I realize that there has been countless threads on this subject, but I couldn't really narrow any down that provides the info I need. Is there any links to header guides floating around describing the brands and fitment of these headers i.e. install guides. What im really concerned with is clearance and the ease of installing, and being able to reach the spark plugs without having to take the headers off. I will also have to get a computer tune correct?

I'm really confused with the whole y pipe setup with dual cats on my car. I'd like to retain all my emissions keeping my comp. happy in the process.

the Arizona speed and marine ceramic shorty headers with the dual cat y-pipe looks kind of what I'm looking for, however I'm not to enthused about shorties. I just need some good pointers on this so I don't break the bank or end up messing up by going with something I'll end up replacing in a couple months. Any info is highly appreaciated.

Thanks!

 

It depends on future goal of the car, as to what type header you get.

I am one of the few that run shorties on my car on the forum apparently . It made a big difference while retaining the factory piping and cats for our oddball 96-97 dual cat setup. A lot will say that shorties suck and this and that, but how many have actually put a set on their car?

The next in line is mids, which can also retain factory setup from what I understand. ( dont see how they can be any longer if they hookup in the same locations however). These will retain your cats.

Long tubes are considered the best by most. but you will lose some ground clearance, and you will have to have cats welded in on a y pipe to retain them. If you dont need your cats, then you can use the offroad y pipe that has no cats. (the reason you need another y pipe instead of the factory one is that the long tubes meet further down on the exhaust)

You dont need a tune with headers, but a tune is good for the car period.

So all of this being said, it depends on what your doing with the car. If your keeping emissions, then you want to make sure to get headers with fittings.

 

for midlength headers - MACs are the best bang for the buck
Long Tube - pacesetters

 

are the pacesetter long tubes smaller then the hookers? you actually do need a tune if you get off road headers with out egr and air, because u will throw an ses light without them.

You have a 96 obd2 car, you dont need to run cats to pass smog, just a plug in test, i would get long tubes without air and egr, and get a cheap pcm4less tune to shut the ses off, youll be much happier, and they arent much more money then mids. you can get pacesetter headers, with y for 499 shipped from a vender on ls1tech

 

I have the egr delete kit on the shelf. I haven't really figured out about removing all the emissions stuff if I wanted. My car would probably would be better off retaining all emissions stuff the way I see it. How hard is it to to convert from obdII to obdI? I've heard the obdI is probably the better bet when it comes to tuning.

Also doesn't the pacesetter LT's sit better under the car than hookers?

 

My car has the Random Technology (AS & M) shorties, and I'll tell you, I hate them . They were a pain to install (harder than most longubes), plug access sucks, and the y-pipe (I have the 93-95 style with a Random dual cat y-pipe) hangs too low and is always hitting something. After about two years of use, the cats had guted themselves!

I'm planning to go with logtubes (probably pacesetters) soon.

To convert to OBD1, you just need a 94-95 computer and knock sensor. Thats what I did.

 

pacesetter headers tuck up quite well. I ran cats behind them with no clearance problems a for a few months before i took them back out. I even cleared a floor hoist with it.

 

You still have to pass the visual.

 

Use to be hooker Lt's before the pacesetter LT's came out...either of those are inexpensive

 

I went with hookers. There a name that I trust. The headers fit well and are a heck of alot better to change plugs with then the stock manifolds. If you need emissions go shorties or mids. No emissions go long tube race headers.

~Jim~

 

I run Pacestter shorties on my 94 Z and I'm happy with them. Plugs changes aren't much better than stock though. Just my .02.

Garry

 

You can get emissions style long tubes that still have the AIR and EGR fittings so you can keep those systems intact. However, due to the off-road y-pipe, you won't be able to use cats and will require tuning. With the Pacesetter long tubes for example, they are cheap, clearance is top notch, and spark plug access is very good.