headers?
 

I have a 2006 Chevy Monte Carlo SS (5.3L V8) and i was wondering what brand and size headers i should get? Do i need a new cat? Do i need new piping? How much (on average) should my budget be for headers and installation? Thanks.

Pretty sure there's only one option for you, you should be able to bolt up to the stock downpipe I believe. Someone with them will probably chime in.

HEADERS 5.3L LS4 FRONT WHEEL DRIVE HEADER 2005-2009 IMPALA SS/ MONTE CARLO/ GRAND PRIX GXP/ LA CROSS at Doug Thorley Headers dougthorleyheaders.com

$960 for the headers, probably 4-5 hours install time at a shop give or take an hour

To add to this, I literally just installed MagnaFlow's cat-back performance exhaust system (#16727 for the V8) on my '06 SS a few days ago. Installation took me about six hours to do myself with some additional help from a friend. All 2.5" tubing, stainless steel. Cost $830 through Summit Racing with free shipping. Sounds and looks great.

Now for headers. I'd like to go with the pair of Thorley headers, and I've thought about it for some time now, but not really for $960. I don't know how difficult of a job that would be for me to do at home, since I'd rather install them myself if it means A) saving some money and B) having a good time working on my car.

DT headers are our only option. the can be found for 400-500 on other sites used. still not worth it IMO

That's mostly what I've heard. The gains you get with them aren't worth the cost. However they might visually look better than the factory manifolds if also going for appearance.

Digging this thread up from the grave..

Have any other options become available over the years?

OBX came out with their knockoffs at roughly half the price of DTs since this thread was originally made. No idea if they still make them though.

Downside of course being like the DTs, they don't pick up much power. Due to the tight packaging, the tubes are unequal length with some being VERY short. IIRC header gains alone were 10 whp or less at the peak.

Ok Im kinda happy I dont have to bother with them. I dont have any huge plans for the car. Intake, tune, make something unnecessary with the exhaust. Im sure eventually ill dig into the engine a little deeper but nothing like that for now. First thing I want is to figure the most simple way to disable that DOD activate/deactivate horrible-ness. I dont want to pay someone to disable it then decide I want to get HPT.

By intake, do you mean intake manifold? Good bang the buck upgrade since you can use other (relatively undersireable / cheap) stock LS intakes as an upgrade since the stock ls4 is so bad.

Yea thats what Im talking about which brings me to the HPT dilemma. Probably wait until I want to tune myself unless I can find someone to do it for very cheap.