mig1980

Good day everyone. I am looking for opinions. I will be having an A&A kit installed on my car in the next few weeks among other supporting mods (243 heads, valvetrain upgrades, ls6 cam, 3.42 rear, ls6 intake, etc)

I spoke to the tuner that will be tuning my car and he suggested I should install some shorty headers as he believes they will make a difference with my setup. I plan to keep this car California SMOG legal (hence the CARB approved mods).

Do you guys think it would be worth it to install some B&B shorties? If so, how much RWHP and torque should I see on stock cats and B&B bullet exhaust?

Thank you

robert miller

Shorties are crap you can pass in CA with LG long tube headers. For the cost and no better than they are a waste of money. There are a ton of guys with LT headers than have pass smog... Robert

AZZ-KIKR

Agreed. My car came from California with LT headers, hi flow cats with the A&A kit. Don't waste time or money on shorties..

mig1980

Look guys. Long tubes are out of the question for me. I realuize that there are many people running long tubes in CA but they have to know someone that is willing to overlook the visual portion. I don't want the hassle.

The tuner I am having tune my car is Mark Romans and I have heard good things about him. He did mention it would be good to run shorties at least but don't just want to take his word as I want other opinions as well. If you guys truly think they are a waste of time and money, that is fine but I'm confused as to why my tuner would recommend them.

Let me know.

Z06supercharged

Smog laws change again in 2013 in CA and will be even more stringent on visuals and fyi Shorties on a c5zo6 are illegal. They are only legal on non zo6 c5's. The Carb EO exemption does not cover Zo6's and don't let anyone tell you different trying to sell you some saying they are legal. I went from stock ex manifolds to shorties and gained 24/14 Rwhp/tq after a tune adjustment for them. They are much better than stock manifolds by far and worth the $400 my BBKs cost. Took me literally an hour to put em on. For those that say they are no better than stock never compared em to stock. Yea long tubes are better but if I want the extra 20 more rwhp ill just up my boost and save 2k instead. Notable increase in better sound with Shorties vs stock as well.
for $300 hellyea they are worth it vs stock manifolds.

SBCGENII

Word. Dont think the shorties are as bad as people make them out to be. They have their place. But if you dont have lg turbo super max headers than they are crap.

mig1980

good points guys. BTW...I have a 98 coupe, not a z06 so I am good there. I have heard about changes in 2013 for SMOG. I am trying my best to be in compliance. Hopefully they don't start looking at the tuning of the car as that is where I couldn't be in compliance.

Any other opinions welcome!

SBCGENII

Go to A@A and talk to them about it. Since they are trying to get their kits cali approved bet they know better than anyone what you should do.

Z06supercharged

Unfortunately they will be looking at the tune itself in 2013. How in depth no one knows yet but this is why A&A is getting CARB certification on his kits AND the non stock tunes.

SBCGENII

Cash under the table or need to find a good ol boy lol.

hardcore4sure

If you do Shorties, look into the B&B's they have the longest tubes of all Shorties, are equal length, have a merge collector w/velocity spike. They have shown to give the most gains.

Z06supercharged

I compared the B&B's to my BBK's and there wasn't much difference at all and certainly not for a $700 difference in price EXCEPT the B&B's have a CARB EO# and thus the only reason for the higher price. There is a very noticeable difference in power and sound with shorties and enough so as to have to retune
If you wanna stay legal CA then shorties is it.

mig1980

So, do the BBK headers not have a CARB number?

Z06supercharged

No the only shorties that have a CARB EO# are the B&B's. Just shows you its who pays the big bucks to CARB to get certified when all shorties with air fittings and o2 sensors in stock locations should all be CARB approved. Its a government racket plain and simple.

robert miller

Then what you are saying here just go with the BB shorties and be done with it. There are NO other choice,s here at all. The stock is just pure junk.... From what you say here it is stock are BB for sure go with the shorties... After you get it tune please post the car on the rollers and the #... Good luck with the car and have fun with her... Robert

Z06supercharged

Yup unfortunately in California if you want to be legal the B&B shorties are it period.

onspeed

I remember seeing a lot of Cali people talking about C6Z exhaust parts that supposedly flow better and maintain stock appearance?

So glad I don't live there.

mig1980

I thought about c6z manifolds and h-pipe. I have seen good results from fellow members but some connections do not hook up. I would pass the visual unless they noticed the ares not hooked up. Don't really want to deal with that potential situation.

TaylorMade

Are you running oem cats or high flows with your shorties?

Z06supercharged

oem cats with B&B Bullets cat back.