C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

HEADERS - please explain

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 15, 2005 | 06:38 PM
  #1  
BoYD's Avatar
BoYD
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Walnut Creek CA
Default HEADERS - please explain

Long tube headers/ Short tube headers - what's the difference?

What is legal in California?
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2005 | 06:44 PM
  #2  
X-ZZ4's Avatar
X-ZZ4
Team Owner
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 62,195
Likes: 28
Cruise-In II Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Default

Only shorties are legal in Cali.

Long Tubes are just that......full length headers that are one piece almost all the way to the cat. Shorties have a seperate downpipe. It is widely acknowledged that LT's give the best return for your mod $$$, although some will argue.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2005 | 06:59 PM
  #3  
Swany00's Avatar
Swany00
Team Owner
Veteran: Marine Corps
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 101,562
Likes: 41
From: Ca
Default

Originally Posted by BoYD
Long tube headers/ Short tube headers - what's the difference?

What is legal in California?

I'll be following this thread, a local Corvette shop told me that Borla headers are certified but I haven't done enough research on it yet. My muffler guy said he had an issue with Borla shorties and they wouldn't return them, we're kind of limited with mods in Cali.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2005 | 07:01 PM
  #4  
BoYD's Avatar
BoYD
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Walnut Creek CA
Default

So what kind of performance gain can i expect with shorties?


Swany00 - which corvette shop? I've been searching for one in the bay area!!

Last edited by BoYD; Apr 15, 2005 at 07:03 PM.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2005 | 07:08 PM
  #5  
debmwb's Avatar
debmwb
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth Texas
Default

Reply
Old Apr 15, 2005 | 07:16 PM
  #6  
Swany00's Avatar
Swany00
Team Owner
Veteran: Marine Corps
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 101,562
Likes: 41
From: Ca
Default

Originally Posted by BoYD
So what kind of performance gain can i expect with shorties?


Swany00 - which corvette shop? I've been searching for one in the bay area!!
To have any major work done, I have some buds that go to Race Street Rally in San Jose.

I picked up my exhaust from the Corvette Clinic in San Jose on W. San Carlos.

There is supposedly a really good shop in Vacaville, Corvette Heavan or Corvette Express, they were originally out of Campbell Ca., but moved over to Vacaville.

The only place I could vouch for would be the two shops in San Jose, I trust my friend because he takes his ride there and so does his dad and they've always done right by them. The guy at Corvette Clinic has been there since '78 and is a nice chap and knows his stuff pretty well.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2005 | 07:17 PM
  #7  
X-ZZ4's Avatar
X-ZZ4
Team Owner
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 62,195
Likes: 28
Cruise-In II Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Default

Originally Posted by BoYD
So what kind of performance gain can i expect with shorties?
Depends on the car and which header.

Rule of thumb is usually 10-15 rwhp for shorties, 15-30 rwhp for LT's.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2005 | 07:29 PM
  #8  
BoYD's Avatar
BoYD
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Walnut Creek CA
Default

Originally Posted by Swany00
To have any major work done, I have some buds that go to Race Street Rally in San Jose.

I picked up my exhaust from the Corvette Clinic in San Jose on W. San Carlos.

There is supposedly a really good shop in Vacaville, Corvette Heavan or Corvette Express, they were originally out of Campbell Ca., but moved over to Vacaville.

The only place I could vouch for would be the two shops in San Jose, I trust my friend because he takes his ride there and so does his dad and they've always done right by them. The guy at Corvette Clinic has been there since '78 and is a nice chap and knows his stuff pretty well.
thanks for the info...the only place i know of is this place in Roseville. I think they are a supporting vendor of this forum, but i've never used them:

http://www.motorsportimage.com/

Last edited by BoYD; Apr 15, 2005 at 07:36 PM.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 15, 2005 | 07:37 PM
  #9  
BoYD's Avatar
BoYD
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Walnut Creek CA
Default

Originally Posted by 84zz4vette
Depends on the car and which header.

Rule of thumb is usually 10-15 rwhp for shorties, 15-30 rwhp for LT's.
thanks!

Hey wait a minute...i see you have LTs on your car...how do you get away with that in southern cali?
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2005 | 07:56 PM
  #10  
X-ZZ4's Avatar
X-ZZ4
Team Owner
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 62,195
Likes: 28
Cruise-In II Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Default

I'll worry about that in another 1 1/2 years when my smog comes due....
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2005 | 09:11 PM
  #11  
Swany00's Avatar
Swany00
Team Owner
Veteran: Marine Corps
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 101,562
Likes: 41
From: Ca
Default

Originally Posted by 84zz4vette
I'll worry about that in another 1 1/2 years when my smog comes due....
ha ha ha!!! Workin' it!
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2005 | 10:17 PM
  #12  
bremillard's Avatar
bremillard
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
Default

Originally Posted by 84zz4vette
I'll worry about that in another 1 1/2 years when my smog comes due....
Be very careful the semi-annual smog test is not the only way the state busts non compliance. Street racing, random check points are only a couple of ways of getting into trouble. Fines are heavy and jail time is possible. The rice racers are favorite targets but anyone is fair game. I have been through this-NO FUN. By the way shorty headers aren't much better than stock exhaust especially Z06 manifolds. Some people have actually reported a power loss. -Bob
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2005 | 11:30 PM
  #13  
X-ZZ4's Avatar
X-ZZ4
Team Owner
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 62,195
Likes: 28
Cruise-In II Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Default

Originally Posted by bremillard
Be very careful the semi-annual smog test is not the only way the state busts non compliance. Street racing, random check points are only a couple of ways of getting into trouble. Fines are heavy and jail time is possible. The rice racers are favorite targets but anyone is fair game. I have been through this-NO FUN.
Where????

