Looking for advice on best shorty headers for 2019 1500 classic.

[LPS3]

I would like you guys opinion on which shorty headers you would recommend and ones to stay away from. Wanting to fix manifold leak . Would like performance gain if possible. Son in law is a diesel mechanic and will do the work . He has LS race car so we need Hemi input. Thanks.

 

[White six four]

@Nick@GotExhaust

 

[MetallicA]

I installed the afe set with arp hardware and OEM gaskets. The headers, gaskets, and hardware have held up awesome but I've never been able to get the down pipe ball joint to seal. When the weather gets nice I'm going to try installing the afe y pipe to see if it fits the headers better

 

[Wild one]

I would like you guys opinion on which shorty headers you would recommend and ones to stay away from. Wanting to fix manifold leak . Would like performance gain if possible. Son in law is a diesel mechanic and will do the work . He has LS race car so we need Hemi input. Thanks.

You won't gain any performance from shorties,if you want a header that creates torque and pulls all the way through the powerband you need long tubes.
Headers act just like the variable runners in your intake manifold,the long runners create torque,the short runners create higher rpm horsepower,headers are the same,long tubes create torque,shorties create high rpm power,and they create very little high rpm power,as your stock 5.7 shifts at 5600,lol

 

[MetallicA]

You won't gain any performance from shorties,if you want a header that creates torque and pulls all the way through the powerband you need long tubes.
Headers act just like the variable runners in your intake manifold,the long runners create torque,the short runners create higher rpm horsepower,headers are the same,long tubes create torque,shorties create high rpm power,and they create very little high rpm power,as your stock 5.7 shifts at 5600,lol

I did the shorties just for the ease of install thinking they were "plug and pay". If I knew how much headaches they'd cause I would have saved money and done long tubes in a heartbeat!!

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

I have both. Long tubes on my RT that is supercharged and afe shorties on my 2016 Laramie crew cab. I got the shorties to seal with copper gasket RTV, on the first try.

Obviously the RT is tuned as well as the Laramie. You don't need to tune with shorties unless you want.

The shorties were easier to install but you cannot count on any performance gains. I was able to use the stock dipstick with the shorties.

I have remflex gaskets on both. I used the bolts that came with the headers.

My experience

 

[Nick@GotExhaust]

AFE is our go to option. We have seen issues with less expensive brands, and no real benefit to more expensive options. AFE has proven to be a quality option!

Message me if you would like a quote

 

[MetallicA]

I have both. Long tubes on my RT that is supercharged and afe shorties on my 2016 Laramie crew cab. I got the shorties to seal with copper gasket RTV, on the first try.

Obviously the RT is tuned as well as the Laramie. You don't need to tune with shorties unless you want.

The shorties were easier to install but you cannot count on any performance gains. I was able to use the stock dipstick with the shorties.

I have remflex gaskets on both. I used the bolts that came with the headers.

My experience

Did you put the copper gasket between the header and the down pipe? I had thought about trying to make my own.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

I installed the afe set with arp hardware and OEM gaskets. The headers, gaskets, and hardware have held up awesome but I've never been able to get the down pipe ball joint to seal. When the weather gets nice I'm going to try installing the afe y pipe to see if it fits the headers better

I have used the Permatex Ultra Copper at this connection point and it was good.

However, I did have a custom y-pipe made up for my new truck (highly recommend this upgrade), and also had custom made cups made as well to connect to the manifolds.

The most accurate seal is going to be cups that snugly mate to the manifolds/shorty's, and put in a smear of the ultra copper on the final fitment before you bolt it all together.

 

[ramffml]

Instead of shorties, give BD Diesel a shot, they make manifolds that are better designed than OEM. Stronger, and they use longer bolts (more room to stretch).

 

[Mojo88]

I have both. Long tubes on my RT that is supercharged and afe shorties on my 2016 Laramie crew cab. I got the shorties to seal with copper gasket RTV, on the first try.

Obviously the RT is tuned as well as the Laramie. You don't need to tune with shorties unless you want.

The shorties were easier to install but you cannot count on any performance gains. I was able to use the stock dipstick with the shorties.

I have remflex gaskets on both. I used the bolts that came with the headers.

My experience

1) On your long-tube (LT) setup, what does the rest of the exhaust consist of?
2) Still using cats?
3) Assuming stock exhaust muffler(s); does interior cabin noise increase with LT's?

Thanks

 

[MetallicA]

I have used the Permatex Ultra Copper at this connection point and it was good.

However, I did have a custom y-pipe made up for my new truck (highly recommend this upgrade), and also had custom made cups made as well to connect to the manifolds.

The most accurate seal is going to be cups that snugly mate to the manifolds/shorty's, and put in a smear of the ultra copper on the final fitment before you bolt it all together.

Very nice! When the weather gets nice I want to install and see how well the afe y pipe fits. We used to use the permatex ultra high temp rtv at work for the turbo down pipes on our super duty based busses. The fitment between the stock y pipe and the afe headers is the definitely of hotdog in a hallway lol

Instead of shorties, give BD Diesel a shot, they make manifolds that are better designed than OEM. Stronger, and they use longer bolts (more room to stretch).

You are 100% correct! They actually popped up for me one day as a targeted ad and I was pretty impressed. They remind me of the manifold you typically find on big diesel engine (I'm a 310T diesel truck mechanic) with the splits in the manifold, longer bolts, and spacers to better help deal with expansion and contraction. I tried looking for reviews but didn't really come across any but I've kept them in the back of my mind as an option.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

Did you put the copper gasket between the header and the down pipe? I had thought about trying to make my own.

Yes, the copper rtv goes on thick on both the collector and the inlet of the down pipe. Bolt it up, tight, let it sit for about 5 minutes then start it up check for leaks then let it run till its up to operating temp.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

1) On your long-tube (LT) setup, what does the rest of the exhaust consist of?
2) Still using cats?
3) Assuming stock exhaust muffler(s); does interior cabin noise increase with LT's?

Thanks

On my long tubes, I have high flow cats, true duals 2.5 in, with an x pipe to Carven progressive mufflers and I use the stock tailpipes with the resonators left it place with Carven 5 inch tips.

No it's not quiet. It's loud at startup, quiet cruise but if you're in it deep 4 - 6 k rpms, it's loud

 

[SouthernBornRebel]

I would like you guys opinion on which shorty headers you would recommend and ones to stay away from. Wanting to fix manifold leak . Would like performance gain if possible. Son in law is a diesel mechanic and will do the work . He has LS race car so we need Hemi input. Thanks.

want performance then skip the shorty's and go long tube..... period.

 

[slbenz600]

I would like you guys opinion on which shorty headers you would recommend and ones to stay away from. Wanting to fix manifold leak . Would like performance gain if possible. Son in law is a diesel mechanic and will do the work . He has LS race car so we need Hemi input. Thanks.

After you install your headers there something you need to watch installing the exhaust from the headers to the cats. Here is the place your muffler shop will tell you can't do this. After the cats are installed make sure that they only put pipes on the ends of the cats. Lets step back a minute when who ever removes your exhaust system up towards the cats that has 2-3 inch cat outlets and gors out a 2.5 inch (Very littl exhaust flow). Don't let anyone tell you that will violate your warantee (Bill****) your not removing anything that will void a warrentee so they have to do it. From experrence it is 100% legal in all 52 states, I gained 6 mpg, wthout a dynotune it gain a lot of torque