Some good information in the thread titled Header Selection (Part I), but I have a few related questions.

1. Are there any benefits to 'shorty' headers over full headers with an under the car exhaust system?
2. Are there any reasons not to use 'shorty' headers with an under the car exhaust system?
3. In doing some research there seems to be a pretty broad range of prices on ceramic coated headers (both shorty and full).  This is going to seem like a really dumb question, but -- what makes the REALLY expensive ones that much better than the less expensive ones?

 

Like anything else, you have to determine your actual needs before selecting a set of headers. This is a very general statement, but in general, long tube headers will provide better low end torque than short tube or shorty headers.

Shorty headers have an advantage in space management in the engine compartment, particularly if clearance is a real issue.   They also give better ground clearance since there are no low hanging collectors.

Equal length or tuned headers, will provide better power over headers with unequal length tubes, but some applications make the use of tuned headers difficult at best.

Tri-Y headers are supposed to be excellent at providing torque at the low end but don't give the horespower potential at higher rpm's.

The diameter of headers has a definite impact on power production as well. The manufacturers design them with specific performance points to hit, so again, you have to decide what your proposed use is to get the right design header.

Once all that is determined, the manufacturer can make them out of varying guages of steel. The better brands (and more expensive) are made of thicker steel. The flanges are made with varying thicknesses as well. The thinner flanges can leak and you can have to change the exhaust gaskets more often.

After all that decision making, then you can decide on what coating is best for you...painted metal, ceramic coating, chrome, and even more exotic coatings to protect them and handle the heat.

Headers are not as simple a component as they seem. You really have to match them to your intended use as well to the rest of the exhaust system. Even the best quality parts will be disappointing if they're improperly matched to one another.

All that being said, look at Sanderson Headers...super quality, the thickest flanges on the market. <sandersonheaders.com> They don't come first to mind like Hooker, Flowtech, Hedman or Doug Thorley and others, but they are really top quality stuff.

Thanks Bruce.  My question was really related to options for "BIGBRRD" but thought the topic would be information for all.  Norsky2006-11-01 12:25:16