Should i get full length or shorty headers for an L98? I don't see too many thirdens with full lengths, but that not necessarily a bad thing. I know all of the LS1 guys are running full lengths. Whats the advantages/disadvantages? thanx

I'm curious too, i think the shorties need the Y-pipe? I dont know maybe the y-pipe comes with the long tubes and not the shorties, maybe thats the difference. But hey alot more people who know more, just guessing, correct me if i'm wrong guys.

I just bought a set of Shorty Hedders, and the reason is this:
From what I understood from reading the descriptions of the Shorties and Full Length Headers on Jegs' website, the Shorties utilize the Y-Pipe, going into the single exhaust to the back. And the Full Length's are for dual exhaust.

I could be wrong, but this is what I understood from the descriptions, therefore I went with the shorties, since I didn't want to have to have a full custom exhaust rigged = lot's more $$$ I didn't want to spend (plus I already have a new full 3" exhaust ).

Hope this helps. Anyone that has any other info, I can be corrected...

Later
-Ben

Damn that does help thanks man. Shorties it is then

One word of advice....I forgot to mention, If you purchase the Shorties, you are going to need a new Y-Pipe, more than likely. I know that you can buy the matching Y-Pipe for the headers according to the brande, but I'm not quite sure that it matches up to the cat. You would have to find this out on your own....
As for me, I have no cat, so I just had a custom Y-Pipe fabricated all the way back to the I-Pipe.
There are always hidden costs, so I thought I might warn you ahead of time!
Good luck.

If you buy shorties made for an 82-92 fbody, chances are they will come with a Y-Pipe that will work.

Longtubes on the other hand typically dont come with a Y-pipe that will work because people typically run true duals with Longtubes. Although you do not have to run true duals, there are places that will make a custom Y-pipe that will fit your application if you so choose to run the long tubes. Maybe contact your local exhaust shop and or Mufflex, I'm almost positive that Mufflex makes a y-pipe for Hooker LTs that will fit on a thirdgen.

http://exit3.i-55.com/~davidlt/exhaust.htm

Sweet info guys. And by not working with the cat, do u mean pipe diameter doesnt fit, or the actually pipe doesnt meet exactly where the cat is?

I hope Y-pipe comes with them, i'll look into it after work. Whats the typical price for getting a custom Y-pipe at a muffler shop?

Sometimes they include y-pipe, sometimes they don't. Hooker has shorties with y-pipe and another set without. Hedman makes shorties for which you can buy the y-pipe separately, also sells a set which includes the same y-pipe. SLP makes different sets, which can come with y-pipe, but you also need an "install kit" to complete the job. You have to know what you're getting - ask questions, don't assume anything.

There are also different listings due to the year and model car you have. Looks like those asking the questions have '86-'91 TPI, which is good because that is the best single-cat system out there. What really is different is the y-pipe, because GM changed the mounting at the inlet with various applications, but the above range is a 3" slip-fit inlet cat. If you have dual cats, your choices are more limited.

You should also be ready to answer questions about "A.I.R." and "O2".

From what people have related here, getting a custom made y-pipe is typically more expensive than buying a y-pipe made for your headers. The only exceptions seem to be people who "know somebody". Also, quality doesn't seem to be as good (generally speaking) as ready-made y-pipes tend to be.

If you get headers, you must get a y pipe too.

I'd just go with shorties.

Not unless your running straight headers

If you want the easy and cheaper road, your best bet is shorties sold with the Y-pipe. On the other hand, LT are probably going to make better power than shorties. Definately do your homework.

In fact what I"ve been doing is purchasing everything I need to do either the shorties and or the Long Tubes. I'm probably going to put the shorties on, then gather everything for the long tubes, then take the car to the dyno when its all tuned up, dyno it, then take some time and do the Long Tubes then dyno it again and see what kind of difference I get. Along with that I'm going to weigh in the fact that my car is lowered and weither or not ground clearance will be an issue. Supposedly its not an issue, but we shall see

On another note, you DO NOT NEED to buy SLP's install kit. Just buy the headers and Y-Pipe, you can go to any parts store and pick up the pieces to complete the install for a lot less money than there install kit.

A custom y-pipe is definitely more expensive than buying one with the headers. Mufflex charged me $320 for a custom 2.75 inch mandrel bent stainless y-pipe. It is very nice though. It appears that it would outflow the y-pipe that came with my edelbrock headers.

my shorties didn't come with a y-pipe, but this guy who owns the local exhaust shop made me one (mandrel bent and stainless steel) for like $175 or something like that....so it wasn't too bad. I wasn't aware that there were a set of hooker shorties with a y-pipe included....whats the p/n?

I know about the whole y-pipe thing. Thats no big deal. I can weld one. I'm just wondering about the performance advantages of longtubes over the shorties and vice versa.

#2055...I was gonna get those because I understood they offered the largest y-pipe, but the headers only come with air tubes and I didn't want to pay $$$$ for something I was gonna have to cap off or weld shut. So I got the hedmans and y-pipe and now I believe I'm gonna send that y-pipe back. It's no bigger than the stock one,pitful

The way I look at it, is the less seams and the bigger the pipe the better the flow. Long tubes have longer runs off of the exhaust ports and tend to be a little more strait compared to shorties. Shorties typically stop at the motor then you have to install twisy turny pipes that clamp and or weld together which make for more seams and more pipe to travel through, therefore more restriction.

Clear as mud huh???? Sorry I wish I could explain it better, maybe someone else will chime in with a more thorough answer!

I don't like how the Y pipe snakes past the oil pan. The heat must warm the oil pan. I haven't heard anyone mention this? It has to be a strike for the short tubes.

True, but that is what oil coolers are for They are pretty easy to install and will extend the life of the motor!

Long Tubes definately flow better than shorties. That's why LS1 guys use them. I know a lot of LT1 guys that also think long tubes are the only way to go. There are advantages of both though. For most applications, I don't think you'd see a very big difference in power from changing to long tubes from shorties (but I'd like to know for sure). Long tubes are generally harder to install and can greatly reduce ground clearance.

"Ceramic coating"...

Y pipe ceramic coated? This is typical ?
I just wonder how much heat soaks into my engine from that old non-ceramic coated Y pipe.

I was just wondering if any of you guys use the hedman y-pipe unit for the 1 5/8" - 3" shorties, p/n 68470, and, if so, what the part number on your y-pipe is? I think that I've been shipped the wrong y-pipe, p/n 17470 and it appears to only open up to 2 1/4" or 2 1/2" inches, from very small "y" tubes that don't match to my 3" collectors... Help please! I've checked the online catalogue and they don't seem to have a listing for all of the different y-pipes that they offer, so...

Call them up

That's the correct y-pipe. Two 2 1/4 pipes into a 2 1/2.... Hedman must think it retains the right amount of backpressure for mild performance builds.... I think I'm gonna use mine at first and see how it does before I go with something custom:lala:

Thanks guys, that's really crappy though! I think that maybe I'm going to cut the pipe where it joins at the y and attach an identical length 3" piece... it looks like it should work... hopefully. It seems to me that there is no point in even bothering with the 3" exhaust if you have over a foot of 2 1/2" inch pipe before you even get into the cat back!