long tube vs. short tube

[beer]

i got a pretty dumb newbie question, actually pretty much just making sure i'm right. the difference in long tube and short tube headers is that long tubes delete the cats and are illegal, short tubes are legal and keeps the cats? is this right? if so what does everyone suggest? i have a borla catback

[00z28bubba]

i got a pretty dumb newbie question, actually pretty much just making sure i'm right. the difference in long tube and short tube headers is that long tubes delete the cats and are illegal, short tubes are legal and keeps the cats? is this right? if so what does everyone suggest? i have a borla catback

you can have long tubes with cats. even though in some states the law requires you to keep the cats in stock position which is where shorties come into play. the general consensus on shorties is better looking exhaust manifolds. the gains dont seem to be enough to justify the purchase. where as long tubes create alot more back pressure in the way the tubes are routed into the collectors. LTs move the cats further away from the engine which relocates the cats if you decide to run with cats. most states are cool with just having cats whether in stock position or not. imo they give enough power and sound to justify the purchase. you just would have to get a y-pipe that matches the headers and you would still be able to use your borla catback.

[SouthernBornThriller]

You can get longtubes and shorties both with or without cats.

Technically longtubes are illegal simply because they move the cats from the stock location. However, only hardcore emissions strict places *cough* cali *cough* enforce this. Most places won't even look under your car when it's inspected, and some don't even give you a sniffer test to see if you have cats at all.

The purpose of headers in general is to allow your engine to breathe better by giving air a bigger/better exit point. (more air going through engine = more power).

Basically for performance:
Longtubes w/o cats = Best. Do this if you know your inspection guy won't look under your car or give you a sniffer test. Will be cheaper too.
Longtubes w/ cats = Good enough (go high-flow cats, and you'll be almost as good as none...and have much less chance of being shafted at an inspection station)
Mid length or shorties = Legal everywhere, but not worth it. Just stay with stock headers and spend your money elsewhere.

[RyanJM]

Actually you can get cats for long tubes and shorties without cats. Long tubes are not emmisions legal. I was told it's because it moves the locations of the cats. I have long tubes and a off road ypipe(no cats) and had my rear 02's delete from the ECU and my car will pass a OBD2 emmisions test. Also from what I have read is the long tubes give you a better much HP gain.

[beer]

long tubes it is, thanks for the feedback!

[basballny2]

the y-pipe has the cat, the headers themselves dont have cats

[fxgs]

A pictorial:

http://www.quicktimeperformance.com/...ls1headers.php

[INMY01TA]

Only difference between long tubes and shorties is the primaries on long tubes are longer reaching all the way underneath the car into collectors, which are also underneath the car. Shorties the collectors are in the same position as the stock manifolds.

[Dr.Crash]

i got a pretty dumb newbie question, actually pretty much just making sure i'm right. the difference in long tube and short tube headers is that long tubes delete the cats and are illegal, short tubes are legal and keeps the cats? is this right? if so what does everyone suggest? i have a borla catback

there is also a HP difference. you will see way more gains with the LT's

[basballny2]

there is also a HP difference. you will see way more gains with the LT's

some people claim stock manifolds put down the same numbers as shorties

[Dr.Crash]

some people claim stock manifolds put down the same numbers as shorties