The BBK shorty headers are pretty inexpensive these days. Years ago they were about $1,000....today under $400 brand new. I'm just looking for a few more ponies with a little more sound with my stock exhaust. Are these worth it?

 

I'd throw $400 at a dyno tune instead

 

There worth about 10-15 rwhp where as LT SS headers are worth 25-30 and even more with modds.

Unless you live in CA,,,,,, Ide skip them. Contact forum member SUPERMAN09 and talk to him about XSPOWER Headers and midpipe for a few hunderd more dollars and that inclues the mid pipe. Excellent value vs dollar spent and they are excellent headers.

 

I don't want to spend the extra $800 and the associated labor costs. Anyone running shorties?

 

I copies what I wrote on the same subject just a few days ago. Most of it applies to what you are asking


Heres the story on shorties. My story, but I believe it true and accurate.

First, only a very small amount of shorties are CARB exempt here in Cali. B&B and JBA to name some. Hence the 1k plus price for them, which no one is willing to pay. I went with a set of BBK shorties (not CARB exempt) for 400 bucks, because I believed there was some gain to be had, and that it wasnt to big a deal to swap the shorties in and out for smog time. Long tubes are better, but knowing that they will never be legal and are not worth the headache, I opted for shorties. Long story short. I got zero gains doing this the right way, IE: dyno tune before and after. Zero gain was seen on the dyno. (If you want total in depth info, I even lost 2 hp up top and gained 1 or 2 in the mid section). Mid section power is admittedly more important, but not at this price.

The power increase seen by shorties is when you install them and go for an initial dyno tune. The increase comes from the tune alone. Not the headers. I will never buy a set again, nor recommend anyone do. I put the money and time up to finally get to the bottom of this since there is so much out there on what shorties really do. I bought into the guys saying "I gained 10, 15, whatever, horse". but came to realize, they never had a dyno tune before the install.

They are definitely not worth any time or money. The cats and the heads are choke points in themselves. The shorties sit between them. increasing their size and flow potential does not do anything. No sound increase or tone change was audible either.

Long tubes are a proven power gainer. And a very good one at that. If you are not restricted by emissions, forget shorties even exist. long tubes are the only way to go.

 

OBX headers are selling on ebay for 300.00 new and 200.00 used

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OBX-Exhaust-SHORTY-Header-2001-2004-Chevy-Corvette-C5-LS1-LS6-Z06-/221193368356?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item338026f324&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OBX-SHORTY-STAINLESS-STEEL-HEADER-C5-CHEVY-CORVETTE-01-04-5-7L-LS1-LS6-/300937068017?pt=Race_Car_Parts&hash=item46113f3df1&vxp=mtr
BBK Shorties 229.00 shipped

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BBK-01-04-Corvette-C5-Z06-Shorty-Ceramic-Coated-Headers-/121147756507?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c34f80fdb&vxp=mtr
I'll be putting these OBXs in as well as a Borla X pipe and some Z51 sway bars for this vert I just bought.
It already has a Borla Catback

I had a real gain when I put shorties on my 97 LT-1 Camaro
although I didn't have a before and after dyno comparison and this is an LS1 so we'll see how it goes.

I'd rather put my money aside for a supercharger next year.

 

Haters gonna hate...

As a comprimise shorty headers are very good... better than stock... yes.. better than long tubes.. no..

Get a set used.. it may take awhile.. but its worth it. BBK and B&B seems to be the class of the breed.
I'm in Cali.. and cant run long tubes (not with out a butt load of hassele) and they fit the bill. I bougt mine used for about 400 bucks... which is about average..