Full length vs. Shorties?

[Snakedoc257]

I know this topic has probably been discussed before. Will I really benefit from the use of Long tubes on my car or should I just go with shorties. Either way I am going with an H-pipe and turndowns. I would rather not have to do the exhaust system twice, but I would be saving a little on the shorty headers. Is the horsepower gain worth it?

Thanks,

[NC STANG GUY]

I know this topic has probably been discussed before. Will I really benefit from the use of Long tubes on my car or should I just go with shorties. Either way I am going with an H-pipe and turndowns. I would rather not have to do the exhaust system twice, but I would be saving a little on the shorty headers. Is the horsepower gain worth it?

Thanks,

I like the long tubes for the sound difference as much as the few hp difference.

How much difference really depends on what your combo is. The wilder the more it'll probably benefit.

[92LX-5.8]

I like the long tubes for the sound difference as much as the few hp difference.

How much difference really depends on what your combo is. The wilder the more it'll probably benefit.

+1

[crumbie]

without a doubt - longtubes and shawty Hpipe. :yes1:

[Notch93]

There was a mag test a while back -- mild 347 (around 340 rwhp) that they tested - 1 5/8" equal length shorties, 1 5/8" non-equal shorties, 1 5/8" long tubes and 1 3/4" long tubes. At peak HP/torque they were all within 2-3HP of each other - within the range of repeatability on the chassis dyno = no difference at all. However, the long tubes produced significantly more low end torque - as much as 40 ft-lbs. more for the 1 5/8" long tubes, 20 ft-lbs. more for the 1 3/4" long tubes (too big to be optimal for this motor).

[crumbie]

equal length shorties are a pain to change plugs. i wouldn't even fool with unequal length shorties. only drawback to longtubes might would be the install but they really aren't that bad. just depends on your definition of bad. I like the longtubes b/c then you just have a shory hpipe to pull if you ever have to pull the trans.

[Notch93]

i wouldn't even fool with unequal length shorties.

Care to explain why?

[crumbie]

Care to explain why?

if they are your only option then anything is better than the stock crimped manifolds, but if i were to purchase exhaust i would splurge and get the longtubes.

[Notch93]

if they are your only option then anything is better than the stock crimped manifolds, but if i were to purchase exhaust i would splurge and get the longtubes.

Plenty of 9-second cars who run shorties, it's the whole combination, not just headers.:yes1:

Friends basic old combo, 347, YSI, Victor Jr Heads, large hydraulic roller, Bassani 1 3/4" shorties through full exhaust. Put 825hp/680 lb/ft torque to the rear wheels. Shorties can't make power huh?

How about turbo cars, they run shorties, not long tubes.

[4.6L GT]

Love the difference the longtubes made on my 4.6 (sound and power), running bbk shorties on my fox though.

[Bluestreak]

For daily drivers, lowered cars, or more streetable applications, I'd strongly think about going with shorties. If ground clearance and practicality are out the window, long tubes tend to make more power/tq and IMO, have a bit better sound.

[crumbie]

Plenty of 9-second cars who run shorties, it's the whole combination, not just headers.:yes1:

Friends basic old combo, 347, YSI, Victor Jr Heads, large hydraulic roller, Bassani 1 3/4" shorties through full exhaust. Put 825hp/680 lb/ft torque to the rear wheels. Shorties can't make power huh?

How about turbo cars, they run shorties, not long tubes.

I never said you couldn't make power with them. But on the OP's car I'd recommend longtubes.

How could you run a longtube on a turbo car?

[crumbie]

For daily drivers, lowered cars, or more streetable applications, I'd strongly think about going with shorties. If ground clearance and practicality are out the window, long tubes tend to make more power/tq and IMO, have a bit better sound.

my car is slammed in the front and my longtubes don't scrape. I daily'd the car for 2 years with them and never had any issues ?

[NC STANG GUY]

I haven't had any issues with long tubes on lowered cars either. Course none of mine have been slammed. Just the normal BBK or Eibach lowering springs. Mac brand long tubes. 1 3/4 351 swap long tubes and the normal 1 5/8's 302 long tubes.

[ourtang]

Equal length shorties I think make great low end tourqe and gave mine a little bit of a lower tone to it. Pluga are not that hard to get to if you have the right tool. If your car is not that radical, I would go with the equal length shorties. I think you will like them. But different people run different setups, thats' what makes the world go round. It's up to you in the end what to run.

