Benefits to shorty headers on an LS3? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

shawn18 · 07-15-2010, 01:43 AM

I was wondering if there are any benefits beyond just sound to installing shorty's on my LS3? Thanks

Ivan @ Southwest Speed · 07-15-2010, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shawn18

I was wondering if there are any benefits beyond just sound to installing shorty's on my LS3? Thanks

They sure look better....If you get the right ones!

Honestly they contribute to an overall goal. By no means are you going to win the HP award with a set of Shorties, but moreso, they help things look good under the hood and give ya a handful of HP/TQ.

All while retaining EPA/Emissions Regs.

For rational gains, replace the Cats on these cars. This is the holdup!

Best of luck in your endeavors,
Ivan

shawn18 · 07-15-2010, 01:54 AM

Thanks Ivan! So could I install high flow cats on the stock exhaust and be ok with that or do I need an aftermarket exhaust/high flow's to see any gains? I am trying to get some decent gains on a small budget , mainly because I don't take the car to the track and this would be for "personal pleasure" only and really don't want to tune my car if i don't have to

ducq · 07-15-2010, 02:33 AM

I was also thinking about this. I have borla axle back s type, resonator delete, I still have the H pipe. I installed jba high flow cats and a c.a.I. Cai, All I want now is jba shorty headers but I'm worried all the airflow I might need a tune. Do shorty headers not increase that much airflow to worry about running too lean? I want shorty mostly for the sound :[]

shawn18 · 07-15-2010, 12:04 PM

Anybody?

ackeight · 07-15-2010, 12:08 PM

Get a set of JBA or Solo midepipes with the high flow cats. You don't need to tune and could realistically gain 20hp to the wheels with them. Shorty headers will reduce more weight than gain you hp.

2010 4 DW · 07-15-2010, 12:22 PM

The shorty headers will give you better sound and I picked up about 10rwhp & 18rwtq when I had the JBA Shorties. They looked great under the hood but when I added the JBA Catted Mids I felt a huge jump in HP from 3-6K.

DW

shawn18 · 07-15-2010, 12:35 PM

Thanks guys

ackeight · 07-15-2010, 12:38 PM

If you get both shorty and high flows it will probably be a good idea to tune. Especially if you have an intake. That's a lot more flow than the stock tune is used to. Along with more HP/TQ you will have more safety margin for the engine if you tune it.

*radz28* · 07-15-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ackeight

Get a set of JBA or Solo midepipes with the high flow cats. You don't need to tune and could realistically gain 20hp to the wheels with them. Shorty headers will reduce more weight than gain you hp.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2010 4 DW

The shorty headers will give you better sound and I picked up about 10rwhp & 18rwtq when I had the JBA Shorties. They looked great under the hood but when I added the JBA Catted Mids I felt a huge jump in HP from 3-6K.

DW

Does JBA have a CARB number for these yet? Make sure you understand that just because they're shorties doesn't make them legal in CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by ackeight

If you get both shorty and high flows it will probably be a good idea to tune. Especially if you have an intake. That's a lot more flow than the stock tune is used to. Along with more HP/TQ you will have more safety margin for the engine if you tune it.

This is the route I'm thinking of taking. Shorties, maybe the SOLO cats', CB and tune. I'm only really worried about the visual with the cats' (since I'll only get the shorties with CARB numbers) and feel comfortable I'll get no codes. It'd be cool to see some results of a set-up like this for us that have to worry about smog and stuff.

ackeight · 07-15-2010, 03:24 PM

Not sure if they have carb #'s. The cats should pass the sniffer test, but if they are anal about the visual with numbers then you may get the shaft. I would hate to live in CA for many reasons.

Revo1 · 07-15-2010, 03:27 PM

This thread = win

Thanks for posting shawn, I'm just gonna sit back and learn

*radz28* · 07-15-2010, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ackeight

Not sure if they have carb #'s. The cats should pass the sniffer test, but if they are anal about the visual with numbers then you may get the shaft. I would hate to live in CA for many reasons.

