LT vs ST Headers
 

hey all...Just a quick question. I'm trying to figure out what differences between Long Tube and Short Tube headers are. Which is supposed to be better..etc. Thanks.

John

Long tubes have well longer tubes. they are alot longer than the stock header tubes or logs if you will. and they make more HP and Tourqe then shorties. Also a new mid pipe or y-pipe in your case needs to be used as they will not bolt ot the stock setup at all. unless you modify it.

Short tubes are a direct replacement of the manifolds or logs. they give a small improvemnt over stock dont wont make nearly as much extra power as the long tubes will. but if cheaper power is your thing this might be what you want to do.

Long tubes require more work to install and are expensive, I have heard up to 8hours. Short ones look like stock cast iron ones but are tubes and flow better. short gained about 15hp and long 25hp. This is on a cobra motor from SHM not a low comp motor. With a low compression supercharged Cobra block gains with a long tube were minimal. Looks like more gains are to be had with a higher compression block. Check out MMFF March article one with Jessie Jane on cover for article.

ok, so if I'm to understand this, I could theoritically buy new long tube headers, an o/r H or catted H or X pipe and then be able to put on whatever aftermarket dual exhaust of my choice, correct? Or would I still be limited in my selections? My current thought is to get the SLP Loudmouth Catback. Bah, this woulda been so much simpler if I had just gotten a GT... :cussing:

You have to get headers for your v6. Basically if you get long tube headers you have to get a midpipe x or h that is made to fit the long tubes since the attachment point is further down the exhaust than stock or short tube. The cat back does not matter what you get. I would get slp since its modular which means you can change the configuration. You do not need to weld anything its 100% bolt on and is done with simple tools. The slp midpipe also has options for long , short tube and cat or catless. You have to make sure that its made for a V6 the only thing I am sure is the catback with the addition of hangers that you will have to get.

if you want long tubes its gonna be macs long tubes and a mac mid pipe which is a h-pipe. they are the only ones who make them. once you get this you can use any gt catback.

Muchas gracias, senors. That's exactly what I needed to know. :love7:

While the thread starter has a V-6, I think this is pretty much general tech and might help more readers, so I moved it.

I'd like to add my 2 cents. I think for a nearly stock motor, LT's would be the best choice. For a guy who races often, has ported heads or aftermarket cams, the shorties might be ideal. The shorties make pretty good power gains up top (above 4000rpm) but do lose some low-mid range power. I use FRPP shorties and have been pretty happy with them do far.

Adam

Adam, what are the real gains in HP with those FRPP ones? Cost? Ease of installtion?

long tubes will always make more power in most cases get long tubes if you can

A- afford them and

B-can handle the fact that they hang a bit lower.

I don't have dyno numbers as i did more mods than just headers. I can tell you I picked up 72rwhp with stock PI heads/intake swap, VT stage 1 cams and the FRPP shorties. I guess you can break it down from that...lol. I bought them for $100 shipped, which looked much more appealing than 500-600 for LT's plus another $200+ for a midpipe. If I were going to bo buy new headers I would buy LT's. If you find a nice set of used shorties and you rev your motor pretty high (above 6k) you will see some gains. Anything is better then stock manifolds.

If I had to put a # hp-wise I would say maybe 7-10rwhp above 4000rpm, your mods would dictate this number quite a bit.

Adam