Bigger tube 'shorty' headers

[Vipermann]

Bigger tube \'shorty\' headers

Long-tube headers yield more power (and tq), and there are several options out there, but they require more labor to install. 'Shorty' headers yield high-rpm power gains, but not the low-rpm gains of LT headers ... but short headers generally cost about 1/2 less of what LT headers go for.

Question, if the Viper already has plenty of low-end grunt, but can benefit more at the top-end, why are ther no 'shorty' header options? How about ceramic coated stainless shorty headers with 1 3/4" tubes that drop in and mount up exactly to the factory exhaust mounting flanges (or the 3" RT h/f cat system that many of us already have)?

I, for one, would pay $1000 for such headers that would be an easier drop-in install and could yield +15 HP.

 

[SNKEBIT]

Re: Bigger tube \'shorty\' headers

because, to get the power increase, you need smooth bends in the pipes. The "quick" bends to the collector (for shorties) to mount up to the stock location nullifies that effect. plus, they wouldn't "drop" right in with the bends at a bigger radius.

Pay the extra 300 bucks and put the long tubes in.

 

[FE 065]

Re: Bigger tube \'shorty\' headers

Actually the various headers offered for the Viper are already a rather short tube design, because the collector is terminating before the 90deg bend into sidesill .


Measuring my Belanger headers for example, the primaries are about 12" to the first subcollector, and about another 7" to the entrance of the final collector.


With B&Bs etc also having collectors ending before the sidesill, restricting the length of the primaries, I'd guess they'd have primaries roughly 20" long as well. Maybe less.


< 20" primaries would definitely qualify more as short tube rather than long tube. How much shorter could you expect?


Most general header articles seem to like a primary length of 33" or so as a starting point as I recall.


Including SNKEBIT's buddy Ed who make headers for a living:

"The header builder can select almost any tube and collector length he wants — to maximize performance in whatever part of his engine’s rpm range he so desires. By building longer headers (tube lengths at least 34”) he can improve bottom and mid-range performance or by building shorter headers (tube lengths between 28-32”) he can emphasize top end power."

 

[Vipermann]

Re: Bigger tube \'shorty\' headers

I guess my thought was with current Viper headers in the $2,000+ range, a $1,000 'shorty' option -- ceramic coated -- would be good. By 'shorty', I mean headers that will bolt up to the stock exhaust flange points. As I see it, shortcomings of current header options:

>Very high cost
>Cannot be reversed back to stock without replacing required custom exhaust again, as well.
>Very loud (shorty headers typically don't make quite as much noise)

I guess I may just wait to see if the new 'improved' stock 2008 design will fit on earlier Gen 3s ... if so, I may pick up a take-off set when a new '08 owner desides to go for the big long-tube investment ...

 

[FE 065]

Re: Bigger tube \'shorty\' headers

I think the OE exhaust manifolds then are basically about as good as it's going to get regarding an exhaust manifold bolting up to the stock V-band connections.

 

[SNKEBIT]

Re: Bigger tube \'shorty\' headers

>Very loud (shorty headers typically don't make quite as much noise)


That's because the sound is going through a 2&1/2 choke point. If you take shorty headers and cut off the "choke point" and put in nice radiused bends the same size as the primary tube, (the reason you put headers on, ie: horsepower increase,) noise level rises. (I have done this, big diff. in sound level.)