1 BLOWN V8

iTrader: (17)

Hello all:
1st I did a search and got some info but want to also hear a little more from other people.
I have a 02 Z-28 auto and live in CALIFORNIA.

My mods catback exaust, SLP air lid, bellows boot, ported throttle body, K&N air filter, Hypertech III, 160 thermostat and a few bolt ons under the car for handling.

I am also looking into doing a heads and cam in the future also but not sure yet.

So I want to keep it smog legal.

Does a shorty header help that much in hp and torq gains?

I have also read a mid length header is legal in all 50 states but I cant see how if it moves the cats down more. If the mid lengths are legal wouldn't that be the way to go?

If the headers are worth it which ones would be the best for the buck?

Thanks all for any info

VaNDaL*SS*

iTrader: (1)

Mid's are not legal here in cali, shorties are not worth it for the $$$ you might see a slight increase (like 1 hp) or nothing at all and ive heard that people even lose hp going to a shortie from the stock manifold. The 01-02 stock manifolds were re-designed and are pretty much a shorty, id say if it was a 98-00 then ud see some hp, but nothing real significant. I am going with the QTP LT w/ HVMC's, i dont really care because ive got some1 for the visual. I'm going with a head/cam set up aswell and you would be leaving alot of hp on the table by not picking up a set of LT's.

hugger1975

iTrader: (3)

305/325
shorties and lid.

so i say not worth it.

pullin them out for a cam and LT"s soon.
try to push them off on someone worried about smog i hope!!!

JamRWS6

Shorties are not worth your time or money.

Casperws6

i agree. i live in cali and just ordered my LT's. just find someone for the visual part. everyone's doing it

INMY01TA

iTrader: (1)

Mids are no more legal than long tubes.

94'BLKBRD

iTrader: (76)

Shorties suck ballzzz.......

Dave 96TA

iTrader: (10)

Your 02 already has pretty decent flowing exhaust manifolds, and the material plus the shield hold in the exhaust heat pretty well which keeps under-hood temps down.

A shorty header could look better and either improve or ruin plug access, depending on the design.

A mid-length header would certainly be an upgrade. It's more than moving the cats. The primary tubes are longer and combine into a larger port on many designs. MAC Mids (and MAC ORY) allowed my car to run 106.6MPH on a soggy night in Florida with absolutely no other mods (stock lid and silencer, stock catback, 245/50/16 Kumhos, etc.).

Longtube headers will improve gains beyond the mid-length designs and really shine in the higher RPMs. They are said to lose a little torque down low over a mid-length design. But who races at 2000rpm besides diesels?

Killer_Z

iTrader: (1)

go with long tubes and some cats and you'll be fine with tune.

Slvr00Bird

iTrader: (2)

This thread was 3 Years Old!!!!

Why do you people resurrect such old threads???

COD02SS

Where do you find your BS?

Edelbrock Shorties and a bassani O/R Y yielded 22rwhp on my car. Shorties WORK. Don't listen to some of these idiots

Slvr00Bird

iTrader: (2)

Long tubes are best for our cars IMO...
Shorties are meant to spin higher rmps for their gains and the gains are seen higher in the power band.. This is why i believe the formula cars use them because they rev so high and stay up there in that power band.. Just what I've heard.

Killer_Z

iTrader: (1)

probably on 98-99 cars, and keep in mind he went with a much higherflowing Y pipe with no cat's thats most likely where the 22rwhp was gained. 00+ not really worth going w/ shorties, can probably get some gains from just upgrading the Y-pipe.

i know why is this 3 year old thread ressurected?

ChocoTaco369

IMO, if you're in Kalifornia and LT's are not an option, that's really the only time shorties are a viable option. They're worth some gains over manifolds, so they definitely won't hurt. Just try and find a used set or wait for a sale.

To all you guys saying shorties are no better than 01-02 manifolds, do you have any proof of this or are you just stating internet lore that someone told someone that told someone that told you? Shorties will work better than stock manifolds 100% of the time. Shorties provide a level of scavenging that manifolds do not. The gains from headers mostly come from scavenging benefits, not an increase in flow. Because shorties scavenge better than any manifold can, there will always be increases (assuming the tune is comparable) in the upper RPM's. Shorties are just inefficient to yield low end hp gains like LT's are, but the high RPM gains are still there, just not as much as LT's.

ChocoTaco369

Yes, that is correct. Shorties require a high RPM to be effective while LT's don't require the same high RPM's. However, there will still be a gain vs. manifolds because they don't do much of anything at all in the way of scavenging. At least shorties do something.

02silvaZ

iTrader: (12)

i would buy shorties if i was in an emissions state, other than that, no

RooRnZ28

iTrader: (14)

i'll still contribute:

i went from stock manis to edelbrock shorties, and there was no difference in power whatsoever. I have the shorties for sale if anyone is interested, lol!


i noticed more of a difference swapping out my lid for a K&N FIPK

TedsB4Csled

iTrader: (6)

I like my shorties...no emission visual worries...they are a lot lighter...look better(I personally don't care) and probably do flow better than stock. Also so much easier to install. Do I want LTs? Heck yeah! Do I want a cam and heads of course! What am I gonna get right now? Nothing....gotta pay for gas. I'm happy with my shorties, so don't sell them short! Bwahahaha! Ok, maybe not that funny. I will dyno shorties against LTs if I get them. I'll get a y-pipe and 3" first...I still have 315rwhp and 332rwtq WITH shorties! And that was with slowmaster, I have straight pipe now. Just being different and difficult I guess. Good enough for me right now.

INMY01TA

iTrader: (1)

I didn't. Someone else did and deleted their post so eat a dick.

Soul TKR

iTrader: (4)

suuuuuurrrreeee.............