[2fastwhitey]

id go with long tubes because they give good buttom end torque and they do sound awesome, gotta love that crispy sound, as for ground clearance my car is lowered very low and they dnt rub only time they hit is when i go over a pretty big speed bump but then everything hits there so i wouldnt worry plus it looks kinda bad ass looking at ur car through the side and seeing the headers

[Bluestreak]

my car is slammed in the front and my longtubes don't scrape. I daily'd the car for 2 years with them and never had any issues ?
My Fox is lowered 1.5" in the front and 1" in the rear. Orlando and central Florida in general have gone absolutely NUTS installing "speed humps (http://www.cityofkingston.ca/img/transportation/speedhump_ottawa.jpg)" in the last five years. They're basically ginormic speed bumps (about 8-10 feet wide and 12" tall) that are built/placed in neighborhoods and local streets to slow traffic down. The long tubes on my Trans Am scrape them constantly, and I removed a set of BBK long tubes from my Fox some years ago because they were scraping badly too. I went with FRPP shorties, ceramic coated, on my FRPP GT40 302 and didn't notice much of a difference at all.

[89stang1]

my stangs lowered 1 1/2 inches i got 1 5/8 BBK long tubes BBK shorty off road H Pipe mac catback......Absolutely love it would not change a thing!!:yes1::thumbsup1:.........spark plugs easy to change and i dont rub on speed bumps but still have to pay attention driveways etc. not bad tho at all

[1992vert]

I have Eibach Pro lowering springs and years ago I had Hedman LTs and they drug like and plow. Swaped them out for BBK Unequal shorties and loved the clearance again although I noticed some tq loss. The new motor has 1 3/4 BBK LTs going on and they hang down even with the Canton Pan so if they drag this time I've got serious issues!!!!!:sad1:

[4techFox89]

I've been thinking about swapping my shorties out for a set of LT's. Might have to start looking into it. :thumbsup1:

[Bluestreak]

Honestly, for the street-driven daily driver (which my 5.0 is) the loss of torque isn't very noticeable. I don't know about you, but racing stoplight to stoplight is hard on the wallet... with Orlando traffic, I never get going very fast anyway. I don't race the car enough to justify LT's, and the unbelievable clearance my FRPP shorties have over the LTs I had is by far worth a little dip in RWTQ. I built my car to be fast, but I also built it to be practical. I personally believe that if you have to enter every steep driveway at an angle or sweat as you inch your car over every speed bump, it detracts from having a practical and carefree Mustang to enjoy. It's not worth a few extra ft-lbs of torque on a street car. :thumbsup1:

[Snakedoc257]

Thanks for the input guys, I was really leaning towards the long tube Mac's, but now I think I'm gonna go with the shorties. As much as it is a Hot Rod, I do need to stay a little on the practical side.
I have a set of Ceramic Fords on my 92 and love them. I found that Summit has their brand ceramic coated, so I think I may go with them and stay with the budget theme. What do ya'll think.

[Bluestreak]

I have a set of Ceramic Fords on my 92 and love them. I found that Summit has their brand ceramic coated, so I think I may go with them and stay with the budget theme. What do ya'll think.
The Summit headers are the same as the FRPPs. The ceramic coating may dull or discolor a bit (mine did) but for the price they're pretty good. I've got to take my heads off to repair some crapped-up valves due to dead stem seals, so I may have the headers re-coated to clean up the engine bay a bit more. Yeah, it's a daily driver, but that doesn't mean the engine bay can't be spotless. :yes1:

[Mustang Leo]

What I loved about my bbk shorties was being able to piece meal the system over time. Was able to pick up a used set for under $100. Then later when i had more money was able to pick up a used bbk hpipe with mids and flows for a couple hundred more. a few months later was able to pipe them out the back for buck25. I jknow it took a while but the ability to upgrade over time led me the shorty route. my 2 pennies

[Snakedoc257]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I'm going with the Summit Ceramic Coated Shorties, Summit H-pipe and Flowtech Warlock turndown kit.

I hope it sounds good.

[White Fox]

I know this topic has probably been discussed before. Will I really benefit from the use of Long tubes on my car or should I just go with shorties. Either way I am going with an H-pipe and turndowns. I would rather not have to do the exhaust system twice, but I would be saving a little on the shorty headers. Is the horsepower gain worth it?

Thanks,
I read that long tube are good for top end hp gain and short for bottom end hp gain, although not that much of a difference.

[trublu5oh]

long tubes all the way