Just curious? Are shorty headers worth the money and install time? My friend got some and he thinks his car is hot **** now.

 

Supposedly they are almost no better thanthe stock exhaust manifolds

 

It depends, if you HAVE to stay smog legal then thats the really only way to go. I have seen some pick up as much as 8-12hp range. About the same as a lid. However, LT's add about 15-20 so in the end its up to you.

 

depends on the car to some degree

the manifolds that came on the 01/02 models were better than previous years. and therefor the gains are very minimal.

either way you are probably gonna see 10hp at best from shorty headers assuming you keep the stock Ypipe.

if you mate the shorties with an offroad pipe with bigger tubing and bigger collector...you may see more.

but hands down LTs are the way to go for the cost. if clearance is an issue at least get mids...they are only marginally worse than LTs.

but i suppose if you HAVE to stay emissions legal, and you wanna squeeze every possible hp out...they would work :blah:

 

what's "marginally"?
any numbers?

 

Not worth it, especially when I've seen long tube headers cheaper than shorty headers

 

About a 10hp increase over stock with shorties. Unless you're in Cali, they arn't worth it.

 

I have to agree,I've read 3 different articles that say shorties aren't worth the money,time & trouble over stock.The stock flows half decent & you won't even be able to tell the difference btwn shorties & stock,best to go with long tubes if you're gonna do it

 

AFAIK, it's actually '00-'02 models that got the better exhaust manifolds.

 

bowtie...

that is very possible...i don't know about 00 specifically. maybe someone else can chime in.

"marginally" would mean 1-3hp difference.

and realize that different design headers yield power in different places. some headers will help boost low end. meaning they may gain you 10hp at 3000rpms, and only 12hp at 6000rpms.

but another design would yield 5hp at 3000rpms but 15hp at 6000.

so tests done between Mids and LTs that resulted in a "nearly identical gains" may be taking this into account. one may get slightly more peak power, but the other may increase power through the entire rpm band.

 

and realize, if you put one type...even one brand...of header on 10 different cars, all bone stock or with the same bolt ons, you will probably get 10 different hp gains.

each car reacts slightly different.

so to say "oh i put mids on and only picked up 10hp, when my buddy installed LTs and got 20hp" is kindda pointless. over the years on this board i've seen guys dyno before and after doing LT and offroad pipe installs and only getting 15hp...but everyone "claims" they are good for 20-30hp.

 

a 98-99 would see better gains with shorties than a 00-02, but every pony counts. Shorties with an off road y pipe might be ok.

 

Shorties are a good option---- for me to poop on.

unless you live in california, they're not worth it.