Shorties to LT's worth it??
12-03-2015, 08:58 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Shorties to LT's worth it??
My car had JBA ceramic shorty headers on it when I bought it. Would it be worth the money to upgrade to long tubes? Lt's are pricey for a vette plus I would have to retune. Also I currently have an offroad Magnaflow xpipe that I want to keep but also want to keep cats. So do you guys think it would be worth doing? Also with lt's can I add cats separtely to the magnaflow xpipe while keeping the stock ti mufflers and everything match up? Thanks
12-03-2015, 09:33 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
Yes, yes, yes to the 3 questions. Shorties don't do much over factory manifolds. LT's and a tune will. You'll have pretty much what I do; Texas Speed headers, Magnaflow cats & X, stock Ti's.
The following users liked this post:
ericdwong (12-03-2015)
12-03-2015, 10:06 PM
#3
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Dec 1999
Location: Anthony TX
Posts: 32,736
Received 2,180 Likes
on
1,583 Posts
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
100% 
The following users liked this post:
ericdwong (12-03-2015)
12-03-2015, 10:19 PM
#4
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Aug 2005
Location: CA.
Posts: 5,255
Likes: 0
Received 281 Likes
on
258 Posts
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Shorty headers do not require tuning---So most likely unless you know for SURE your car has never been tuned---
Shortys can make only about 10-12 RWHP --------without tuning
However LT's are a huge improvement--The more modded your car is the more HP is on the table---But even on an all stock engine--LT's are known to produce an easy 20-30 RWHP but require a tune to get the full benefits--
Depending on where you live--LT's are NOT legal in many states as far as smog goes--
That can be the deciding factor on whether or not you want to pass smog or it doesn't matter----
PLUS If you ever plan on any future mods such as a cam--better heads--better intake manifold etc----You limit your HP by using shortys or stock exhaust manifolds--
No smog in your state ?? YES go for it---you'll love the sound and the added HP---
Shortys can make only about 10-12 RWHP --------without tuning
However LT's are a huge improvement--The more modded your car is the more HP is on the table---But even on an all stock engine--LT's are known to produce an easy 20-30 RWHP but require a tune to get the full benefits--
Depending on where you live--LT's are NOT legal in many states as far as smog goes--
That can be the deciding factor on whether or not you want to pass smog or it doesn't matter----
PLUS If you ever plan on any future mods such as a cam--better heads--better intake manifold etc----You limit your HP by using shortys or stock exhaust manifolds--
No smog in your state ?? YES go for it---you'll love the sound and the added HP---
The following users liked this post:
ericdwong (12-04-2015)
12-03-2015, 10:27 PM
#5
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Dec 1999
Location: Anthony TX
Posts: 32,736
Received 2,180 Likes
on
1,583 Posts
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Shorty headers do not require tuning---So most likely unless you know for SURE your car has never been tuned---
Shortys can make only about 10-12 RWHP --------without tuning
However LT's are a huge improvement--The more modded your car is the more HP is on the table---But even on an all stock engine--LT's are known to produce an easy 20-30 RWHP but require a tune to get the full benefits--
Depending on where you live--LT's are NOT legal in many states as far as smog goes--
That can be the deciding factor on whether or not you want to pass smog or it doesn't matter----
PLUS If you ever plan on any future mods such as a cam--better heads--better intake manifold etc----You limit your HP by using shortys or stock exhaust manifolds--
No smog in your state ?? YES go for it---you'll love the sound and the added HP---
Shortys can make only about 10-12 RWHP --------without tuning
However LT's are a huge improvement--The more modded your car is the more HP is on the table---But even on an all stock engine--LT's are known to produce an easy 20-30 RWHP but require a tune to get the full benefits--
Depending on where you live--LT's are NOT legal in many states as far as smog goes--
That can be the deciding factor on whether or not you want to pass smog or it doesn't matter----
PLUS If you ever plan on any future mods such as a cam--better heads--better intake manifold etc----You limit your HP by using shortys or stock exhaust manifolds--
No smog in your state ?? YES go for it---you'll love the sound and the added HP---
For 12 HP
BC
Last edited by Bill Curlee; 12-03-2015 at 10:27 PM.
12-04-2015, 08:50 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Well that settles it then I guess for Christmas I will have to buy myself a set of LT's lol. So with the headers, cats, off road x and stock axle back it will all bolt up and fit?
any suggestions on which cats?
any suggestions on which cats?
12-04-2015, 09:00 PM
#7
Administrator
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
Posts: 342,707
Received 19,233 Likes
on
13,933 Posts
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Get the LTs and a tune - your car and your seat of the pants meter will appreciate it.
12-04-2015, 09:29 PM
#8
Racer
Forget about using your x pipe and sell it. Buy a complete long tube set up with mid pipes and cats and bolt to your axle back. Installation will be much easier. I have American racing headers and their mid pipe with cats and everything fit perfectly. Then get a tune.
12-04-2015, 09:34 PM
#9
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Yeah thats what I figured would be the best route. I really like the magnaflow x-pipe but I will prob try to sell it and get the whole setup
12-04-2015, 10:11 PM
#10
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Dec 1999
Location: Anthony TX
Posts: 32,736
Received 2,180 Likes
on
1,583 Posts
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Unless you are really skilled at metal fabrication and have the tools and equipment, combining different exhaust parts to form a complete system is tough.
I do all my own work BUT,, I purchased a NEW STAINLESS WORKS Exhaust System (headers to muffler tips) when I modified my exhaust. It came with RANDOM Technologies CATS.
Bill
I do all my own work BUT,, I purchased a NEW STAINLESS WORKS Exhaust System (headers to muffler tips) when I modified my exhaust. It came with RANDOM Technologies CATS.
Bill
12-08-2015, 08:49 AM
#12
Melting Slicks
If you are looking for Bang for the Buck you can't beat LG. They have the street series and pro series. I had the street series with HF cats, x-pipe and Z06 Ti axle back on my 00 vert 6 speed. Not only did it sound great the low end performance was great. Looking to get the street series for my 04 Z06. 
12-11-2015, 10:28 PM
#14
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
12-11-2015, 10:30 PM
#15
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Since i have a nice offroad xpipe ive been thinking about getting just a set of lt's and going catless. Emissions is not really an issue where I live. I wouls have a good bit of money...assuming the mated up to my magnaflow xpipe good.