Shorty headers
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Keller Texas
Shorty headers
I was wondering if shorty headers was worth the money and what kind of gains to expect? To install long tube headers the cost is just to high.I have installed a power effects exhaust from the cats back and love it. Still have factory cats on the car now.Is it worth the time and money?
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From: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
It is common sense that a shorty header will not produce as much as a long tube header will... and it has been claimed that shorty headers are just a cosmetic upgrade as it does nothing for power. I would like to see dyno proof of that though.
In a recent magazine article I read, they took a crate LS1 and mated shorties, and various sized long tube headers as well as stock Corvette manifolds. In this particular instance, the manifolds actually produced more average power across the band and was only 2 peak hp lower than the shorties.
I know that is on the LS1... and not the LT1... but I'd tend to think that the results would be very similar
In a recent magazine article I read, they took a crate LS1 and mated shorties, and various sized long tube headers as well as stock Corvette manifolds. In this particular instance, the manifolds actually produced more average power across the band and was only 2 peak hp lower than the shorties.
I know that is on the LS1... and not the LT1... but I'd tend to think that the results would be very similar
Team Owner
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From: I'm the walkin dude I can see all of the world...
St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by RED LT4
Well I do not know what that means 
That means is it a daily driver or a race car?
Without a doubt, Shorty Headers are the worst $400 waste of money you could possibly buy for your car. They don't add any RWHP and you get all the problems of having headers (leaks, gasket issues, install times)
Since you have an LT-4 why dont you buy a hotcam and throw that in? Lot less money for a ton more power.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Keller Texas
Originally Posted by VictorRussell'92
That means is it a daily driver or a race car?
Without a doubt, Shorty Headers are the worst $400 waste of money you could possibly buy for your car. They don't add any RWHP and you get all the problems of having headers (leaks, gasket issues, install times)
Since you have an LT-4 why dont you buy a hotcam and throw that in? Lot less money for a ton more power.
Without a doubt, Shorty Headers are the worst $400 waste of money you could possibly buy for your car. They don't add any RWHP and you get all the problems of having headers (leaks, gasket issues, install times)
Since you have an LT-4 why dont you buy a hotcam and throw that in? Lot less money for a ton more power.
Well thanks for that info.......Your idea sounds good to me. The reason I was wondering about the headers I found them for 250. It sound like it is not worth it.......Long tube are the way to go it sounds. I just hate the look of the stock exhaust under the hood. Is it a lot of work to install a new cam?
Team Owner
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From: I'm the walkin dude I can see all of the world...
St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by RED LT4
Well thanks for that info.......Your idea sounds good to me. The reason I was wondering about the headers I found them for 250. It sound like it is not worth it.......Long tube are the way to go it sounds. I just hate the look of the stock exhaust under the hood. Is it a lot of work to install a new cam?
$250 is still too much. For me $100 bucks is too much for Shorties. There is a good bit involve in a cam but lucky for you having an LT-4 make it the easiest C4 to put a Cam in. Unlike my 92, you already have the updated opti, correct valve springs, 1.6 rr's, and (correct me if i'm wrong guys) do you have to change the timing chain on a Lt-4 cam swap? I don't think you do. I have seen used Lt-4 hotcams go for $100 bucks here on the forum and you can get one new for like $180 bucks or so.
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From: Lake Wylie SC
Despite what Victor has to say about shorties, they have there place in the C4. My 92 had the worst looking rusty manifolds (with 2 broken studs) and I wanted to go with headers. When I installed the shorties, nobody had long tubes that fit the LT1 without major surgery and the cats were history. I wanted to keep the cats, so I picked the Jet-Hot Sterling coated Hooker Shorties and have been very satisfied. As far as gains in horsepower, they offer more than the stock manifolds, but far less than the long tubes. Waste of money? Not to me and they sound much better with the B&Bs attached. If I had to do it now, I'd go with the EM GP and attach the small high flow cats.
Oh, I forgot to mention that the shorties do reduce the heat under the hood.
Oh, I forgot to mention that the shorties do reduce the heat under the hood.
Team Owner
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From: I'm the walkin dude I can see all of the world...
