trying to decide on getting either long tube, shorty, equal lenght ... which is best for performance. also x pipes = better dont they, or just a sound thing. let'r rip.
On your stock car, you won't see much in the way of peak power increase by replacing the stock headers. The rest of the stock exhaust system - especially cats and mufflers - can be improved upon. But unless you get that stock motor up into the 280+ HP range, the stock HO headers won't hold you back.
Now, if you put on a set of small primary longtubes (1.5" primaries) with a good system, you can really perk up the bottom end and mid-range. But most power gains on a stock car are gonna come from the system downstream of the headers. Putting on equal or non-equal shorties are a waste of money for you unless you're planning on other significant changes in the near future.
Having tmoss port your stock lower intake will also really help - that component is the biggest single flow restriction on the stock car.
Hey Michael.. i'm running 1.5" longtubes, into a modified stock H-pipe and an aftermarket 2.5"+3" tipped catback with flows.. i will be having a set of stock cats welded onto my h pipe (from a 02GT). Do you think the H pipe will be holding back much power?
I think if you are planning on maybe an HCI combo or just cam and intake it would be a good idea to go longtube. BBK 1 5/8 primaries would be your best bet for tube diameter for the application and the price is awesome. They sell midpipes for like 169 w/o cats and 369 with cats. Crazy huh! That's why I went w/o cats. And then just get ANY aftermarket catback. They're just about ALL good. Except like one chamber flows. They're strictly for 14-16 year olds IMO that think louder = more power or cooler or something lol.
If you are doing it all at once i would definitely do LT's a mid pipe and cat-back.
Depending on your area you may want/need cats if not do without. As for the X vs. H debate on a mostly stock car you won't notice a difference. Its all sound preference then. I prefer the X but i have heard some H's that I like. On a higher horsepower car an X may make more power...but on a stock car no difference.
Then get a catback that you like. If you get a straight thru muffler catback it argueably sounds better with the X, but I love the chambered muflers with the X too. Do some research more on sounds if that is a big deal with you.
My recommendation which is what I am in the process of installing is BBK 1-5/8 LTs, Dr. Gas X-pipe and either flowmaster, MAC, or Spintech mufflers.