short or long headers?
#1
short or long headers?
Hi guys, I currently have a set of hooker shorty headers on my car. I have a few mods on the car and i keep getting an exhaust "tick" which i believe is from the y-pipe falling apart again. I have tried to tighten every bolt i can but i am sorta using this as an excuse to get new headers.
I'd love to do long tubes because i'd like to get better flow and possibly more power, however ive been told that my car "doesn't make enough power for long tubes" which i've never heard before. I'm just looking for recommendations of whether i should do a new set of shorties or if i can do long tubes without them hurting my power or engine.
I'd love to do long tubes because i'd like to get better flow and possibly more power, however ive been told that my car "doesn't make enough power for long tubes" which i've never heard before. I'm just looking for recommendations of whether i should do a new set of shorties or if i can do long tubes without them hurting my power or engine.
#2
Supreme Member
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Re: short or long headers?
short and simple:
- tube diameter should match horsepower production.
- long tubes give you a broader powerband, typically a bigger torque peak and even better mpg, at the expense of ground clearance.
On a well-matched combination your 1/4 mile time will be virtually the same with shorties vs long tubes (assuming same size primaries, comparable y-pipe...), but the long tubes will have more midrange and better MPG.
- tube diameter should match horsepower production.
- long tubes give you a broader powerband, typically a bigger torque peak and even better mpg, at the expense of ground clearance.
On a well-matched combination your 1/4 mile time will be virtually the same with shorties vs long tubes (assuming same size primaries, comparable y-pipe...), but the long tubes will have more midrange and better MPG.
#3
Re: short or long headers?
short and simple:
- tube diameter should match horsepower production.
- long tubes give you a broader powerband, typically a bigger torque peak and even better mpg, at the expense of ground clearance.
On a well-matched combination your 1/4 mile time will be virtually the same with shorties vs long tubes (assuming same size primaries, comparable y-pipe...), but the long tubes will have more midrange and better MPG.
- tube diameter should match horsepower production.
- long tubes give you a broader powerband, typically a bigger torque peak and even better mpg, at the expense of ground clearance.
On a well-matched combination your 1/4 mile time will be virtually the same with shorties vs long tubes (assuming same size primaries, comparable y-pipe...), but the long tubes will have more midrange and better MPG.
#4
Supreme Member
iTrader: (15)
Re: short or long headers?
You may not like living with the long tubes. Changing starters will mean unbolting the header and y pipe. You will eventually have heat soak with the starter. You'll need to put fiberglass heat reflective sleeving on the power wires for the starter. You will lose ground clearance. Installing and removing them will mean jacking the car up and pulling all the plugs and the starter. If I find someone to trade me my long tube Hookers for a set of Dyno Don's, I'm there.
#6
Senior Member
Re: short or long headers?
I have LTs and I can change the starter without being under the car.
winning
winning
#8
Re: short or long headers?
from what everyone is saying right now about the long tubes i agree.
i didnt know quite so much had to go into the long tubes, my starter is already wrapped in the heat protective covering since the old one kept overheating. I'm still interested though....
#9
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Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: BBC 509 Merlin ii 9.6:1 pump gas
Transmission: ATI pro th350 sfi case. TSI 5500 st
Axle/Gears: Strange S60 4:10s
Re: short or long headers?
I can change my starter as well from above but it's a pro form mini starter. And I have dougs long tube headers. But I don't have a.c. or a heater box in my way either. I can just reach down and take the 2 bolts out and out comes a baby starter.
#10
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Car: 1985 Camaro Z-28
Engine: 385
Transmission: th700r4+Edge 2800 stall
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: short or long headers?
I have Maximizer ebay long tubes ,and starter change is easy and fast,I have this starter:http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....303029&jsn=453
Plug change same thing,much faster and easier than previous SLP tri-y's,and they don't hang as low as tri-y's did.
Plug change same thing,much faster and easier than previous SLP tri-y's,and they don't hang as low as tri-y's did.
#11
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Re: short or long headers?
I have possibly the least obtrusive engine bay, hooker long tube headers and a power master / Hitachi style mini starter and it is not coming out without taking the headers loose. Maybe after that you might be able to get it out from the top but you'd be contorting yourself to do it.
#12
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Car: 1989 Iroc-Z Camaro
Engine: TBI,5.0
Transmission: Automatic 700R4
Axle/Gears: Eaton Posi,3.42,LPW Ultimate Cover
Re: short or long headers?
Show him some photos of the ground clearance with long tubes.
That might help him decide.
That might help him decide.
#14
Re: short or long headers?
right now with my y-pipe it already hangs pretty low. I saw a post a while ago about some E-bay long tubes that were tucked up maybe higher than my exhaust is. Right now i have an electric cut out on it too and an SLP loudmouth catback, but the muffler was replaced with a borla. the system is out of my friend's 4th gen. The muffler is the lower than the rest of the exhaust, it is mounted in-line just before the rear axle. If it is lower than that it will def make me reconsider. I've been sorta piecing together my exhaust for about a decade lol.