Never in my 17+ years in SoCal have I came across nor heard of an inspection checkpoint......

DUI checkpoints, etc, where they take a look at your license, etc.....but never where someone is gonna look at your car. Maybe it's an issue for the younger guys who frequent the midnight illegal drags.....but that ain't me.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2005 | 11:56 PM
  #14  
bremillard's Avatar
bremillard
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
Default

Originally Posted by 84zz4vette
Where????

Never in my 17+ years in SoCal have I came across nor heard of an inspection checkpoint......

DUI checkpoints, etc, where they take a look at your license, etc.....but never where someone is gonna look at your car. Maybe it's an issue for the younger guys who frequent the midnight illegal drags.....but that ain't me.

I just finished an SB100 registration of my Cobra replica. Part of that process involves a BAR inspection and a one time only smog test(SB100 registration is forever after smog exempt). I had a very interesting conversation with the BAR district supervisor who administered my test. Yes, midnight street racers are a frequent target of sting operations but beyond that they have portable sniffers that they can set up roadside. Whether or not they will be able to detect a clean running late model Vette is debatable but take it from someone who has had a run-in with the BAR- it's expensive and nerve racking and when you spit out the other end you will be a believer. -Bob
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2005 | 12:33 AM
  #15  
Swany00's Avatar
Swany00
Team Owner
Veteran: Marine Corps
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 101,562
Likes: 41
From: Ca
Default

This thread is getting more intersting by the minute!
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2005 | 01:37 AM
  #16  
X-ZZ4's Avatar
X-ZZ4
Team Owner
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 62,195
Likes: 28
Cruise-In II Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Default

Originally Posted by bremillard
I just finished an SB100 registration of my Cobra replica. Part of that process involves a BAR inspection and a one time only smog test(SB100 registration is forever after smog exempt). I had a very interesting conversation with the BAR district supervisor who administered my test. Yes, midnight street racers are a frequent target of sting operations but beyond that they have portable sniffers that they can set up roadside. Whether or not they will be able to detect a clean running late model Vette is debatable but take it from someone who has had a run-in with the BAR- it's expensive and nerve racking and when you spit out the other end you will be a believer. -Bob
LT's themselves don't increase emissions. Mine, as do many, have all the smog hookups and I run cats. The ONLY reason they're not legal is because they don't have a CARB number, and the ONLY reason for that is the manufacturers don't want to pay for or play the idiocy of the CARB game. They have NO EFFECT on emissions. Heck, there are MANY people passing smog tests with them ....they'll definitely pass a sniffer test and there's a lot of smog techs who either aren't sharp enough to know the difference or just don't care.

I don't know where you are or what your experiences are...but neither I nor anyone I know share your concerns.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2005 | 02:05 AM
  #17  
leaftye's Avatar
leaftye
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
Default

Originally Posted by BoYD
Long tube headers/ Short tube headers - what's the difference?

What is legal in California?
This explains the difference between long tubes and shorties:
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=139142

As for long tubes...I'll have a 4-way with Penelope Cruz, Jennifer Lopez and Salma Hayek before C5 long tubes are legal in California. So far the chance of that 4-way isn't looking good.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To HEADERS - please explain

Old Apr 16, 2005 | 03:45 AM
  #18  
Jiver67's Avatar
Jiver67
Advanced
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA
Default

The B&B shorty headers have a CARB number and so are 100% legal in California. I just installed a pair last weekend...very nice headers! However, if you can't find a used pair (like I did) I don't feel the cost (about $1000) justifies the performance gain.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2005 | 11:17 AM
  #19  
bremillard's Avatar
bremillard
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
Default

<I don't know where you are or what your experiences are...but neither I nor anyone I know share your concerns.>

Life is one long risk/reward balance. You will, indeed, probably never have a problem. I just want others here to be aware that modifications that make California certified cars non-compliant are discovered at times and dealt with rather strictly. If you get caught "I'm sorry" will not make it go away. It will be expensive. -Bob
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2005 | 02:57 PM
  #20  
Cavallo GT's Avatar
Cavallo GT
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Fl
St. Jude Donor '07
Default

FYI, I have a set of B&B shorties for sale. Excellent condition, 8K miles.
Made 12HP/ 14T on the dyno. $425.00 shipped UPS to CA. I went with long tubes and no cats. No way that will fly in CA, huh!
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:29 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE