Are shorty headers even worth it?

[68RR]

From a "Header" manufacturer site:

Shorty Headers
PROS- Easy installation, variety of sizes available for popular applications, improved ground clearance, designed for space-limited installations, definite improvement over factory manifolds, inexpensive
CONS - Slight loss of torque in high power/high RPM applications, it is sometimes possible for the shorter design to be strained at the collector on high power applications

Full-Length Headers (Equal Length Primary)
PROS - Best for racing and high performance, improved torque in some applications, best for maximum power, more variety of sizes and lengths available to match specific needs
CONS - Installation is more difficult, less clearance everywhere, having to make modifications is common, mini-starter required in many applications, expensive

Torque is also affected by collector length and diameter.....Being an old fart, many moons ago in the lower stock classes we used to run long collector extensions to help build a little more torque.

[TENGRAM]

better bottom end with long tubes? its the opposite, you loose bottom end and gain top end with lt's because they are better at scavenging and reduce back pressure compared to shorties.

It depends on the primary diameter.

[Cobraman]

Cobraman had a H pipe setup he was tryin to get rid of the other day....
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/pts/2583072456.html

They sold yesterday.

[03trubluGT]

Headers on a fuel injected engine dont have much effect on anything......

I gained 19 rwhp and 24 lb-ft of torque when I put BBK ceramic coated LTs, BBK off road X, and Magnaflow catback on my 2003 Mustang GT.

[Jimbo]

It depends on the primary diameter.

Exactly, LT's will generally always improve the torque curve, even down low, when compared to similar shorties.

[Jimbo]

Headers on a fuel injected engine dont have much effect on anything......

I find myself looking for one of those "not sure if serious" pictures.

[SMEGMA STENCH]

and throw a code. which means he will have to get a tune or chip to correct. thats another $250-300.

I saw a mod on another forum where you can install a little resistor or something in-line, and it fools the computer into thinking its still there. So that you don't end up having to pay for a tune. That may not be exactly how you go about it, but I'm pretty sure that there is some kind of little mod like that.

Anyway, as per yall's recommendation, I'll look around on the board to see if I can find some used stuff. I do not need an H-pipe thanks to Tengram. I just need everything past the H-pipe. The mufflers and tubing. The stock stuff kinda sucks. Anyone selling anything like that for a 94? To clarify, a 94 is not a fox body. I think there was some confusion about that in another thread. Oh yeah, one other thing. I do plan on doing some aluminum heads/cam/intake one day. But due to ease of install, and clearance issues, I think I've decided to go with shorties, What size should my tubing be? Should I get the smaller size, or the less common larger size? IIRC, the smaller size is what... 5/8? And the larger is like 3/4? Seems like if I'm going to do heads one day, it might be smarter to buy the larger size so that I can just swap 'em over to the new heads.

[SMEGMA STENCH]

What about these? Says they're for a fox but you can just drill a hole and then they're for an sn95 lol

http://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/pts/2523477804.html

[Grape]

Most of you that are saying you picked up power also remapped the box at the same time. Can of worms +1. Can of worms +2 is using inertia dynos to calculate hp, dont get me started about dynojet if you guys dont want your feelings hurt. Can of worms +3, headers and proper draw on the exhaust valve are paramount when having to draw fuel out of a carburetor, not so much when you have 43 psi of fuel pressure.

Granted, you guys are talkin about production street car shit vs aftermarket. Im speaking from a header with 14" primaries vs a header with 22" primaries. Both of which were properly built, mandrel bent bla bla bla. Power diff is negligable and hard to tell you moved anything around, even after remapping...

[Z06killinsbf]

Only thing shorties are good for is to face them forward. But then you must make a y-pipe, then merge that to a turbo, then from there that goes to a single pipe, then from that point to ANOTHER Y-pipe. This header swap can normally gain you about 100-200+ hp.

[jnobles06]

I saw a mod on another forum where you can install a little resistor or something in-line, and it fools the computer into thinking its still there. So that you don't end up having to pay for a tune. That may not be exactly how you go about it, but I'm pretty sure that there is some kind of little mod like that.

did the mod, didn't work, and had to get a chip. difference between properly tuned with egr turned off the car went from 8.6 in the 1/8 to 8.2.

[SMEGMA STENCH]

Well all this sounds a lot more complicated than I wanted it to be heh. I just want to buy some shorties that are worth having, that will bolt up to my 94. And then be done with it. Can't remember but I think the whole EGR thing can be solved by having a hole in the header. Many of seem to be saying it wouldn't be worth it for shorties, but have you seen the junk that comes on a 94-95 car? There are huge restrictions bent into them from the factory, right up by the exhaust ports on the head. Sucks.

[Blackpony]

I rest my case.

[jnobles06]

my bbk longtubes had a port for the egr but it wasn't even close to lining up with the tube. so I deleted it.

[Z06killinsbf]

I put 1-3/4 Mac LT's and ProChamber mid pipe on my basically stock fox at one time and didn't really notice much difference until it got into the upper revs. And at that time it already had UD pullies and a K&N. You arent going to notice much until you boost it or put some good speed parts on it. Plan for future upgrades and not what you have now, why buy parts twice.