I'm looking to buy a set of LT's, Mid's or shorties, havent decided wich way im going to go yet but dose anyone have any pic from under the truck of LT pacesetter's on a AWD truck. Couldn't find any using the search button, and what is every ones oppinion on which headers to get and how to pass emmisions.

 

I'm very biased towards stainless steel headers. The Pacesetters are mild steel I believe and you can feel the difference in heft immediately. The Pacesetters are good on a budget and make good power. But eventually they will rust out. IMO do it right and go stainless. To pass a sniffer test you will need cats. It really depends how much you want to spend.

 

If your looking for any type of performance gains you'll want Long Tubes. shorties will flow about the same as your stock manifolds so that would really just be a waist of money.
As far as LT's and Emissions go, I know there are a lot of people on here running them and getting by the emissions tests. So they'll just have to post up, or you could try an LT's Emissions thread in the Eastern Section to see if you can get that answered.

 

Let's look at this from another angle. You have the most expensive truck in the entire GM lineup and want to install the cheapest headers available? That doesn't make much sense to me. Spend the extra money for the American Racing Headers or Dynatech, put them on and forget about it. They won't leak or rust out, and you will be happy with your purchase. If you install Pacesetters, they will rust out in a year or two and you will have to do the job over and buy another set of headers. At that point, you should have just bought the stainless steel headers to begin with. On the other side, when you sell your truck, you can remove the stainless headers and sell them on this site or ebay and get about 1/2 or more return on your dollar making the cost of stainless even less. I had a set of Dynatech headers on my Corvette, paid $1400 for them, ran it two years, took them off and put the car back to stock, and sold the headers on the Corvette forum for $1100. Buy stainless headers, you will be glad you did in the long run.

 

I have the Dynatech's on my truck, which is essentially the same as yours. I have never had a leak, nor have I ever had a code pop up for the O2's. I did have mine coated, so that probably helped in the O2 department. The fitment is good; the driver’s side is just a little tight next to the pinion on the front differential on mine. I don't think American Racing Headers make headers for our body style just yet, but if or when they do I'm sure the quality will be excellent as well.

 

If you are concerned with emmisions then go Dynatech. I have the Dynatech LT and High Flow Cat package on my SSS, and I have zero problems with NY emissions. Because all '96+ vehicles are an ODB read and visual inspection, my truck passes no problem. Even though I am RWD, I know of several AWD SSS's running the Dynatech kit and don't know of any fitment issues.....

 

Also thought about OBX headers (old style dynatech) but wondering how hard the hump in the driver side header makes it when changing spark plugs?

 

It's not a big deal. Pretty easy actually. The last spark plug on the driver's side is best put in from underneath. But there's no problem with accessing the spark plugs with the socket.

 

Thanks, these are stainless headers without any coating is it better to get them coated or leave them the way they are?

 

Leave them how they are. I notice no increase underhood temps than stock and they look much better than coated headers imo