More Header questions

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jamm999

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So now that all of the shorty headers are going up in price , what's the best bang for your buck ? JBA , Flotech, BBK ? What about any of the several cheap ones on E-bay or Amazon ? Anyone have any long term results from these ? I want to do it but don't want to break the bank. Give me your real world results not just what someone heard from someone else. THANKS!!
 

16WhiteQC

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The amount of time and effort to install them would make me want to spend the extra for quality shorties, I.E. Kooks.

The lower the quality the more issues you can have like fitment, leaks, etc..

BUT

At $1400 for them, and only $2000 for ARH LT's with cats its really a no brainer to go with LT's (Unless you have to deal with strict emissions)
 

joesstripclub

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I paid $1000 for my kooks shorties 2 years ago and they were $1900 last I checked a couple weeks ago.

Cheaper headers will use cheaper alloys or thinner metal, and possibly lower quality welds. They will function but likely not last as long as a quality header. It really depends how long you plan to keep your truck.
 

cvillechopper

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I put my JBA shorties on about 2K miles ago. They had much higher quality welds than I was expecting given some of the review by others. The ceramic coating was done well but I wrapped them anyway. Install is a *****. I honestly am thinking I should have gone with the ARH LTs. Would have been a fraction of the time installing and less concern about getting the torque right because you can actually get a wrench on them. Other than that, very pleased. There is a bit more bark on cold startup. Engine runs noticeably smoother and seems to rev a bit more quickly from idle. No real difference in higher rpm range that I can tell but I don't gun it. YMMV
 

tones2SS

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What are the advantages of shorty headers?
I know that long tube headers are worth the money if looking for more performance/sound, but what are the advantages of shorty headers? Are they worth the time/money?
 

healthyrx

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I put my JBA shorties on about 2K miles ago. They had much higher quality welds than I was expecting given some of the review by others. The ceramic coating was done well but I wrapped them anyway. Install is a *****. I honestly am thinking I should have gone with the ARH LTs. Would have been a fraction of the time installing and less concern about getting the torque right because you can actually get a wrench on them. Other than that, very pleased. There is a bit more bark on cold startup. Engine runs noticeably smoother and seems to rev a bit more quickly from idle. No real difference in higher rpm range that I can tell but I don't gun it. YMMV
Wait.. why are the LT headers easier to install than shorty ones? Im at the stage of thinking about headers for a tick,not as much performance but if LTs are THAT much easier to install I may consider them
 

joesstripclub

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What are the advantages of shorty headers?
I know that long tube headers are worth the money if looking for more performance/sound, but what are the advantages of shorty headers? Are they worth the time/money?
The advantages of shorties are ability to bolt up to stock exhaust, no tuning required, and can still pass emissions. And maybe cheaper price. Otherwise long tubes offer more performance.
 

joesstripclub

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Wait.. why are the LT headers easier to install than shorty ones? Im at the stage of thinking about headers for a tick,not as much performance but if LTs are THAT much easier to install I may consider them
The collector for shorties is just past the engine, so all of the primaries have to be fit into a small area to merge at the collector. For long tubes, the primaries merge farther back so its not a mess of pipes right next to the motor.
 

joesstripclub

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See pic of the kooks I installed compared to the stock manifolds.
img_20200518_175610-jpg.209391
 

Wild one

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Wait.. why are the LT headers easier to install than shorty ones? Im at the stage of thinking about headers for a tick,not as much performance but if LTs are THAT much easier to install I may consider them
Easier to get at the bottom row of bolts on long tubes then shorties.It's a bbitch to tighten the bottom bolts on shorties.Contary to popular belief shorties do not generate bottom end torque,think of a set headers like an intake manifold,the longer intake runners and longer primary tubes generate torque,while the shorter intake runners and shorter primaries are geared for higher rpm.If you want more bottem end / tire spinning torque,long tubes are what you want.
 

Lyle Longboat

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I’ve mentioned this in a couple other threads about headers…….. you need a pair of those ruby red slippers to get to some of those bolts, specially with shorties!
Overall, LT headers are a bit easier to get to those bolts, still need those slippers though lol.
 

Wild one

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I’ve mentioned this in a couple other threads about headers…….. you need a pair of those ruby red slippers to get to some of those bolts, specially with shorties!
Overall, LT headers are a bit easier to get to those bolts, still need those slippers though lol.
You need to put a set of long tubes on a Challenger or Charger Lyle,you'll think the trucks are a piece of cake afterwards.You better make them ruby red slippers into big asss ruby red boots,lol.
 
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