Shorty or Long Tube Headers?

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DarkSilence

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I am looking into exhaust and decided to start looking at headers first. My question is what to go with, short or long tube headers? I have heard all different answers and some contradicting answers (imagine that.) I am not looking for high RPM performance, my 03 Hemi is just a daily driver. So I am looking to keep my low end torque with some mid HP gains. I would think that short tube headers would be the way to go, but again I have heard people say that long tube headers will increase gains across a wider power band. Now I am all confused. If possible I would like to see some dyno results between short and long tube headers. Thanks everyone.
 

1500ram12

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From what I've been told long tubes give you the best overall hp/tq gains. You are going to pay more but will get the best results

Sent from my Galaxy SIII
 

Graygoose

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Both will help, LT's help lowend, but they cost alot more than shorties.
 

WhiteExpress

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If you have the money, go for the Long Tubes.
You'll have more of a notable gain in daily driving than with shorties.
 

Hemi450hp

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You are lucky that you have a 3rd gen because the Pacesetter longtubes for your truck are only $429, and that is the ceramic coated. Then just add their matching y-pipe which is $185, and you are good to go.

Shorties help more in the mid-upper rpms whereas the longtubes are going to show gains all across the board. With the cost of shorties and longtubes being so close for your year model, I would go straight to longtubes.
 

KGBIGCOUNTRY

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^Yep, get the longtubes coated, off road y pipe kit, o2 extenders and a set of OEM gaskets and break out the saw. You will love them, wish I had done mine years ago.
 

WhiteExpress

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I hear these have similar gains on the OLD 5.9 Magnums motors.
I think I might need to get a set for my Dad's Ram.

He seems to insist on keeping it around instead of getting a Gen IV 2500.
 

bigtigga84

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Does your dmv check for cats? Big reason i haven't done this cuz stupid DE does so the install would kill with the custom work. And money..... need that too lol. Do you finance Matt? lol
 
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DarkSilence

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@ Bigtigga84 No my DMV does not check for cats.

So it is looking like long tube is the way to go. I will have to check out that pacesetter header set. That is cheap for ceramic coating. Guess I was thinking just the opposite gains between shorty and long tube headers.
 

Blackram

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Does your dmv check for cats? Big reason i haven't done this cuz stupid DE does so the install would kill with the custom work. And money..... need that too lol. Do you finance Matt? lol

Pa does too. Put some high flows on after the long tubes, get the y- pipe and call it a day. No custom work needed. Been running like that for years without an inspection issue.
 

ST-8

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Does the pacesetter long tube/ y pipe combo able to just be bolted up or does it have to be welded? Was planning on getting this combo but wouldn't have access right away to a welder
 

Blackram

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Does the pacesetter long tube/ y pipe combo able to just be bolted up or does it have to be welded? Was planning on getting this combo but wouldn't have access right away to a welder

It's slip fit connections so I ran mine clamped for a while before welding it all together.
 

ST-8

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Excellent :)
 

ATXHEMI

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I have band clamps on mine Mario. You can still hear I slight exhaust leak. Maybe I didn't tighten them enough
 

Blackram

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Mine leaked too with band clamps. Not horrible but I couldn't leave it like that long term.
 

ST-8

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Yea eventually ill have it all welded up but at first it will prob have to be clamped.
 

bigtigga84

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Damn northern states worried about the environment lol. would exhaust wrap work to seal up the clamped connections?
 
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