Long tubes vs shorty headers
- Thread starter BradleyMustang3
- Start date
LT's make more power and are louder. Downsides are less ground clearance, and some brands require you to pull the passenger side off to drop the trans.
AFAIK you gain very little hp with shorties. None the less I'm considering getting shorties and dumping my LT's cause I'm sick of the horrible ground clearance issues.
AFAIK you gain very little hp with shorties. None the less I'm considering getting shorties and dumping my LT's cause I'm sick of the horrible ground clearance issues.
Stumbaugh
Member
Shorties:
Advantages - none
Disadvantages - Requires the same effort as long tubes to install for no power gains
Long tubes:
Advantages - Lot's of power gians, better sounding exhaust
Disadvantages - ground clearance.
Advantages - none
Disadvantages - Requires the same effort as long tubes to install for no power gains
Long tubes:
Advantages - Lot's of power gians, better sounding exhaust
Disadvantages - ground clearance.
+1
This thread needs to be stickied and the above post should be the only post allowed. There's a thread on this topic every other week lol
sneaky98gt
10 Year Member
Left a little bit out.
Shorties do sound better (than stock) and allow you to use the stock size midpipe. Unless I'm badly fooled, they don't require you to pull the motor/drop the front suspension to swap them in. Also, they are normally much cheaper than long tubes.
And there are definitely a couple more disadvantages to long tubes, with the install and cost being the biggest ones; they are a HUGE pain to install, and will normally run you upwards of $500 just for the parts. They also often don't allow you to drop the tranny or change the clutch without removing at least one side.
All of that being said, shorties are a complete waste of money unless you are only looking for a marginally better sounding exhaust. Either keep the stock manifolds, or spend $1000 for parts/install for long tubes and get 15 rwhp and a much better sounding car.
Flghtmstr1
Member
Get mid-lengths. They combine the power and sound advantages of long tubes with the ground clearance and general livability of shorties.
Stumbaugh
Member
Yeah I left out a lot, bu I didnt want to go into great detail. I hated my shorties with a pashion in my 99. Took the same amount of effort to install as long tubes and could not tell a difference what's so ever. Mine were BBK equal length headers.
What do the factory cast iron manifolds weigh vs shorties? Removing weight up front doesn't have to make power to be a benefit.
And long tubes require buying a new midpipe as well. So just for parts you are looking at long tubes + midpipe vs. shorties and using whatever you already have spent money on.
So shorties save front end weight, money, and don't affect ground clearance or changing the clutch but don't make as much power and are a PITA to install.
Long tubes add perhaps 20-30 rwhp NA and save front end weight but require buying a new mid pipe, add cost to changing clutch, reduce ground clearance, and are a PITA to install.
If it is solely a power mod, go long tubes. It's worth it. If it is an all around performance mod including cornering behavior, go shorties. And IMHO do either when you change the clutch.
And long tubes require buying a new midpipe as well. So just for parts you are looking at long tubes + midpipe vs. shorties and using whatever you already have spent money on.
So shorties save front end weight, money, and don't affect ground clearance or changing the clutch but don't make as much power and are a PITA to install.
Long tubes add perhaps 20-30 rwhp NA and save front end weight but require buying a new mid pipe, add cost to changing clutch, reduce ground clearance, and are a PITA to install.
If it is solely a power mod, go long tubes. It's worth it. If it is an all around performance mod including cornering behavior, go shorties. And IMHO do either when you change the clutch.
Stumbaugh
Member
Long tubes do not require a new mid pipe. They require you taking it to an exhaust shop and saying "hey, cut here, and weld this collector on".
Not all long tubes require you to remove them to change out the clutch. I'm pretty sure they are the more expensive ones that dont require you to, but I am not 100% sure which ones that is. But I do know 100% that not all of them require it.
Stumbaugh
Member
I am getting ready to tear into my car. Installing some good ol cheapy Flowtech's. I will take some before and after pics of ground clearance issues and what not. I will be doing a clutch swap and installing a UPR tubular front end while it's tore apart. I will take the headers, bolt them up, and see if I can drop the transmission with them installed and report back.
Make sure that you RTV the flowtechs where the headers hit the mid pipe if you are not welding at that location.
I have MAC Long Tubes on the car and I was able to remove the transmission without having to loosen/remove either Header. It was one of the more stressful jobs in my life, but it is possible to do this without doing anything with the headers first.
You have to spin/twist the transmission around to get it to squeeze in between the headers, of course you want to be careful that all the weight of the transmission is not causing damage to anything while working out the transmission.
I will more than likely try to loosen the passenger side header the next time I put in a new clutch, fyi.
You have to spin/twist the transmission around to get it to squeeze in between the headers, of course you want to be careful that all the weight of the transmission is not causing damage to anything while working out the transmission.
I will more than likely try to loosen the passenger side header the next time I put in a new clutch, fyi.
mransr
Founding Member
the other issue with long tubes, that is an absolute deal breaker for a lot if us, is they are 100% illegal in California 
Stumbaugh
Member
Tim2002GT
Founding Member
LT's will not add 20-30 rwhp NA. More like 5-15 rwhp. You will gain hp/tq under the curve, which is the biggest benefit however.
If you are a drag racer, you will see gains at the track of around 2-4 mph NA. Even more if you are spraying or boosting your car.
I also have Flowtech LT's and there is room to pull the tranny with them still installed. It is tight, but it isn't too bad.
If you are a drag racer, you will see gains at the track of around 2-4 mph NA. Even more if you are spraying or boosting your car.
I also have Flowtech LT's and there is room to pull the tranny with them still installed. It is tight, but it isn't too bad.
Agreed, you are looking at best case maybe ~20rwhp NA total for LT's & o/r midpipe over the stock stuff (that is just peak, other place along the curve will be a gain but less).
Also shorties can still give you a mild gain, but really as stated.... hardly worth the effort, we are talking 5rwhp at best NA (some report no gain). The best role for shorties is if you are making some kind of a custom turbo setup.
Also shorties can still give you a mild gain, but really as stated.... hardly worth the effort, we are talking 5rwhp at best NA (some report no gain). The best role for shorties is if you are making some kind of a custom turbo setup.
the other issue with long tubes, that is an absolute deal breaker for a lot if us, is they are 100% illegal in California
everything is illegal in california...thank go for alaska!
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