Waste of Time?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
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From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
Waste of Time? I've been thinking a long time about whether to get LT's, but part of me would like to keep a stock underhood appearance and be cheap besides. CNC ported manifolds are available for about $175 and supposedly give a 10 rwhp gain. Would it be worth installing those with some hi-flow cats and a 2.5 Y with Flowmaster merge? Or would it be a waste of time and money to do anything less than LT's?
TECH Addict
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: England
+ 1 to the above.
Good header design for an n/a motor is all about scavenging not flow. The stockers flow well enough but they don't scavenge. Lt's are the only way to go unless you plan on FI then shorties will work quite well as scavenging is totally different with an FI motor.
Good header design for an n/a motor is all about scavenging not flow. The stockers flow well enough but they don't scavenge. Lt's are the only way to go unless you plan on FI then shorties will work quite well as scavenging is totally different with an FI motor.
I agree with everthing; in addition keep in mind, consider the characteristics of typical hot rod technique, which states LTs have both greater flow potential and also increase the midrange tq a tangible amount, and you should be good to go.
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There is a SOTP difference all the way back and forth without hesitation at all; the increase after intstalling long tubes is substantial. Now these days, shorties are just too old fashioned. They definately increase sound a lot, however the fact remains they aren't as efficient nor as deep sounding as real long tubes.
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Athough the delta from shorty exhaust manifolds to long tubes is less these days, older ls1s benefit more from a shorty swap.
However, when you consider the cost effectivness to power ratio of shorties to LTs, the decision ends up being objective in most ways.
However, when you consider the cost effectivness to power ratio of shorties to LTs, the decision ends up being objective in most ways.
I used to have JBA shorties, SLP y-pipe w/ high flow cats and a flowmaster merge. That's about the best you can do for a shorty setup, but is well short of what you'll gain with longtubes. All I can say is I hope I never have to replace my LT's with shorties again! Even though I have a 98, the shorties didn't do much for power or sound. 
Waste of time and $$$. Do LT's or leave it alone.
For instance, I run shorties, and I know others who run shorties, and to count them out completely is simply retarded. If you take into account what a header does for an engine you'de be a complete dumb -*** not to consider shorties for a true California legal setup--especially for 98-99 cars with lego-log utter crap for exhaust manifolds that aren't anywhere near equal length--like I used to have on mine. Yes, there are associated disadvantages, such as cost (unless you can pick them up used), lack of sound, cost, and hp potential lol. But these shrink in the light of an overall vision when you consider why someone would want to throttle their midrange with shorties. Hey, that's the definition of insane if you ask me, but apparently there are some reasons on the flip side of the equation as well, and ways to make up the difference, such as increasing the scavengin effect with a good true dual exhaust, and smart components, like I have on mine. See my dyno graph this past weekend and next monday and you'll see what I mean.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
Likes: 236
From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
Originally Posted by 300bhp/ton
Good header design for an n/a motor is all about scavenging not flow. The stockers flow well enough but they don't scavenge.