shorties or long tubes?

[MustangChris]

Chris, you hit the nail on the head!

Oh btw equal length is the most wicked looking s**t on the planet!

lol +1 on good looks of EQ length headers...

Don't forget about smog since you live in the bay area like I do. LT's are not smog legal and having just an x pipe with two cats is now illegal in California also! I know of at least 4 guys which had a smog tech check for 4 cats. If you are not making big power since LTs won't provide a huge increase in power in a stock setup, it comes down to sound. Is it worth it to have to pay someone to pass smog every two years just for a meaner sounding car?

In my case, I have one car is setup with a non emissions cam, head, blower, manifold...etc and it's worth the trouble of LTs. But I do have another car that is similar to what you have currently and for me it's not worth the sound/performance to have to pay someone every 2 years for a little more torque and hp. At the end you are paying off a car that's has the power of a stock car but sounds nice.

+1 on smog... didnt think about CA smog laws at all....

 

[Javi]

My car has a 2.5" drop all around and i have never scrape my longtubes on any speedbumps.

 

[AaRoN]

Steel Works also make a quality LT header. Mac's aren't too bad.

 

[Paul]

Equal length are the only ones you should even consider.

This is wrong. Nothing I've EVER seen has shown equal lengths to provide consistent performance gains over unequal length shorties. There has been anecdotal evidence on both sides showing one is better, or the other is, or the power curves are different, but I've not seen sufficient data to make this claim.

Paul.

 

[MustangChris]

My car has a 2.5" drop all around and i have never scrape my longtubes on any speedbumps.

you have sissy speed bumps where you live.

Steel Works also make a quality LT header. Mac's aren't too bad.

my friend has mac and they leak... but i have mac CAI and dont have any problems...

Equal length are the only ones you should even consider.

This is wrong. Nothing I've EVER seen has shown equal lengths to provide consistent performance gains over unequal length shorties. There has been anecdotal evidence on both sides showing one is better, or the other is, or the power curves are different, but I've not seen sufficient data to make this claim.

Paul.

now that you mention it, niether have i... just kinda what you hear stading around the water-cooler i guess. never PERSONALLY looked into "what shorty-type headers make the best power" due to the fact that i only want LTs.

In my opinion, which doesnt mean much, the theory behind equal length headers is sound, so i still agree with my claim that eq. length > manifold-style. if you dont want equal length, dont get them, but thats personally what i suggest if you prefer shorty headers.

overall you should go with long tubes, but if thats not an option, equal length shorties are what I PERSONALLY suggest.

 

[Paul]

Here's a related article on longtubes vs shorties.

In this case - a mildly modified 5.0 - the car made more peak power, especially up top, with unequal length SHORTY headers. The longtubes had the torque advantage down low.

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/techarticles/29618_short_long_tube_headers_test/index.html

Paul.

 

[Paul]

i still agree with my claim that eq. length > manifold-style.

Manifold-style and unequal length are two TOTALLY different things. Unequals simply have four primary tubes of differing lengths merging into one collector. Equals have four primary tubes of the SAME length merging into one collector. Manifold-style (as commonly used) is only one primary tube that attaches to all four exhaust ports.

Equal lengths are more expensive, a pain in the ass, and don't make any more power. (at least that I've ever seen)

Paul.

 

[MustangChris]

hm. cool... i wonder how that changes with a blower... just curious..

 

[Paul]

Exhaust flow becomes increasingly important when there are increased exhaust requirements. Since blowers cram more air/fuel mixture into the cylinder, it logically follows that increased flow would be helpful.

 

[MustangChris]

i still agree with my claim that eq. length > manifold-style.

Manifold-style and unequal length are two TOTALLY different things. Unequals simply have four primary tubes of differing lengths merging into one collector. Equals have four primary tubes of the SAME length merging into one collector. Manifold-style (as commonly used) is only one primary tube that attaches to all four exhaust ports.

Equal lengths are more expensive, a pain in the ass, and don't make any more power. (at least that I've ever seen)

Paul.

oh, so unequal length is kinda what i see alot of on 350s... they all merge into the same collector, but they are all different lengths? some being as small as 3-4 inches? and manifold is the style where the front pipe goes back and the others just run into the single pipe?

 

[MustangChris]

Exhaust flow becomes increasingly important when there are increased exhaust requirements. Since blowers cram more air/fuel mixture into the cylinder, it logically follows that increased flow would be helpful.

but which one gives better increased flow for a blower app? LTs? or shorties?

id assume long tubes.

 

[Paul]

Find some relevant test data and see for yourself.

Clearly though, there is more to header selection than power output. You won't see longtubes on any of my cars.

 

[Paul]

This is an exhaust manifold:

 

[MustangChris]

Find some relevant test data and see for yourself.

Clearly though, there is more to header selection than power output. You won't see longtubes on any of my cars.

why not?

 

[Paul]

Because they're a pain in the ass. I'll take ease of install and serviceability over a small increase in power (sometimes none at all) any day.

Paul.

 

[MustangChris]

hm... kinda like a beautiful woman who complains verses an ugly one who doesnt?

 

[Paul]

Gorgeous women are usually terrible in bed. There are exceptions to every rule, but I have found that one to be generally true.

 

[MustangChris]

hm... i moderately agree.. 66% of my girlfriends were gorgeous and of that 50% of them were amazing in the sack. and the other 50% were absolutely terrible... 33% of my girlfriends were moderately good looking and 100% were epically-amazing in the sack.

therefore 33% were epically amazing and moderately good looking, 33% were amazing looking and amazing in the sack, and 33% were amazing looking and terrible.

in conclution: dont fall in love with something that has a price tag.

 

[5.Woahhh]

Paul you are a God among men.

 

[justinschmidt1]

Gorgeous women are usually terrible in bed. There are exceptions to every rule, but I have found that one to be generally true.

Cause they think they can just lay there and be gorgeous....like that is sexy or something.

Ill stick with the ugly women...haha