headers vs. catback

I am trying to decide which would be better. the TRD system or short tube headers? would there be any problems using both of them? I do mostly freeway driving so i'm not trying to make it obnoxious at 60-70mph but still have a nice growl under acceleration.

 

It's not really a "vs" question. They are different parts that do more or less the same thing at different points of the exhaust piping.
You are just looking for a sound upgrade??

True performance upgrade- Get both. Just the sound-Get the cat back or just a muffler. Easier install than headers IMO.

 

header(s) imo are a much better investment than a cat-back, hands down. at least for my application they were

 

def looking for a true performance upgrade. and compared to other catback systems the headers tend to be cheaper, but im guessing more of a pain to install?

 

is there anything else i would need or is everything included?
what are the pros/cons of long tube to short tube?

 

how much do O2 simulators cost? and are they hard to install?

 

so with the O2 sim will it be okay emissions wise or am I just screwed because I live in CA? Because the sim just looks like it fixes a code that it throws when the front cats are removed?

 

I've done this to several other cars, but in the end it ends up being more in a PITA because I live in an emission testing state. The 02 simulator is just that. It just simulates an O2 senor being there so in a sense it fools the ECU to thinking there is one there when there is not. Which is fine an dandy when they hook up the scanner it should pass. However, in some cases it may not actually pass the smog test in which they stick an apparatus in the tail pipe to record exhaust emissions output and since you won't have any front catalytic converters to actually absorb and reduce these emissions you could still fail. Or as mentioned if you roll in an the examiner hears or suspect your running cat-less all it takes is a simple visual check to fail. However being in a Tacoma it won't be as much as a red flag as say for instance my STi or a Mustang.

 

yeah I really want to do something with the exhaust system because it sounds like its grinding on marbles... at idle and at cruising speed its just so irritating. with the short tube headers I wont have any emission problems but more of a hassle to install. with the long tubes easier to install but will have emission problems

 

Ill give you my 2 cents I bought the short headers from urd took them to the local muffler shop got them installed and I am very happy and i live in CA so thats why I went that route

 

performance and noise level wise, whats the difference between the long tube and short tube headers?