The factory exhaust manifolds on your C5 Corvette are leaving power on the table. This complete full kit pairs Speed Engineering's 1-7/8" longtube headers with a 3" off-road X-pipe that connects directly to the existing axle-back location — replacing the restrictive factory exhaust manifolds and mid-pipes with a free-flowing stainless system engineered for maximum horsepower gains, aggressive exhaust tone, and great ground clearance for lowered builds. Dyno proven to deliver over 25 rear-wheel horsepower over stock. Covers both the standard C5 (LS1) and the C5 Z06 (LS6).
Built from 304 natural stainless steel with mandrel-bent primary tubes, merge spikes, CNC-machined flanges, and full TIG-welded construction.
⚠️ Important Notes:
- Rear downstream O₂ sensors are not used — a check engine light for catalyst efficiency will appear and must be disabled via PCM tuning
- O₂ extensions vary by year — select your year at checkout:
- 1997–2003: Flat O₂ extensions
- 2004: Square O₂ extensions
- Requires 2001–2004 oil dipstick tube for proper installation
Kit Includes:
- 1 Pair of 1-7/8" Stainless Longtube Headers
- 1 Three-inch Off-Road X-Pipe / Connection Pipe
- 1 Set of Zinc-Coated Header Bolts (upgrade to stainless ARP bolts available at checkout)
- 2 MLS Exhaust Gaskets
- O₂ Extension Harnesses (flat or square — select your year at checkout)
Optional: Speed Engineering LS Spark Plug Wires and Plug Wire Fire Sleeves can be added at the time of purchase.
Features:
- Full 1-7/8" Primary Tubes with Merge Spike — Maximum flow from cylinder head to collector for aggressive LS1/LS6 performance
- 3" Collector — Optimized for strong low-to-mid RPM torque
- Mandrel Bent Tubing — Consistent tube diameter through every bend; no crimping, no restriction
- CNC Machined Flanges — Precision fit at the head and collector for a leak-free seal
- 304 Natural Stainless Steel Construction — Corrosion resistant, heat tolerant, and built to last
- Improved Ground Clearance Over Competitors — Engineered for excellent clearance on lowered C5 builds
- Longtube Header Design — Maximum scavenging efficiency vs. shorty or mid-length headers
- Standard Graphite Manifold Gaskets Included
- Dyno Proven — 25+ RWHP gain on C5 Corvette applications
- Compatible with 5.7L LS1 and LS6 Engines
Vehicle Applications:
Chevrolet C5 Corvette — LS1 5.7L
- 1997 Chevrolet Corvette C5 (RWD) — 5.7L LS1
- 1998 Chevrolet Corvette C5 (RWD) — 5.7L LS1
- 1999 Chevrolet Corvette C5 (RWD) — 5.7L LS1
- 2000 Chevrolet Corvette C5 (RWD) — 5.7L LS1
- 2001 Chevrolet Corvette C5 (RWD) — 5.7L LS1
- 2002 Chevrolet Corvette C5 (RWD) — 5.7L LS1
- 2003 Chevrolet Corvette C5 (RWD) — 5.7L LS1
- 2004 Chevrolet Corvette C5 (RWD) — 5.7L LS1
Chevrolet C5 Corvette Z06 — LS6 5.7L
- 2001 Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06 (RWD) — 5.7L LS6
- 2002 Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06 (RWD) — 5.7L LS6
- 2003 Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06 (RWD) — 5.7L LS6
- 2004 Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06 (RWD) — 5.7L LS6
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Which O₂ extensions do I need? O₂ extension harnesses vary by model year. 1997–2003 C5 Corvettes use flat O₂ extensions. 2004 C5 Corvettes use square O₂ extensions. Select your model year at checkout to ensure the correct harnesses are included.
Q: What is the oil dipstick tube requirement? These headers require the use of the 2001–2004 style oil dipstick tube for proper installation.
Q: Will I get a check engine light after installing this kit? Yes. The rear downstream O₂ sensors are not used with this system, which will trigger a catalyst efficiency code. This must be resolved through PCM tuning and cannot be cleared by simply resetting the ECU.
Q: Does this kit fit the C5 Z06? Yes. This kit fits both the standard C5 Corvette (LS1) and the C5 Z06 (LS6) from 2001–2004.
Q: Are these headers good for lowered C5 builds? Yes. Speed Engineering engineered these headers with improved ground clearance over competitors, making them an excellent choice for lowered C5 builds.
Q: What is included in this kit? The kit includes a pair of 1-7/8" stainless longtube headers, a 3" off-road X-pipe, two MLS exhaust gaskets, zinc-coated header bolts, and O₂ extension harnesses. An upgrade to stainless ARP bolts is available at checkout. Speed Engineering LS spark plug wires and plug wire fire sleeves can also be added at the time of purchase.
Q: How much horsepower does this kit add? Speed Engineering's 1-7/8" longtube headers are dyno proven to add over 25 rear-wheel horsepower on C5 Corvette LS1 and LS6 applications compared to stock exhaust manifolds.
Q: What material are these headers made from? 304 natural stainless steel with full TIG-welded construction, CNC-machined flanges, and merge spikes.
Q: Are these headers street legal? No. These are race-only headers intended for closed-course competition use only. Installation on a street-driven vehicle may violate the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7522(a)(3)).
