Does anyone know of anyone who make shorty headers for L98s? If so are they worth it compared to the stock manifolds - which, to me, look like shorty headers also? :confused:

 

Mark,

You're right - the stock L98 headers are already a shorty design. Their only problem is that they are a little small. I've heard of guys using LT1 shorty headers in place of the L98 units, but IMHO it's not worth the effort/cost.

You're better off with a set of good long tube headers. Lingenfelter makes a great looking set - although it is expensive.

But to answer your question, I don't think anybody makes a set of shorty headers for the L98.


[Modified by TheCorvetteKid, 3:28 PM 6/9/2003]

 

There are shortys for the L98, but they arent worth much, like 5-10hp.

Whereas you can get 15 with the longtubes.

 

Well, you could say the exhaust manifolds on a C4 are "headers" because they're not the old cast iron jobbies.

But REAL headers are equal length tubes into a collector, which the C4's are not. Equal length tubes provide more power by creating a "scavenging effect" of the burnt gases. This means that the suction from the flow from one cylinder in one tube will actually help pull out gases from the next cylinder that fires on that side since all the gases from each cylinder have the same distance to travel.

This is a little over-simplified but this is basically why you want equal length headers instead of just tubing manifolds like is on the C4. Long tubes make more power I hear and it makes sense. But they are hard to mount, drag everywhere if your car is lowered and are much more expensive than "shorties".

My idea (which I haven't done it yet) is to buy some equal length shorties without the A.I.R. tubes. They are fairly reasonable. I think I bought some for my Camaro years ago for about $80 out the door. Then cut the stainless steel tubes off the stock manifolds and weld them on the new shorties. For some reason, the header guys get about and extra $100-$150 for the exact same header with the A.I.R. tubes.

There might be a problem I haven't figured on when I get around to doing it so don't take this as a recommendation, just a hypothesis.

BTW, unlike long tubes, almost any shortie fits any small block Chevy. Long tubes have to wind around starters, steering gear and such while shorties take up about the same space as the stcok manifolds.

Good Luck,
BIG JIM


[Modified by BIG JIM 54, 7:36 AM 6/9/2003]

 

Big Jim - does this mean I can just go to the Jegs or Summit catalog and get some generic SB Chevy shorties and they should work on the Vette? :D

 

Vader, do you know any vendors that have shorties or block huggers for the '88 L98 that would allow me to still use the stock exhaust pipes?