I have a lt1 with 122 k miles on it and i wanted to put headers on there but i did not not no which i should put on? i was told to put long tube headers and a y pipe? i have flow masters on there now. If i put long tube headers on there and a y pipe will everything be good?

 

a catted y pipe if u need to pass emissions or are pro environment. long tube headers will leave u with less ground clearance but are the best to produce hp and i think they sound way better. pacesetters are good kooks are the best but are costly, ill have a 1700 into mine after jet hot coating on the headers and catted y pipe.

 

soo long tube headers and y pipe just take off the cat?

 

the y pipes will come with cats or not. most if not all y pipes will come to the cat back exhaust or were the cat hooks into the exhaust so if u want to keep the car legal for emmisions u need catted y pipe if not u get the non catted y pipe.

 

thanks alot bro

 

will i be running a service engine light or no?

 

im not sure on the 94 where the 02 sensors are. if u have 02 sensors before and after the cats then u will have a ses light if u dont have cats. computer will think the cat s arent working and thow a code.

 

ok for sure.. so is there a difference in horsepower and sound with the catted y pipe than the non catted y pipe? if i have the catted y pipe i wont have the light correct?

 

a cat will rob a little horsepower over a car without one...but if you have to pass emissions then you have no choice. i'm a little tired from working out but i'm pretty sure a 94 only has one cat on it since it should be obd1...someone correct me if i'm wrong, lol

 

Yes, the factory '94 Z28 has one cat.

If your car gets emissions tested, but you don't have to worry about super strict visual emissions inspections, then you can get away with long tubes and a catted Y-pipe. If you live somewhere that doesn't require emissions, you can probably get away with anything that doesn't violate a noise ordinance or road side inspections (if they have them where you are).

If you need/want your car to be completely legal, you cannot put long tube headers on your car even with a catted Y-pipe. The EPA forbids the modification of a factory exhaust in any way that forces you to change the location of the cat, the number of cats, or the number of inlets/outlets of teh cats (among other things). However, this law is only enforced in certain places (for now at least).

That being said, there's a wealth of knowledge on this forum about long tubes vs mids vs shorties, which brands are best for the price, etc.