I'm thinking of installing long tube headers on my 73, L-48
The car is strickly used for street driving and the occasional freeway cruise. What benefits are there to installing long tube headers, for this type of driving (versus stock manifolds)? And should I add an "H" or "X" pipes to this install?

Thanks for any and all advice

 

More torque
More noise
Straight, H or X you wont feel a difference.

 

Does anyone have pictures of this type of set up?

 

I have that setup on my 73. No X or H cross over. Just dual exhaust no problems works great. I have a lightly modded motor. the problem you will have is if your carb is setup properly, you will have to make it slightly richer. Im not sure if I have any pics but I will look early this week as I am on weekends. All my pics are on my other computer.

 

Now I know why they're called "Long Tube Headers"....... I installed them yesterday afternoon, to check the fit, before getting them powder coated. The bottom of the collector is only 3" off the deck!! One good speed bump and there'd be a couple of extra bends somewhere. The entire collector sits lower than the bottom of the transmission oil pan! This can't be normal is it??

 

No thats not normal. Our collector is maybe at the most, 1" below the oil pan. Let me know if you need a picture.

What name brand did you buy?

 

S W..... are you saying that the bottom of the collector is no more than an inch lower than the bottom of the transmission oil pan? When I installed the headers, the entire collector was lower than the transmission oil pan. I do not know what brand they are. Bought them off e-bay. However, they did fit very well and now I have something to reference against when I buy another set. Now I know what to look for. I didn't pay very much for them, so, based on my learning experience, I feel that it was worth it and I can always sell them in the future. Any pics you have would be appreciaed. Thanks

 

I have Hooker Super Comp headers. No clearance issues and ground clearance is not worse than a lot of other stuff under the car.

 

These are the best pics I have. I will try to measure the distance fron bottom of tranny and oilpan tomorrow.

 

For the street on a lightly modified motor, do yourself a big favor and consider block hugger headers, ported OEM exhaust manifolds, or Mcjacks shorty headers or another type of shorty header. I have McJacks and they are exact dimensionally to the OEM manifolds in a shorty header, fit perfectly and easily on the engine, hook right up to an OEM type dual exhaust, and have zero road clearance issues. Just my 2 cents!

 

I decided against the long tube headers, too many negitive aspects associated with a stock street machine. I actually did purchase a set of the "McJacks" shorty headers. I was really impressed with the quality of workmanship and the attention I received from the people there.

 

Great Choice-They are a work of art-I have had mine for about 4 years now! Love them and I have had LT Headers on other cars in the past and just don't want to deal with the hassles anymore. I have BBK shorties on a 1994 Mustang GT convertible as well and I am VERY happy with that selection as well.

 

Sorry for the delay in pictures but here they are.....



We focus on fit and performance, these pictures prove it!!

 

We focus on fit and performance, these pictures prove it!!

[/QUOTE]


Nope- don't see any pics.

 

I went through 3 sets of Hooker Super Comps on my '71 vert before I got a good fit - Summit was great on returns. The 4th set fit good, but were close to the floor pans, had to heat them and bend the driver's side down, no problem on the pass. side. Mako 63 said "that's hot rodding"! LOL!

 

I have a set of ceramic coated block hugger headers on my '80, and I like them. They are said to be not nearly as good as long tube headers, but are a slight improvement from stock manifolds. Surprisingly, they are not much lighter than the stock ram's horn manifolds that I removed. Got mine from Corvette Central as part of a complete dual exhaust system, and I think they are made by Patriot. Be advised that the generic block hugger headers are not specifically made to fit Corvettes, and you may have issues. I recently discovered that a stubborn header leak was in reality a hole in the collector from a bolt that holds the bottom suspension a-arm on. I knew it was pretty close when I installed them, but I thought there was enough clearance, I guess that motor moves around more than I thought. Also, the tubes come out of the flange and turn at a pretty good angle, which is part of why they are so easy to fit into tight engine compartments, but it makes getting at some of the spark plugs and header bolts and routing the plug wires a little bit of a hassle. In addition, the collector exits downward, like a ram's horn style manifold, but it is about level with where the oil pan meets the engine block, which is lower than stock manifolds, and so, even though they have the same kind of "ball and socket" kind of mating system, you will still have to modify your stock exhaust pipes. These are all things that you will likely not need to worry about with the McJacks, though, they are made to fit a 'vette. I'm just throwing it out there, "To Whom it May Concern", so to speak. Sometimes I think about getting some long tube headers, but I am also thinking about doing the factory style side exhaust, and I think the block huggers would work well with them. Well, I hope this helps out, have fun!


Scott