Full Version: new owner
so heres the deal i just bought a 94 formula about 3 weeks ago and just recently put it on the road its got 64,000 miles on it and i bought it for a good price the car is like it was just out of the factory. the original owner had put the intake on and put a tune exhaust on the car. so i know the whole deal between shorties and long tubes but it is gonna be my daily driver. i want to get rid of the stock manifolds it makes me sick just seeing them i was gonna buy the bbk shorty header kit and y pipe and i know ive heard from so many posts shorties are just a waste to put on anyway they do nothing... just wondering thoughts on what i should do. i obviously know long tubes and custom exhaust work is always gonna give more horse but i also dont want to spend 2k on parts and installation. i just want to know some peoples thoughts. thanks. -mike
From experience with both shorty and longtube headers, Longtubes are worth the extra bank. I put shorties on my 97 trans am about a year ago and I have had to change my spark plug wires 3 times since. There is just not enough clearance between the header and the spark plug. I actually cauterized the rubber boots to plastic, causing the spark to arc to ground and thus, missfires.
But if you are in a very emmissions "sensitive" area, making shortys work is probably your best bet because you can keep your stock catalytic converters.
I recommend longtube headers to anyone wanting to upgrade their exhaust. Depending on the brand, and which cover coat (painted, chrome etc) you will see a difference in $200+. I bought black painted Pace Setter longtube headers with a Pace setter Off Road Y-Pipe, which means no catalitcs. It hooks straight to the headers and straight to your Intermediate Pipe. Depending on what you want to do after the I-Pipe, being stock muffler, or a cat back, its as simple as installing it to the I-pipe. Cut and weld, or clamp, whichever you prefer.
With long tube headers, I would also recommend an Over the Valve Cover spark plug routing. with all of this apart you may as well do a tune, get new spark plugs, NGK TR55 is a great plug, and cut an OTVC kit. It pulls your wires up over then engine and away from the heat. You can also get a set of fire protector boot covers that add up to like 2500 degree protection.
Digest all of that and see about any more questions.
But if you are in a very emmissions "sensitive" area, making shortys work is probably your best bet because you can keep your stock catalytic converters.
I recommend longtube headers to anyone wanting to upgrade their exhaust. Depending on the brand, and which cover coat (painted, chrome etc) you will see a difference in $200+. I bought black painted Pace Setter longtube headers with a Pace setter Off Road Y-Pipe, which means no catalitcs. It hooks straight to the headers and straight to your Intermediate Pipe. Depending on what you want to do after the I-Pipe, being stock muffler, or a cat back, its as simple as installing it to the I-pipe. Cut and weld, or clamp, whichever you prefer.
With long tube headers, I would also recommend an Over the Valve Cover spark plug routing. with all of this apart you may as well do a tune, get new spark plugs, NGK TR55 is a great plug, and cut an OTVC kit. It pulls your wires up over then engine and away from the heat. You can also get a set of fire protector boot covers that add up to like 2500 degree protection.
Digest all of that and see about any more questions.
QUOTE(Da97Bandit @ Jul 12 2009, 09:09 AM) 
From experience with both shorty and longtube headers, Longtubes are worth the extra bank. I put shorties on my 97 trans am about a year ago and I have had to change my spark plug wires 3 times since. There is just not enough clearance between the header and the spark plug. I actually cauterized the rubber boots to plastic, causing the spark to arc to ground and thus, missfires.
But if you are in a very emmissions "sensitive" area, making shortys work is probably your best bet because you can keep your stock catalytic converters.
I recommend longtube headers to anyone wanting to upgrade their exhaust. Depending on the brand, and which cover coat (painted, chrome etc) you will see a difference in $200+. I bought black painted Pace Setter longtube headers with a Pace setter Off Road Y-Pipe, which means no catalitcs. It hooks straight to the headers and straight to your Intermediate Pipe. Depending on what you want to do after the I-Pipe, being stock muffler, or a cat back, its as simple as installing it to the I-pipe. Cut and weld, or clamp, whichever you prefer.
With long tube headers, I would also recommend an Over the Valve Cover spark plug routing. with all of this apart you may as well do a tune, get new spark plugs, NGK TR55 is a great plug, and cut an OTVC kit. It pulls your wires up over then engine and away from the heat. You can also get a set of fire protector boot covers that add up to like 2500 degree protection.
Digest all of that and see about any more questions.
But if you are in a very emmissions "sensitive" area, making shortys work is probably your best bet because you can keep your stock catalytic converters.
I recommend longtube headers to anyone wanting to upgrade their exhaust. Depending on the brand, and which cover coat (painted, chrome etc) you will see a difference in $200+. I bought black painted Pace Setter longtube headers with a Pace setter Off Road Y-Pipe, which means no catalitcs. It hooks straight to the headers and straight to your Intermediate Pipe. Depending on what you want to do after the I-Pipe, being stock muffler, or a cat back, its as simple as installing it to the I-pipe. Cut and weld, or clamp, whichever you prefer.
With long tube headers, I would also recommend an Over the Valve Cover spark plug routing. with all of this apart you may as well do a tune, get new spark plugs, NGK TR55 is a great plug, and cut an OTVC kit. It pulls your wires up over then engine and away from the heat. You can also get a set of fire protector boot covers that add up to like 2500 degree protection.
Digest all of that and see about any more questions.
ahh! thanks i mean i know its always more worth it to go with long tubes but besides taht... my 94 formula is a single cat lt1 and its got like no power right now the engine coolant temp. sensor was not working and the mechanic i know who is a friend says the cat is probly cloged sooo...im going there tomorrow with a new sensor connector and he gonna gut the cat for me as well. forget headers i want my baby running strong like it was when i first got it. i hope those are the only two problems with it tho. im never that lucky and always have bad luck so ill probly need something else done as well : /
If you gut the cat im pretty sure your SES light is going to be on because your rear O2 Sensor wont like breathing that CO that is normally reburned
I know Kooks makes a Cat y-pipe to go w/ their LT's. That might work out. Think it'll cost a lil more but that all depends on where you buy frm. MarylandSpeed has them frm $1617.75 to $1454.86.
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