The Engineering Advantage: Rigorous Independent Validation

At Ultimate Headers, we refuse to rely on anecdotal claims. We have undertaken a comprehensive, ongoing testing program utilizing independent, third-party engine testing facilities to objectively determine the effectiveness and efficiency of our proprietary designs.

Comparative Dynamometer Analysis

In February 2013, we conducted a series of baseline tests at the highly regarded Katech, Inc. engineering facility in Clinton Township, Michigan. Using a 427 cu in LS7 engine, we performed back-to-back-to-back comparisons against several industry benchmarks: the LS3 cast iron manifold, the GM Corvette Z06 hydro-formed stainless steel manifold, and Katech’s own “house” long-tube step headers.

The results demonstrated the engineering caliber of the Ultimate Headers design:

• Superiority Over Cast Iron: Our LS Swap Header design outperformed the stock GM LS3 cast iron manifold by a significant margin in both torque and power output throughout the entire RPM range.

• Outperforming Production Innovation: The GM Z06 manifold is widely considered General Motors’ most innovative, high-performance, emissions-legal exhaust to date. Our LS Swap Header closely matched the Z06 manifold’s performance up to 3750 RPM, and surpassed it thereafter with gains of +18 horsepower and +10 ft-lb of torque.

   

• The Compact Header Solution: While our short-tube design faced the expected torque and power gap against long-tube step headers below 4000 RPM, it caught up quickly. By 4000 RPM, the Ultimate Headers LS Swap design matched the power and torque curves of the long-tube headers all the way to 6500 RPM.

This data is crucial for professional builders and enthusiasts; where the physical constraints of an LS engine swap often make long-tube headers impossible to install, Ultimate Headers provides a precision-engineered solution that delivers uncompromised performance.

Our Commitment to Continuous Improvement

We recognize that lab results are only the beginning. Ultimate Headers is committed to ongoing dyno testing to ensure our products deliver the necessary muscle to the street and the track. Our testing roadmap includes upcoming chassis dynamometer evaluations to analyze how our headers perform under simulated, real-world vehicle operating conditions.