St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by Strick
Despite what Victor has to say about shorties, they have there place in the C4. My 92 had the worst looking rusty manifolds (with 2 broken studs) and I wanted to go with headers. When I installed the shorties, nobody had long tubes that fit the LT1 without major surgery and the cats were history. I wanted to keep the cats, so I picked the Jet-Hot Sterling coated Hooker Shorties and have been very satisfied. As far as gains in horsepower, they offer more than the stock manifolds, but far less than the long tubes. Waste of money? Not to me and they sound much better with the B&Bs attached. If I had to do it now, I'd go with the EM GP and attach the small high flow cats.
Oh, I forgot to mention that the shorties do reduce the heat under the hood.
Oh, I forgot to mention that the shorties do reduce the heat under the hood.
I also agree with that. But purely from a performance perspective they aren't worth the money. Like Strick, I also used to have a pair of SLP shorties which I bought before I knew about CF.com and Longtubes for these cars. They did look cool but I couldn't notice a thing with performance.
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From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
If what you're looking for is a nice kick in the seat of your pants, you might also want to consider gears. 4.10s will really blow you away on an LT4 (from what I've heard). It's what I plan for my next mod - sure, the hot cam is a *fantastic* option also, but unless you're doing the work yourself, I would be willing to bet that gears will be a less expensive option for better pickup.
Team Owner
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From: eville in
Originally Posted by RED LT4
Its not a dailt driver or a race car but I do want to drive it any time if you know what I mean
people need info that's why i asked iv'e never built a LT4 so i also learn 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Keller Texas
Originally Posted by comp
people need info that's why i asked iv'e never built a LT4 so i also learn I think it may be worth it!!!! If you pick up some performance thats more than what you had right? I know where I can get a hot cam for a 100 bucks or so and the shortys= HP!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Keller Texas
Originally Posted by 95PoloVert
I have a barely used HotCam in excellent condition available for $115. It only has 1600 street-driven miles on it.
If your HotCam source doesn't work out, let me know.
If your HotCam source doesn't work out, let me know.
OK sounds good...I will keep you in touch on the cam. How did you like it? Could you notice a big difference?
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Walton Kentucky
Originally Posted by Strick
Despite what Victor has to say about shorties, they have there place in the C4. My 92 had the worst looking rusty manifolds (with 2 broken studs) and I wanted to go with headers. When I installed the shorties, nobody had long tubes that fit the LT1 without major surgery and the cats were history. I wanted to keep the cats, so I picked the Jet-Hot Sterling coated Hooker Shorties and have been very satisfied. As far as gains in horsepower, they offer more than the stock manifolds, but far less than the long tubes. Waste of money? Not to me and they sound much better with the B&Bs attached. If I had to do it now, I'd go with the EM GP and attach the small high flow cats.
Oh, I forgot to mention that the shorties do reduce the heat under the hood.
Oh, I forgot to mention that the shorties do reduce the heat under the hood.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,720
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From: North Carolina
I just replaced my ceramic coated Hooker shorties with stock manifolds because I don't like the sound of the headers with the Borla exhaust (very bad resonance). I noticed NO change in performance and the exhaust sounds much better. As far as other mods are concerned: I have 4.10s and a TPIS ZZ9 cam installed. Unfortunately, I can't tell you how much of a difference they make because I bought the car with these mods on it. However, I can say it is a wicked fast ride so if you go with either a cam or a gear set, my guess is you won't be disappointed passing on the shorties.
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by kwik_ta
It is common sense that a shorty header will not produce as much as a long tube header will... and it has been claimed that shorty headers are just a cosmetic upgrade as it does nothing for power. I would like to see dyno proof of that though.
In a recent magazine article I read, they took a crate LS1 and mated shorties, and various sized long tube headers as well as stock Corvette manifolds. In this particular instance, the manifolds actually produced more average power across the band and was only 2 peak hp lower than the shorties.
I know that is on the LS1... and not the LT1... but I'd tend to think that the results would be very similar
In a recent magazine article I read, they took a crate LS1 and mated shorties, and various sized long tube headers as well as stock Corvette manifolds. In this particular instance, the manifolds actually produced more average power across the band and was only 2 peak hp lower than the shorties.
I know that is on the LS1... and not the LT1... but I'd tend to think that the results would be very similar
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From: Lake Wylie SC
Originally Posted by tvetta
Have you had leaking problems? What type of gaskets did you use?