I've seen massive threads for headers, but havent pin pointed an asnwer from them. I put a set of shorty headers on my built 310, I got them from summit. Would I have been better off with long tubes? My car is pretty low in the front as it is, would there have been a ground clearence issue if I had gone with long tubes?

Are headers basically the same as far as performance gains, assuming the same measurments for comparison. Is one brand better than the other in terms of performance?

 

Can't help ya with clearance issues...but headers are not created equal...both in length or performance.

Long tube will give a better tune to the band you're running, shorties always have a compromise with the effects.

 

For my 310 motor in general?

Quote:

shorties always have a compromise with the effects.

Can you elaborate on this for me a bit more? What kind of compromise am I looking at? I havent put on any exhaust yet, can I fix the 'effects' with a certian exhaust setup? I planned on a single 3" tube all the way back to a muffler, no cat since I wont be in any emmissions pissy states ever again.

 

Ya haven't visited the exhaust forum yet?

Long (no pun intended) story short, you get better scavenging with longer tubes...better scavenging, more HP.

Consider HP advatages compared to exhaust manifolds...then consider better/longer/ headers against that.

 

Not always true. I have seen two sets of headers, one equal length long tube and the other short tube with the same size primaries and collectors run on the same engine. The shorties made over 20 hp more on the top end. The long tubes made alot more mid-range torque though. Think of it as TPI in reverse. The situation may have been a little different if they had used uneaqual length long tubes.

 

Then me thinks you saw the 1 of a million results.

Primary size vs Primary size, long tube (as pertains to our cars) will make more power.

 

Pick up the old header article from Car Craft. The longer the tube the more power you will make at LOW engine speeds. Works the same way as an intake tract. Shorter tubes make more HIGH rpm power. Its a fact. Then diameter has an affect as well.

 

Most people, as far as I know, choose shorty headers for thirdgens simply because they fit so well. Moreover, the stock exhaust that Chev put on thirdgens was very restrictive. That's why a simple set of shorties, 3" intermediate pipe and finally a non-restrictive muffler will deliver an easy 30 additional hp.

Long tube vs. short tube for street driven thirdgens is not a hotly debated topic. Just get rid of the stock setup and you are 3/4 of the way there