PROPHET69

Hi again peeps, i was almost all set to install a new exhaust after the wisdom i received from all of you, but I just ran into another problem which i know you can all teach my novice mind with your experience.

First off, my engine will run between 400 - 500 horses. Since i want to unleash my engines full power, my exhaust system will consist of a true duel (which i was told by everyone to go with 2.5 inch tubing and not 3 inch unless i go over 500 HP due to the lack of backpressure) running directly form the headers, crawl alongside each sides od the doors and exit before the rear wheels. I'll have a cutout on each exhaust, not cat as they aren't required where i live.

I need new headers so I was going to go with flowtech shorties for 175$ which are available right off the shelf at some performance shop near here. They have 1.5 inch tubes that run into a 2.5 inch collector which would fit perfectly into my 2.5 inch exhaust. But from what i've been reading, flowtechs are heavy, cheap and they're just plain garbage, and over that, I've been reading that if i'm going over 300 horses, i need headers with tubes that are at least 1 5/8 to 1 3/4 inch wide.

So, i've been reading on the shorty hooker headers, both the 2460 and 2055 seem interesting. They have 1 5/8 inch tubes and a 3 inch collector. But if i go with them, the collector will be bigger than the exhaust, and i'll be paying quite a bit more.

So the questions are, if I get one of the hooker headers sets, would there be a difference in performance? And if there is a difference and decide to go with the hookers, would it be difficult or /and expensive to adapt the 3 inch collector to a 2.5 inch exhaust?

Thanks.

r0nin89

If your looking for a completly free flowing exhaust on a 500hp machine you want to go 1-3/4 primes. Possibly take a look at the longtube installation guide. Good luck!

Rob Wade

YOu get what you pay for.....headers aren't any different.

PROPHET69

ok, i'll take that in consideration if you can give me a couple of models with 1-3/4 tubes. I haven't been able to find any. And again, those would probably have a 3 or 3-1/2 inch collector, so is it possible to connect a 2.5" exhaust system to a collector of that size? I'm going to keep the exhaust at 2.5" because it'll be a true duel which is plenty according to everyone. If i need more power, i'll simply open up the cutouts near the manifold anyway which would make the collector to exhaust size transition almost seem non-existant. So just give me some shorty models for 1-3/4 tubes if possible. I 'd like to take a look at them

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

yes, they make adapters that taper down from a 3" collector to a 2.5" pipe.

iceman02

iTrader: (1)

Hooker 2055s use a ball flange at the collector and neck down really small (like 1.75", but they aren't hard to open up to 2.5") and they come with AIR tubes and ypipe (2.5" into 3"), which it doesn't sound like you need. They may be available special order without AIR tubes. I'm not sure if they 2460s use the ball flange or not, but they don't come with AIR tubes, that I'm aware of. Forget about the flowtechs for your application. I'd only recommend them to someone on a very tight budget that is looking for a little improvement over factory because you can find them dirt cheap (used) if you don't mind a little leaky collector (very thin and bendable flanges). SLP makes some 1 3/4" primary shorty headers, but their ball flanges neck down to a little less than 2.5" also. For all out performance and since you have duals, I'd find some 1 3/4" primary long tubes. People (like me) who usually go with the shorties are doing it for ground clearance and to avoid the headaches associated with fabbing up a dual setup, as well as state emission laws.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Dual 2.5" pipes will support 500 hp, but neither single 3" nor 1-1/2" primaries will. 1-3/4" primary long tubes will support that power level.

Honestly, unless you find some kind of mid-length headers with at least 1-3/4" primaries that fit the engine and chassis, I think you're looking at long tubes.

DeathStarr89

iTrader: (1)

Long tubes, the only way to go. i have 1 5/8" primary Headmans, 3" collector... they ran fine on a 500+ HP 406, and work very well on my 350 HP 355...

Flowtechs are junk, i had the shorties for a year and i can't even begin to describe the problems i had... getting to the spark plugs was probably the worst part tho

PROPHET69

WEELL... you guys all seem to be giving the same answer, which is to go with longtubes with a least 1 5/8 inch to 1 3/4 inch tubes... even though it's not the answer i was hoping for, if i want some true power,i may not have a choice. My clearance is pretty crappy already, and if i get longtubes, i'll have trouble with making the exhaust exit before the rear wheel, so now i have a dirty decision to make. But at least you guys got one thing drilled in my head, which is to drop the flowtech idea. Thanks for the info peeps, at least now I know what i should be heading for.

I'll have to do a bit more research, especially on long tubes, so if anyone else wants to post recommendations/suggestions, please do, every little bit helps.