Exactly. It depends on where you go (or get sent, lol...). If you get sent to a ref', they look for tags and numbers on the shorties themselves and won't accept stickers. If the smog tech' knows to look for four cats' then you're screwed. If you live here, you gotta' be careful. Those numbers are gold, and if you don't have them, you could face hundreds of dollars of fines, pull the "illegal" parts off and return to stock, or pay a couple hundred dollars MORE for a "friendly" smog tech'. Either way, it's expensive to go fast, LEGAL, here

Boo.

*radz28* · 07-15-2010, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revo1

This thread = win

Thanks for posting shawn, I'm just gonna sit back and learn

+1

07-15-2010, 01:43 AM	#1
shawn18 OWTATIME Drives: 1969 CaRaMo Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,080	Benefits to shorty headers on an LS3? I was wondering if there are any benefits beyond just sound to installing shorty's on my LS3? Thanks

07-15-2010, 03:27 PM	#12
Revo1 Don't Like it? Suggit. Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 14,832 View My Garage	This thread = win Thanks for posting shawn, I'm just gonna sit back and learn __________________ "Tops off, tach up baby- loud and proud!" A Camaro lover from day one- 1996 3.8 V6 Camaro, to 1996 5.7 LT1 Camaro Z28, to the sold 2002 5.7 LS1 Camaro SS, and NOW, a [I]6.2 L99 VR 2SS/RS: XS Power stainless full exhaust, Airaid CAI, BMR drop springs and sways, custom tune by Cal Speed- 411rwhp

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07-15-2010, 01:54 AM	#3
shawn18 OWTATIME Drives: 1969 CaRaMo Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,080	Thanks Ivan! So could I install high flow cats on the stock exhaust and be ok with that or do I need an aftermarket exhaust/high flow's to see any gains? I am trying to get some decent gains on a small budget , mainly because I don't take the car to the track and this would be for "personal pleasure" only and really don't want to tune my car if i don't have to

07-15-2010, 02:33 AM	#4
ducq Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS/RS LS3 blck w/ IOM Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 580	I was also thinking about this. I have borla axle back s type, resonator delete, I still have the H pipe. I installed jba high flow cats and a c.a.I. Cai, All I want now is jba shorty headers but I'm worried all the airflow I might need a tune. Do shorty headers not increase that much airflow to worry about running too lean? I want shorty mostly for the sound :[]

07-15-2010, 12:04 PM	#5
shawn18 OWTATIME Drives: 1969 CaRaMo Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,080	Anybody?

07-15-2010, 12:08 PM	#6
ackeight Drives: 10' 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Rockwall, TX Posts: 1,389 View My Garage	Get a set of JBA or Solo midepipes with the high flow cats. You don't need to tune and could realistically gain 20hp to the wheels with them. Shorty headers will reduce more weight than gain you hp.

07-15-2010, 12:22 PM	#7
2010 4 DW Account Suspended Drives: White 2010 RS/SS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 672	The shorty headers will give you better sound and I picked up about 10rwhp & 18rwtq when I had the JBA Shorties. They looked great under the hood but when I added the JBA Catted Mids I felt a huge jump in HP from 3-6K. DW

07-15-2010, 12:35 PM	#8
shawn18 OWTATIME Drives: 1969 CaRaMo Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,080	Thanks guys

07-15-2010, 12:38 PM	#9
ackeight Drives: 10' 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Rockwall, TX Posts: 1,389 View My Garage	If you get both shorty and high flows it will probably be a good idea to tune. Especially if you have an intake. That's a lot more flow than the stock tune is used to. Along with more HP/TQ you will have more safety margin for the engine if you tune it.

07-15-2010, 03:24 PM	#11
ackeight Drives: 10' 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Rockwall, TX Posts: 1,389 View My Garage	Not sure if they have carb #'s. The cats should pass the sniffer test, but if they are anal about the visual with numbers then you may get the shaft. I would hate to live in CA for many reasons.