Go with the shorties, better low to mid range gains than the LTs, and there really isn't a huge difference in power between the two anyways. Most of the headers I have looked into give an 8-10% increase for the shorties and an 8-14% increase for the LTs thats really not much of a difference...

 

You can get a Flowmaster Y-Pipe for about $40 from Jeg's. That ain't too shabby....
It should not cost more than about $50 to get it installed.....is it worth it?

 

Well, I am looking more into the shorties. I see that most all the manufactures make CARB certified shorties. Now, my only set back is trying to find some that fit my 4x2 2500. If anyone has any suggestions, im all ears.

As far as the Y pipe goes. I dunno, it looks all smashed together where the 2 pipes go into 1. seems kinda restrictive to me. does anyone even make a Y pipe replacement that would hook right up to the shorties and keep my cats in the stock spot? or is that a custom fab sort of deal?

 

JBA makes a Y pipe that comes in the kit with their Shorties

 

The shape of the Y-pipe is what makes it restrictive....that's what I meant by the nature of it.

I can actually say i've never seen or heard anyone say that ever. From my experience shorties will give you between 5-10rwhp where LT's will give you 20-30rwhp with a good tune. That's a big difference. Not only are the peak numbers better but so is the curve.

 

First off I am not going to deny that the LT's put out more power but your numbers are a little off... Its right around a 10hp difference between the two as the shorties put out more around 10-15rwhp NOT 5, and when you sit and look at it 10hp is really not that much of a difference. And the only noticeable difference between the two would be around the 5000 rpm range in which the LT's will then out perform the Shorties, but how often are you ever in the 5000rpm range?

 

for a reliable shorty header power gain estimate
it is worthwhile to look at
and read about
the Hemi 6.1 factory header design:

http://ask.autoblog.com/2006/02/20/a...-7-and-6-1-v8/

great cut-away pictures,
huh?

 

Not too sure where you come up with this information, but LT's in any scenerio will produce more power and torque at any rpm than shorties, Especially in the lower rpm range. I think if you do some research you will find that out. Maybe on a 4cylinder honda a shorty is better because the amount of air being pushed through is no where near as much as a v6 or v8.
When you go to a tube diamter that is extraodinarily large, then it may suffer low end loss, but never have I heard before LT's will make less power on the low end than shorties. Never have I come accross shorties that made 15 real hp. Maybe crank HP but certainly not real rwhp. Every vehicle i ever put LT's on created atleast 20rwhp and 20rwtq through the entire rpm range.

The tube length of a LT header is key to performance. The longer the primary, the better off you will be as it removes heat away from the cylinder head cooling it much faster tus creating more power. Also, the firecone in a LT header can be of more consistency and larger than with shorty headers because the lack of room.

Most shorty headers aren't equal length and this creates a mild turbulence at the firecone collector. LT headers have such a long primary tube, by the time the air gets to the firecone, the back pressure is so low at the heads, it doesn't make a huge impact like the shorties do.

The rule of thumb is this: Shorties are a mild gain and barely noticeable on stock equipt vehicles. The exhaust tone is slightly changed.
Mid-length headers provide much better low-mid torque than shorties and are the best solution if LT's aren't available. Drawback is you need to spend $$$$ to buy the much needed y-pipe to go with them and not every company makes middies.
LT's are the best solution for any car. Stock or modified. Unlike shorties that create max power out of the box at a whopping 5-10rwhp, LT's you will see more HP/TQ increase as engine power improves. Stock engine gains will range from 10-25rwhp/15-30rwtq and when you modify your engine the gaind can be upwards of 40rwhp and 50rwtq.


With all that said, here is a Nice header solution and affordable for the Dodge Ram 4x4. I'm thinking of getting it myself
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...2BSI%26otn%3D4

 

Maybe thats what Im thinking of then, cause all the ones I have looked at for my truck have needed a new Y pipe to go with them...

 

Nice post Dirty..