Thread: Headers on N/A cars

ok whoever has the speed daddy headers on their l36/l26 engines let me know how you feel about them, or if anyone has data to back up that they help, cause im debating on getting them.

ZZP says that they are very overkill for my setup and N/A engines.

This is my setup currently

2006 3.8 SERIES 3 L26
HV3 insert
Northstar 77mm Throttle Body
CAI
ubend/cat/resonator delete
ZZP PCM
TB spacer
Underdrive waterpump pulley
Overdrive alternator pulley

do it, i have SLP knockoffs on my N/A and yes you lose a little low end torque but i feel it makes city driving smoother. and the high end pull you get is nice on the highways for sure

I'll tell whats overkill Deff...is that TB. Some guys with blower setups dont even use a TB that big...your MAF tables have got to be all over the place especially if it is just a canned ZZP Tune. Get a custom tune...with ER Rockers or a Cam and a Ported L36 TB or even a L67 TB...but ya...N* no WAY. THEN...get the headers...are you saying though with all your mods you NO exhaust work? That GT has to have as much knock as a 3.4" pulley on a bone stock GTP.

Edited for a thought...isn't your car Drive BY Wire electronic TB? How are you running a TB Spacer, N*, and had the U-Bend Deleted?

Originally Posted by bluegtp91

Edited for a thought...isn't your car Drive BY Wire electronic TB? How are you running a TB Spacer, N*, and had the U-Bend Deleted?

According to his sig, the car's a 98, just the motor's a 2006. I completely agree that the N* is beyond ridiculous for that setup. Probably hurting more than helping.

i like my speed daddy's...it was a noticeable difference to me...i don't regret it at all...

Originally Posted by Scimmia

According to his sig, the car's a 98, just the motor's a 2006. I completely agree that the N* is beyond ridiculous for that setup. Probably hurting more than helping.

Ahhh, I gotcha. I was like I didn't think the DBW was supported with an aftermarket TB

never had them, but i thought they would be a waste of money for a L36. Just get a bigger downpipe and maybe port your manifolds. IMO you really don't need headers on an n/a setup unless your cammed.

wouldn't it be better to invest on a top swap first instead of all those mods?

yes it would

hv3 + er rockers + hvtb+ wizair + tune + every gt mod known to man still gets beat by a stock GTP

im not trying to go for lots of power, im just trying to get a reliable, daily driver, with a little pep to it. I've got a kid on the way so im not going to dump a bunch of money into it and get cammed or top swapped.

The reason I chose an L26 is because it had low mileage and was a great deal.

I am on a budget, like everyone else.

So it looks like this is the route I'm going. any other advice?

2006 L26
HV3 insert
TB 1/2 spacer
ZZP Stage 1 L67 TB
CAI
UBEND/CAT/RESONATOR Delete

plus maybe the speed daddy headers
ZZP PCM

Originally Posted by GOINDEF

So it looks like this is the route I'm going. any other advice?

2006 L26
HV3 insert
TB 1/2 spacer
ZZP Stage 1 L67 TB
CAI
UBEND/CAT/RESONATOR Delete

plus maybe the speed daddy headers
ZZP PCM

Yeah umm....

1. you really dont need a TB spacer
2. you really dont need a different TB
3. dont do a CAI, just stick a cone on the TB and your good to go, its cheaper and you dont have to have the pipeing clogging up the engine compartment.
4. maybe keep the cat and res, or just replace with a glasspack. I think it might sound a little raspy without the cat and res. and if you remove the cat you have to spend more money on dummy censors and or tune it out so it dont throw a code.

1. you really dont need a TB spacer
2. you really dont need a different TB
3. dont do a CAI, just stick a cone on the TB and your good to go, its cheaper and you dont have to have the pipeing clogging up the engine compartment.

yes, you don't need a tb spacer. I had one, and removed it. I learned that some coolant flows in and then out of the TB to back into the rear head. If you block this passage, you can get some heat spikes in cylinder 5 i think it is.

and yes you DO want to do a CAI. On your setup, you aren't pushing enough hp or any boost to want to run an open cone sucking in all kinds of heat. I would never do this on a daily driver. You want to suck in cool air. I can guarantee you that you will get some serious knock running an open cone on your N/A GT in the summer. My favorite CAI was the Wizair. I had a homemade CAI as well that looked good and worked great. I now have a stock airbox all gutted out with a K&N filter and it works just as great, just not as flashy

well this isn't my first rodeo.

I am going with a different TB cause i've experienced the difference and as well as the TB spacer works great for cooling down the incoming air temps as well as stopping the TB from getting heat soaked. Unless it's an L26 specific problem with #5 cylinder getting heat spikes then i dont see a problem.


TRUST me my exhaust sounds amazing for an N/A GT with no cat/ubend/resonator and aftermarket mufflers, and I do have the 02 simulator.

I agree with the no cone on TB setup. I had it setup like that before, its ok, but like it was stated, you suck in ALL the hot air in the engine bay. Right now I have a custom CAI setup with my hood scoops providing 70% of the cold air.

warbeaver it looks like you did the same swap that im going to be doing. did your a/c pump and bracket as well as the power steering pump from the l36 fit on the 26

ZZP's stage blahblah TB's blow ass because they don't get the blade to sit right when they ship them out after porting them. Have Reptile port you one or hog it out yourself. Save yourself the possible headache and buy a DHP PCM too...skip ZZP's crap. And even more x1,000,000 on the open cone...your no where NEAR the mod level to need one...even an N/A car with heads and a cam I'd want the colest air possible...stick the filter in that little opening on the right side of the fender. Also...for the last damn time...NO SPACER.

well so far the zzp pcm i have hasnt done any bad for me and it works great, so im going to stick with it. i know all about the open cone and all that. but like i said i have a cold air setup with my hood scoops.


Why is everyone against the spacers?? they work, its proven. It prevents the TB from being heat soaked which then prevents the incoming air temps from getting even hotter.

Ya...and it blocks the rear head from getting coolant...which creates hot spots in the head...it sure is AWESOME!

its a proven fact that it blocks the coolant from the rear head?

because from what i've seen it didnt appear that the little bit of coolant that dips into and then out of the bottom of the TB is a directed route to the rear head after it leaves the TB

it goes directly to the rear head from the throttle body. if you block the ports, you need to accomodate it elsewhere.

warbeaver it looks like you did the same swap that im going to be doing. did your a/c pump and bracket as well as the power steering pump from the l36 fit on the 26

i didnt do an l26 swap.