does anyone know a supplier of short headers that bolt up exactly to the stock manifold location? Also, what if any hp gain could be seen?

 

Those guys do some,

http://www.vetteheaders.com/servlet/...rvette+Headers

When i was looking for some headers it looked like not many companies did headers that where same size as the stock!
The HP gain is a strange one, many people on this forum will tell you that you wont gain anything from short headers and some will tell you that you will gain something.
Couldnt find any solid info going one way or another...
I also read recently that stock ramhorns where meant to be ok until 350hp so depending on your engine it might not be worth doing...

 

Sanderson headers make a tubular and a very nice cast replacement shorty header.
http://sandersonheaders.com

 

I have McJacks's shorty headers that are an exact replica of the OEM cast iron exhaust manifold dimensionally and will hook right up to the OEM exhaust system in the OEM location. They are not block hugger headers like the Sanderson's and others that have the collector exiting next to the engine block and require an exhaust system that will hook up to block hugger headers.

http://www.vetteheaders.com/servlet/...rvette+Headers

These headers are handmade and come in different primary and collector sizes (1 5/8 and 1 3/4 as well as 2 inch collector and 2.5 inch collector sizes). They are ceramic coated and are expensive.

As for the performance gain, I have had mine for 4 years and waited 25 years for someone to offer this type of header since I did not want full length headers with the associated road and engine clearance issues and one's that hooked up to the OEM type true duals. I put mine on after years of having true 2.5 inch duals as well as Monze Turbo mufflers using the OEM cast iron manifolds-The McJacks were the only change to the exhaust system when installed so I could accurately gauge the difference the change made. The exhaust tone and sound immediately increased after the installation and the engine definitely pulls better from mid rpm (3,500) to high rpm (6,000 rpm). Anytime a change is made to increase exhaust flow, you will notice a difference in power which I did. My engine is basically a stock L-82 4 speed with true 2.5 inch duals, roller rockers, no emissions at all, and a K&N airfilter in the stock aircleaner dual snorkel housing.

There is not one engine over the last 30 years where I have increased exhaust flow in some fashion through either the exhaust system or headers where the change did not make a difference of some magnitude on basically stock engines. I also recently added BBK shorty headers to a stock 1994 Mustang GT that all ready had a magnaflow exhaust system with the OEM tubular exhaust manifolds and the BBK's fitted exactly like the OEM tubular exhaust manifolds but with bigger primaries and less restriction near the exhaust ports and the exact same result as the L-82-louder in general and better pulling at high RPM's.

They were easy to install and I have zero clearance issue in the engine bay. I love them BUT they are pricey!

 

short headers are good long is better but on a stock motor on the street you would not know any differant.

 

Sanderson headers are a good product and I've used them before on street rods. I emailed them looking for long tube headers for my 80 and the response was negative. Moving on to the stock exhaust replacement, I was advised that the Sanderson's are not direct fit, some modification may be required.

"We do not offer a full-length header for the Corvette, just the shorty blockhugger CC1-Series headers."
OK, no full length headers. Will the CC1 headers bolt in place of the stock cast iron manifolds?
"Not a direct replacement if you are asking if you will need to modify the head pipes to connect the exhaust.

Direct-fit headers did not really exist until the 1990's on 50-state legal applications that had to maintain certain locations of emission components by state and federal law.

Any aftermarket header for your Corvette will bolt to the engine, and may possibly require modifications to accessory brackets, but does not typically drop right in and connect to the existing exhaust."

Best Regards,

Sanderson Tech Support
http://www.sandersonheaders.com

 

Also on the Sanderson site -

Long vs Short Tube Headers:

http://www.sandersonheaders.com/Lets-Get-Technical.html

 

Force man beat me to it - they are highly regarded & good quality. As Service Manager of the Dyno Shop years ago, I sold a few sets of them. Thorleys were preferred of course but they don't make a shorty.

 

Excellent read from Sanderson and why I have backed away for years now from full length headers for the street and much prefer shorty headers. There is basically no difference in power versus the shorty headers until very high revs and in fact you give up power in the low to mid range rpm's.

Again, statements that headers (shorty or Long) will do little or nothing for power on stock motors is completely not true. Every motor will benefit to some degree by increasing the efficiency of the motor's breathing-intake and/or exhaust-there is no denying this fact-physics, guys as well as personal experience over many years (mostly stock or lightly modified engines), the data (See Sanderson's charts above), and countless articles on the subject).