I've search llots of threads, and read lots. From what I gather, LT's are longer and have equal lenght primaries, shorties are the stock lenght and have unequal lenght primaries.

With equal length you can run true duals without a cross pipe as there isnt as much scavanging with the equal lenght as the unequal length.

Lts are MUCH harder to install from what I have read.


From what I have read I dont see why anyone would use shorties with the exception of ease of install, and its still not that easy.

I know I'm missing information, so please help me and tell me the difference between the two.

And what the coatings do? do they just keep the heat out of the engine bay better??

 

Generally the LT's will make more torque. They sound better also.

The coating helps keep the engine bay cool as you mentioned and some will even say it increases power.

 

Many people have to use shorties for emmissions reasons. Some states say the cats can not be relocated, ect. Another reason is cost... although a quality set of 1 and 3/4 coated shorties are only $100 or so cheaper than longtubes... there is also the "Y" pipe to consider. Shorties bolt up to the existing "Y" pipe, where as a custom or aftermarket "Y" pipe is required with longtubes... which adds another couple hundred bucks to the total bill.

Install on both shorties or long tubes will be a pain... so I wouldn't let that be a deciding factor.

I started out with SLP shorties on my '97. Later, after more mods ended up needing to upgrade to longtubes. Looking back, I really wish I would have done it "right" the first time. Seems every time I try to save a few bucks it comes back to bite me in the *** later.

When emissions testing is not a concern, I generally advise to go ahead and "bite the bullet" and do the longtubes.

Best of luck.

 

actually shorties make more torque than lt's,,but lt's are better high end. i gained an incredible amount of power from my lts.

 

I really think its a myth shorties make more torque. A lot of guys agree that LTs are just better all around. LTs make more power everywhere including down low IMO

Bryan

 

The 2 biggest differences are that LT's make more power in BOTH HP and TQ, and that most LT's are not emmisions legal if that is an issue where you live. Shorties make good power too though. Like stated before, they are both a pain to install so don't let that be a deciding factor. If emisions are not a factor, and you only want to install headers once, go ahead and get the LT's. Alot of people start with shorties, only to want to change to the LT's later.

 

You guys may find this interesting:

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...hreadid=191577

By the way the 94-95 Style SLP headers are more like Mid-Length then shorties.


Thx,
Claude

 

http://www.grapeaperacing.com/GrapeA...ustheaders.cfm

This explains it pretty well.

 

Shorties and LT's are both good. LT's are more work but you can get about 10-15hp over the Shorties that can maybe get you 20-35hp depending upon make. It's not really about what you perfer it's about budget. LT's average for 600.00..not including Y another 150-200. soo almost 700-800hundred for 15more HP or so. Vs. The Short tubes that usually come with Y included at half that price. Shorties aren't really stock height...that's the myth. If you look at most short tubes you'll see allot of the pipes are twisted. They're pretty long, they just fit snuggly in the stock position. Lt's are plain stretched out and drape downwards no amazing Pipemaze. Clearance are issues on LT cars. So if your car is lowered they may not be for you. Shorties are better for lowered cars. Performance wise LT's are the way to go. But for $$$ to performance + convenience shorties are the choice.

 

Heatmaker...my car sits REALLY low! The only problem that I have is that my collector flanges scrape when I pull in and out of my garage, and that's not really a big deal. Check out the pics of the y and ride height in my sig.

 

Yeah, your car is pretty low...looks about as low low as my Z. But even my stock pipes have dents on them from scrapping...oil pan looks like it just came back from Baghdad..but I guess it depends on what brand of long tubes you have too.

 

Thats the main reason i went with the SLP shorties. I love the look of my car lowered and wouldn't change it for anything. I already scraped witht the stock exhaust w/cat backs. I figure my car isnt strictly for the track so looks play apart. I just went and beefed up other stuff and got the hp elsewhere.