Aren't they basically a compromise between long tubes and stock manifold, while retaining close to the same dimensions as stock manifolds? Are they worth it? Only way I would put them on is if 1. They help enough over stock to be worth it, and 2. fit to the stock exhaust with little or no modification req'd to fit properly.

As you can tell I'm in the dark about most info on headers. But with long tubes, you pretty much have to replace the entire exhaust plumbing from header-back with after market, right? I was looking for a way to open up the exhaust flow over and above stock manifolds without having to completely scrap the stock exhaust system.

I was thinking about doing shorties and trying to keep the rest of the stock exhaust system except replace the mufflers with Magnaflow mufflers & LT1 tips. Would I see any better mid and high range power out of this kind of setup (without losing any low end grunt off the line)?

I hope I haven't sounded to moronic... :D



[Modified by Lone Ranger, 9:52 PM 7/4/2002]

 

If you put the right brand on LT1's, i believe they would help over the stock manifolds from 5-10hp maybe. Not near as much as longtubes though, which i bet would give at least a 10hp gain. GM didnt do too bad with the LT's manifolds, they just messed up the geometry so it would be a hassle to put longtubes on.

I think i would stick with the stockers and just change the catback, but i'm no expert on LT's either.

 

Something like these SLP 4-into-1 Power-Flo shorty's is what I was thinking about:






[Modified by Lone Ranger, 10:54 PM 7/4/2002]

 

Theres got to be some good reason Lingenfelter uses them in their LT-1 packages. Check with Jet Hot Direct for the best pricing on the LPE/Hookers.

I'm still bolting my exhaust in. Once done, I'll try to re-dyno and see what kind of increase I got.

 

I think you need to ask yourself if emmissions are a concern? If so then long tubes are a real PITA. If emissions are not a concern then long tubes on an LT1 are some of the easiest in the world to install. I've installed headers on several vehicles, and let me tell you, mine were cake. As for modifications to the exhaust, those are very few.

If cats are not required, all you need to do is have an exhaust shop cut the passenger side pipe a little and put a collector fitting on it. On the driver's side you MIGHT have to extend it a little and put a collector fitting on it. Nothing that any competent shop couldn't do for like $50. I paid $100 for mine and they fabricated an X-pipe to replace the resonator at the same time.

If cats are required it gets more complicated, but still nothing a good exhaust shop couldn't do cheap, you'd just have to buy some bullit cats, that would be the costly part.

As for HP gains I had the hot cam already installed, I picked up 23 hp and 32 pounds of torque with the headers. This also kicked my 1/4 mile trap speeds up from 109 to 112 consistently. My times didn't really improve because I still have a lot of learning to do as far as racing at the track. I can tell you this, the headers were just as much of a kick in the pants as the cam was.

As for shorties, the vette shorties are simple, there might be some gain there and it will certainly make the engine look cleaner. The F-body shorties are a terrible design and don't help one little bit.

I'm afraid I don't have any pictures of my catless cat back, but I do have some engine compartment pics of the long tubes installed. Check out my web page http://www.wku.edu/~nathan.plemons

 

Check my Sig. I had a little more Lowend torque with the long tubes from what the graph shows but the car was dynoed on two different machines... I couldn't feel any difference between having long tubes and having the shorties... The only thing that I feel is that my head doesn't hurt from all the noise the long tubes with not cats make.!!!




[Modified by Bluewasp, 9:09 AM 7/5/2002]

 

Khornet, BlueWasp, Nathan... thanks, learning more as I go along.