Long or short tube headers?

Hey, just wondering if im better off getting long or shorties for an every day driver (not a race truck). Really looking for better fuel economy, but will settle for more power.

Also wondering if its better to have a ceramic coating or heat tape. Or both?

Lastly what size would be most beneficial? 1-3/4, 1-5/8?

Cats are removed

2005 ram 1500 with the 5.7

I'm a long tube guy, never saw the point in shorties, But I've read a few times where guys have noticed a difference between shorties and stock Manifolds.....Ceramic is a better way to go for a daily driver.
my .02 worth

I would go with a long tube set as well. The long tube design scavenges the cylinder better than a shortie header and will make more power. If you have the money to spend on the ceramic coated headers then I highly recommend it. The ceramic coating will definitely be cooler under the hood and will look alot better to boot.

I usually don't answer without hard data but shorties are easier to install and are better for idle to mid-rpm range, also for daily driving. Long tube headers are harder to install and are said to create more power because there is less back pressure in the longer tubes. Long tubes are for mid-high rpm range or high revving engines. The size of the tubes are usually based off how much space is available to install, collector size, head exhaust port size, application etc... Ceramic is more expensive but heat tape also works, keeping heat or energy in the exhaust causes the gas to move faster and increase scavenging. With that said there is an abundance of people that have used both shorties and long tubes and have gotten a result that is opposite of what I have posted due to an infinite amount of reasons. I have posted a general majority of approach to headers.

BrandonD29 said:

Hey, just wondering if im better off getting long or shorties for an every day driver (not a race truck). Really looking for better fuel economy, but will settle for more power.

Also wondering if its better to have a ceramic coating or heat tape. Or both?

Lastly what size would be most beneficial? 1-3/4, 1-5/8?

Cats are removed

2005 ram 1500 with the 5.7

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Personally I’m a long tube guy but shorties are bolt on long tubes require fab work

Ceramic longtubes ftw

With daily driving id do shorties where you take more advantage of the stock rpm band. Sure LT's may sound better or perform better in their rpm range, but me myself plan on shorties for simplification also. Will you see a huge difference between LT or ST's ? Nope. Not unless you have a tune and bolt on's.
But to each their own! Everyone has their own tastes

Long, smaller diameter tubes give you better low to mid range torque. Since it's your daily driver, you will probably rarely rev it over 3.5-4k.

Bloody_Knuckles said:

Long, smaller diameter tubes give you better low to mid range torque. Since it's your daily driver, you will probably rarely rev it over 3.5-4k.

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Yup as a daily im looking for most effective in the idle to 2500 range. I get up to higher but only for small bursts of necessary acceleration

Idle to 2500 you'd want a 1 5/8" LT set of headers. They will give the best scavenging below 4000rpm without hurting the upper rpms too much.

You'd need a 1 1/2" set of shorties to get in the same ballpark, but the 1 5/8" LT's would still be better.

If your not in an emissions state screw the shorties do lt’s