[AussieTone]

If anyone is chasing a set of these see http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=115157

[HEXEM]

If anyone is chasing a set of these see http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=115157

I'd jump at the chance. But as others have mentioned also if you don't have the hsv cats with them there is a bit of friggin around. I would rather a set that I can just bolt up and go. I personaly do not go to the exhaust shops here as I seem to attract the morons who are not interested in helping you unless you are spending 2 to 3k on a full system (IMO).

Also there is the logistic issue as well... A couple of places in Sydney seemed to be helpful. I might just have to spend a day there looking around.

cheers,

Phil

[AussieTone]

From memory when I had my OEM cats modified to suit the HSV headers on my last car the front pipe on the cats that bolts onto the extractors was cut off near the cat body then shortened and welded at an angle to marry up with the extractors. I don't remember if they also gave this 'new' shortened pipe a bit of a bend or not.

It is very easy for an exhaust shop and relatively inexpensive. It is also possible to do it yourself if you have all the tools (welders etc) but much easier and quicker when the car is on the exhaust fitters hoist. I would think an exhaust shop would charge for around 2 hours labour to fit the extractors and modify the cats. Don't know what they charge down south but around the $200 mark should be close in Brisbane.

At the end of the day it would work out about the third of the price of getting a set of aftermarket extractors supplied and fitted to your OEM cats.

I have also been told by a couple of tuners that the HSV extractors flow quite well for a car with the ‘normal’ bolt on modifications (e.g, extractors, cat back, CAI kit, edit).

[ringram]

Yeah they are 2.5" through to the back and the bends look mandrel from memory. So unless you are over 530fwhp then you probably wont lose too much, except perhaps in against some long tubes. Assuming the mufflers arnt too restrictive etc.
Bolt ons and tune only Id be happy with the stock e series exhaust.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RnfnRC9BuBU/SLrGx5BvHGI/AAAAAAAAAAw/tde3RkB4zRs/s400/IMAGE0015b.jpg

[Number55]

Here is a comparison of the two sets of headers
I installed mine yesterday. I havent done it before and was stoked to get it done myself with basic tools only.
A air driven ratchet would be invaluable. A few hours and a few beers later I am stoked with the result

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/vessvute/P3100879.jpg

[BlackCalaisVVE]

Good pics number55. Can you feel the difference since putting the hsv headers on it, does it feel quicker? sound any different?

[WildBHaviour]

I installed mine about 2 weeks ago and u can notice a difference it might not give you many kw but u do get more torque.
Drivers side was a bit tricky had to undo the steering column and fit them from under the car but apart from that easy replacement.
I recommend this mod if you are on a budget but only if you can find a set with the hsv cats for cheap $$$.
Also not sure if it's true but i think you don't void new car warranty if using genuine hsv parts.

[Number55]

Good pics number55. Can you feel the difference since putting the hsv headers on it, does it feel quicker? sound any different?

Cheers mate as WB says I noticed a small increase in go and sound. You can tell when you can sorta hear it fire more clealy when a care has headers... even when they are this basic


I installed mine about 2 weeks ago and u can notice a difference it might not give you many kw but u do get more torque.
Drivers side was a bit tricky had to undo the steering column and fit them from under the car but apart from that easy replacement.
I recommend this mod if you are on a budget but only if you can find a set with the hsv cats for cheap $$$.
Also not sure if it's true but i think you don't void new car warranty if using genuine hsv parts.

[Wonky]

I recommend this mod if you are on a budget but only if you can find a set with the hsv cats for cheap $$$.
Agree, not worth mucking around paying to get standard cats modified if that's what is required.

Also not sure if it's true but i think you don't void new car warranty if using genuine hsv parts.
Depending on your dealer even using Pacies etc may not void warranty. Warranty would at worst only be voided on the driveline - they can't void your whole warranty!

[sixlta]

Good job number55,
Told ya you would be right, Good to see ya had a go!:goodjob:
Nothing better than doing the job yourself.

[Number55]

Good job number55,
Told ya you would be right, Good to see ya had a go!:goodjob:
Nothing better than doing the job yourself.

Cheers mate

Thanks again for the advice!