Header Poll: Short or Long Tube... Lets put it to a vote

Selfishly, I'm looking into investing in headers and I want all of your advice. I'm far from an exhaust expert and only know enough to be dangerous. I'm interested in headers to restore some recently lost power from a small billy lift and slightly larger tires. I've researched that headers are a good way to regain some of that power.

The questions are:

What route do I go, short or long?

Where will these different applications help give or take away power?

Do most people go with long tubes just to avoid the welding required for instal?

What brands/models have been well-performing products?

 

^ read bold

 

i agree

 

The problem w/ this thread is that everyone will vote LT solely based on the fact that it is the most commonly used header. There is no solid evidence that one outperforms the other due to the lack of hard data from dyno results (mainly on STs). So, take your poll results w/ a grain of salt.

 

link/repost pics please ... Im interested in seeing this

 

damn that was quick

 

Never seen a short tube dyno posted on the 2nd gen tacoma.

 

Just saw the edit.

Thats my point though. Only hearsay on the short tubes. No proof one way or another unfortunately.

 

Damn, thats a bummer. Personally, I would rather have more power and torque on the lower end. Toyota's don't seem to want to run much above 2,000 anyway. Why would I want to go long tube if I'm going to lose low end power. Does anyone out there have any info on power gains or losses in different ends of the range with the short headers? I know you have to weld, but it just doesn't make much sense to bolt on for low end power loss.

 

aren't you the one that bought both short and long tubes in the group buy and were going to do dyno's for both? Sorry dont want to go look thru that long thread.

 

I don't have headers, but it would seem illogical to slap on some long tubes simply because they're an easier install when the dyno sheets above indicate a loss of low end power. Sure they increase top end more than shorties, but I'd rather install a product (more permanently with the shorties) that doesn't have any loss over stock.... Just my 2 cents

 

That's what I'm trying to say. A comment earlier said "then why do anything." The way I see it, if i'm going to fork over a handful of cash for a product with the intent to upgrade the power of my engine, then thats what i want. Especially when low end power increase seems more practical and more often used anyway. My 2 cents.

 

Great minds think a like brother, I say go for the shorties. I believe dt makes short tubes as well as jba maybe do some searching around for those two specific products. It wouldn't be a bad idea to message gadget at urd to get his take on things as well.

 

Not at all. The reason they're the most commonly run header is b/c they're easy to install (and at this point, its just regurgitation from members anyway). Most see it recommended, so others (new members) continue to recommend it, knowing its popular advice to give. Hard evidence would be proof that the LT header is the most power-producing product available for our trucks (when comparing multiple header/dyno sheets)
Anyway, I'm not trying to knock on the LT header, I just hate seeing it be the hands down winner in a poll when it may not be the right product for the OP. If one can interpret a dyno sheet, that should at least give them some type of information as to whether or not its the right product for them. (I just wish there were more manufacturers (and designs for us)).

Yep. have them sitting in my basement still.

 

whats taking so long lol, just kidding. I have the shorties and was interested in comparing the two.

 

Would love to hear some more thoughts/opinions or maybe even a dyno test with short headers. Anybody else out there??

 

Dakota did you ever get my PM the other day?

 

the cats have more impact on the low end (back pressure) than the headers themselves.

On a boosted truck, I would run the LTs to help it breath WOT.

Personally, I dont think the shorties are worth the cash/gain since the restrictive cats are still there and are not long enough for any scavenging improvement.

I originally ran the DTLT on my X-runner since my tune with the URD MKII S/C was too hot and would melt the cats, plus the goal was 400+ rwhp

I run the DTLT on the Dcab with the TRD S/C and it breathes alot better. You will loose a little low end, but you dont notice it with the S/C and you really notice the top end gain. I think they are a tad much for an N/A truck.

Personally, an intake, catback, and rear cat delete and some small calibrator ( MAF cal for example from URD) is the best setup for an N/A truck. Save your money on the headers.

Again, just my opinion, take it as you wish

Justin

Justin

 

Interesting! Help me out on some terminology (I'm a newbie to the exhaust thing). What does "S/C", "N/A", "WOT" and "MAF" stand for?

 

I went with Jba shorties because I didn't like the idea of having an o2 sensor faker thing. I noticed that the truck breathes a ton better now and the guy I had weld did an amazing job. The stock exhaust headers suck. They go from an oval shaped 2 1/4" piping to an almost 1 1/2" pipe going into the cat. That is some serious restriction. Now with the new stuff, it's all 2 1/4" pipe. I was going to do a before and after dyno on the truck, but I watched some utube vids of some dynos go seriously wrong. If ya got the money, do the shorts. If not the DT's will be ok with the o2 sensor tricker.