I have hit 1000 Miles on my 383 Stroker. I just purchased a 58mm TB and am looking to port my Intake Manifold. I also just installed a tranny cooler. I cant think of any thing else that is not in my sig. The guy who tuned my car told me that I should upgrade my Manifold TB and get headers before I bring it back for the dyno tune. I have come to the bottum of my pocket here and I dono if I really want to buy headers right now. Are headers going to be something that is really important and is a must for me or is it something that will add a couple horses. FYI I need to keep cats for emmisions too.

Thanks.

 

Wow, you're running that combo on stock manifolds? It is def. holding you back...that's for sure.

 

Headers will give you a hell of a lot more power. You should wait til you have them before you tune for optimum performance. It's my guess that the cost of some shortie headers (emissions legal) can be purchased, used off this site for not much more than a full dyno tune will cost you.

JMHO

 

Jesus, you might see more than a full second in the 1/4 mile with headers alone!

 

Well thats good to hear. I havent been concerned about it yet since i havent tuned the car yet. I was thinking about the shortie headers my self since they work with the emissions stuff and they seem cheaper. Can I still see good performace with them? What shortie headers would you recomend?

 

Do you have to pass for emissions? If not get long tubes.

 

How picky are they about inspection where you live? Shorties aren't going to flow that much better than stock manifolds, so if you can get away with longtubes and a pair of cats, I'd definately go that route.

 

You'll need the tune for the bigger throttle body, but not so much for the headers. Having the PCM tuned for headers has shown a small improvement in gains though. A tune will be more needed depending if you get non-emissions style headers.

 

Shorty headers WILL NOT be a good choice; whth shorties you might see 15 hp, with LTs 40+. Shorty headers WILL choke that combo. But you are correct that long tubes have emissions problems (visual check) and are VERY expensive when equipped with cats. With the 383 and decent heads, really you need to consider the Kooks stepped headers... and yeah, new you are looking at 1500 bucks with catted Y-pipe. But they are stainless, they fit better than just about any other Lt1 header, and they will let that setup breathe. Used, you might have to shop a while to find a good deal, but they hold up well.

Sorry, gotta say it: gotta pay to play!

But seriously... you've spent big bucks on the engine combo you have, and if you don't do long tube headers, you'll be leaving a LOT of power on the table, and will come nowhere near achieving to potential of the combo. Shorty headers are really NOT the solution; I've been there and done that, and while they were marginally better than the stock manifolds, they were a serious restriction compared to long tubes.

 

So shorties are out and long tube headers are in. What would be some more economically efficient long tube headers that can allow the emissions stuff like EGR and cats.

I have no idea how strict they are on the inspection. I dont know what they are look for lol. I know they look under the car for the position of the cats because I think they are suppost to be so close to the engine or what ever. I live in Brighton Colorado so if any one knows what they are looking for out here please share.

Also who else thinks that it will be ok to tune my car b4 purchasing the headers? I now know I need them, but are they necessary for the tune?

 

Long tubes will hang lower than the car. I have long tubes on my car and you can see them hanging underneath the car, speed bumps will become a problem! If you do decide to get longtubes make sure to go over speed bumps slowly and at an angle to prevent from bottoming out. But I'm agreeing with the other posts shorties will essentially be worthless for your combo, I'd go for the long tubes or at least mid lengths. Yes you can get them with all the emissions fittings as well.

 

If they do inspections like that, I would be careful what you choose as your setup. Maybe you ought to look into mid-lengths, they are a very good compromise between long tubes and shorties and you can retain a "stock style" y-pipe.

 

If you're looking at the price get Pacesetter LT's, if money isn't an issue get the Kooks!

and if you just want a in-between header there's the: Hooker, Dynatech, Jet Hot

 

So if I use midlength what cats can be used with? What midlengths would be recomended?

 

MAC mids are the popular choice. I think they offer their own catted y-pipes as well.