I am looking into getting shorties for my z, I did some research and I know everyone is gonna tell me to get long tube headers. The thing is from what I read the long tube headers are pain to install, more expensive, issue with ground clearance and I will have to get another y-pipe to make it work. For those reasons I am looking into shorties.

So, what gains can I see from going from manifolds to shorties, or should I just get LTH or nothing?

 

To get meaningfull answers, you need to provide basic info about your car - year, model, engine, trans and any major mods.

Why not add that info to your "signature"?

 

With cold air, mail order tune, short tube SLP headers and Borla cat back I was even with a stock 6 speed LS1.

I went to the drag strip with my Short tube SLP's and cc305 cam and ran 106mph in the winter. I later added Jet hot long tubes. This was the only mod. And ran 108mph on a summer day.

The SLP's are the only ones emission legal and have the largest primaries. They area also stainless steel.

If you have only bolt ons on the car I think mac would be a good less expensive choice but the best shorties will probably be the SLP and ASM

hope this post makes sense because I'm drunk right now

 

Gains with shorty headers...around 5-15 HP. I noticed a little bit better performance since I've got shorty headers on my car, but if I could magically pass smog in California with long tube headers I'd have a set on my car before the end of the year! If running long tube headers is a option you can pass you smog test with, get long tubes! There worth the extra effort, and money even if your looking at kooks and ARH. The older style SLP long tube headers (for the LS1)are probably what you heard about with having ground clearance issues. Otherwise if you still feel that shorty header are your best option then get them.

 

my Jet hot long tubes are the lowest part of the car. The Long tube flange that connects to the y-pipe is the lowest part on the car. My car isn't lowered but does have RS ground effects. I sometimes hit that flange when going over high speed bumps with a 2nd person in the car.

But the extra power is well worth the trade off.

 

Good point. Just did it.


BTW, emission is not an issue. I live in Canada and we don't test that here, so far sure there was talk about few years ago but still nothing.

 

For good power AND ground clearance get some midlength headers. Try to find some that come with a Y-pipe, are coated, and have 3/4" primaries.

 

Typically people go with shortys only for emissions. However there are some, like myself that have a car that is lowered too much for a aftermarket y pipe.

 

If you can swing it, at least get the 1 3/4 primary mid-lenghts. I have the Pacesetter LTs and y-pipe because of being lowered and they fit pretty well.

 

I didn't even know there is such a thing, I tought that there is only short and long tube headers. LOL. Is there groung clearance issuse with those and what brand name should I go with.


BTW, you got one fast a** car dude.

 

AS&M makes excellent mid-length headers for the LT1. I've seen them make more HP than the Hooker long tubes, in a dyno comparison on an LT1 making about 800HP. Test was run at 5,000rpm and above, since that's where the engine operated all the way down the track. When the owner eventually decided to switch headers, I picked the (modified to eliminate the Y-pipe) AS&M's up for $175. Still using them at the 800HP level.

 

Thanks, I'll look into those.

 

Whatever you buy, mids or LTs make sure to get them coated. It doesn't last forever but it does help for a while. Mines not a DD and the coating still looks great.

 

Not to hijack the thread, but is there a power range or some other way to decide when it's not worth it to use shortys? I'm rebuilding with Elliot's LE2 package, 1.6 ProMags, 224/230 cam, and a .3 overbore. I was going to use BBK shortys, but will these be a restriction at that point? My only goal is 400-450 NA, don't ever want NOS or SC/TC.

 

If you don't have emissions testing to deal with (like me) I went with Kooks (coated) long tubes 3" Y pipe and I have great ground clearance on my stock height car. You'll get the most power/torque if you can go to the long tubes.