L96 and Shorty Headers...

newdude · March 14, 2016

So I have this thought that keeps rolling and rolling through my mind. Installing shorty headers on my 2015.

I have been eyeing the JBA Headers http://www.jbaheaders.com/detail_shortyV.asp?id=1850S-2JT Titanium ceramic coated set. AutoAnything has them on sale for just under $500.

Now...I am sure some or most will say "go long tube" but they seem, to me, to be somewhat of a hassle. And I can't find any factory connects for mine. Sure, the gains are not as much as a set of long tubes, but from reading http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/engine/129-0910-gibson-short-vs-stainless-long-headers/ there are definitely gains, not as much, but there are some.

Ideally, I'm not looking or trying to turn it into a racecar. I have zero problems, other than one or two gripes, about the factory tune, so I'd like to avoid tuning the truck.

Any thoughts from the community?

cjb321 · March 14, 2016

I had JBA shorties on my 03 Silverado with 5.3, i didnt notice any gains on the butt dyno but they did change the sound a little and looked nicer than the stock manifolds. The ones i had were just stainless so they turned a pretty cool looking blueish purple after a few weeks. I got them because the stock manifolds cracked and it was easier to just bolt them on rather than change the entire exhaust system. My thoughts were if i did get any gains it was an added bonus. I wasn't trying to make a racecar out of my truck either just wanted it to run good and look good too. I'll probably get them on my current truck also since it seems noone makes decient long tubes for a 4x4 3/4 ton

newdude · March 15, 2016

I had JBA shorties on my 03 Silverado with 5.3, i didnt notice any gains on the butt dyno but they did change the sound a little and looked nicer than the stock manifolds. The ones i had were just stainless so they turned a pretty cool looking blueish purple after a few weeks. I got them because the stock manifolds cracked and it was easier to just bolt them on rather than change the entire exhaust system. My thoughts were if i did get any gains it was an added bonus. I wasn't trying to make a racecar out of my truck either just wanted it to run good and look good too. I'll probably get them on my current truck also since it seems noone makes decient long tubes for a 4x4 3/4 ton

That seems to be my main reasons as well. Looks, sound, and if there is a bump in power, cool. Youtube wasn't much help but I found some 4.8 and 5.3 trucks with a catback and headers installed (one was JBA and Corsa catback which is how mine will end up) and there was a noticeable sound change.

Daryl LBZ · March 15, 2016

I had Edelbrock shorties on my 2005, and I currently have Doug Thorley shorties on my 2006. Both were ceramic coated which is what I would recommend.

The Edelbrock gave me a lot of trouble with leaking where the Thorley's have given me no trouble at all. I used the stock ACDelco gaskets, and ARP header bolts this time around. I would recommend those also.

As for any performance gains, when I was looking at them I did a Google search, and found dyno runs from a Camaro proving that their were gains from adding the Thorley headers. Now that's on a totally different vehicle, but since I was mainly looking for a better sound, and look I figured why not go with them. They turned out to be a great choice.

newdude · March 17, 2016

I had Edelbrock shorties on my 2005, and I currently have Doug Thorley shorties on my 2006. Both were ceramic coated which is what I would recommend.

The Edelbrock gave me a lot of trouble with leaking where the Thorley's have given me no trouble at all. I used the stock ACDelco gaskets, and ARP header bolts this time around. I would recommend those also.

As for any performance gains, when I was looking at them I did a Google search, and found dyno runs from a Camaro proving that their were gains from adding the Thorley headers. Now that's on a totally different vehicle, but since I was mainly looking for a better sound, and look I figured why not go with them. They turned out to be a great choice.

Gotcha. So...skip any provided hardware and go for ARP bolts? Was just looking on their site and now am confused lol. They show two different lengths, and four sets of each length...Looks like one has a larger flange than the other. How does one determine which fastener set to get?

Daryl LBZ · March 17, 2016

Gotcha. So...skip any provided hardware and go for ARP bolts? Was just looking on their site and now am confused lol. They show two different lengths, and four sets of each length...Looks like one has a larger flange than the other. How does one determine which fastener set to get?

That one I'm unsure of. I had the same issue when I was looking, but I don't remember how I figured out which ones I needed. My build thread has the ones that I used, but I'm not sure if they'll work on the new trucks...

Cowpie · March 18, 2016

I fall into the polished and ceramic coated camp. I have grown convinced that ceramic coated flow exhaust better. As for shorty vs long, one could also heat wrap and seal a foot or two of pipe after the short header as a way of keeping things flowing good.

newdude · March 26, 2016

That one I'm unsure of. I had the same issue when I was looking, but I don't remember how I figured out which ones I needed. My build thread has the ones that I used, but I'm not sure if they'll work on the new trucks...

Any issues with fasteners loosening up using the ARP stuff?

Daryl LBZ · March 26, 2016

Any issues with fasteners loosening up using the ARP stuff?

No issues here. I've tried to retorque them now twice, and both times they were all tight.

Jennabear · April 5, 2016

Don't bother with shorties, no real performance gains. If you are looking for sound, throw in a cam.

Grumpy Tooch · May 26, 2016

So I have this thought that keeps rolling and rolling through my mind. Installing shorty headers on my 2015.

I have been eyeing the JBA Headers http://www.jbaheaders.com/detail_shortyV.asp?id=1850S-2JT Titanium ceramic coated set. AutoAnything has them on sale for just under $500.

Now...I am sure some or most will say "go long tube" but they seem, to me, to be somewhat of a hassle. And I can't find any factory connects for mine. Sure, the gains are not as much as a set of long tubes, but from reading http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/engine/129-0910-gibson-short-vs-stainless-long-headers/ there are definitely gains, not as much, but there are some.

Ideally, I'm not looking or trying to turn it into a racecar. I have zero problems, other than one or two gripes, about the factory tune, so I'd like to avoid tuning the truck.

Any thoughts from the community?

After my research, I had put BBK shortys on my 06' 6.0 and I actually DID feel a difference. I had dual magnaflow exhaust behind it which I had for while already and when I installed the headers I felt the acceleration was little more responsive and very smooth. This was my first set of headers and think was money well spent. Def sounded little better as well.

KMK454 · May 26, 2016

Headers and your Corsas should sound good, though really loud. I had Corse Sports and long-tube headers on an LS2 Corvette (basically a 6.0!), and it was loud.