Long tube vs. Shorty

[Waverous]

Though others may enjoy this article from Hot Rod Magazine regarding a comparison of long tube headers vs. "Shorty" headers on a 351W

 

[stlbl]

Good read but I'd be curious to see what the cast exhaust manifolds did as well

 

[bronconut73]

In the article it states that the shorties had the exact same peak and curve as the 5.0 exhaust manifolds.


In my experience there are a few cast iron exhaust manifolds that with a little work can flow as good as shorties. Very few shorties flow that well, at least compared to long tubes.

 

[svobronco]

I felt the loss of torque when I went from long tubes to shorties. An unfortunate reality with a 700R4 tho

 

[nvrstuk]

Seems like it's always about fit... be nice to have the advantage of everything bolting in!!

On my "stock" suspension Bronco back from '76 till about 1994 I ran long tubes, never hit a thing on the headers when wheeling.

Converted to soft long travel springs and all of a sudden I could go more places and I hit my headers a couple times... had some major dents in them.

Swapped over to short tube headers and never hit them again when wheeling...

Moral here for many of us is we run what works, fits and what isn't heavy (cast manifolds), and what doesn't crack (stock 302/351 manifolds)

1 1/2 years back with more suspension mod's I still run the same JBA shorties but have had to cut the collectors off both sides to make them fit. My Dana 60 yoke had 1 1/2" of interference with the shorties... and that was before the 90deg elbow was welded in ...PSD downpipe fit perfect there so both sides are modified, re-welded and re-coated. Couldn't even imagine trying to work around long tubes now...I'd have to run them out the hood!

IF you can fit them, they add some HP/torque no doubt

 

[pcf_mark]

Good tuned headers are free power everywhere in the power band. Do what you have to make them fit! (if you are ok with a little extra noise and heat)

 

[nvrstuk]

Does crushing the tubes count "as fit"!!?? lol

 

[WheelHorse]

I noticed a nice seat-of-the-pants gains with my Fox when I went from BBK eq shorties 1_5/8 to BBK 1_5/8" long tubes.

In one of the Ford books it stated the Fox tubular manifolds were good for 7 hp over the stock irons. However, I believe the 351 iron manifolds flow better than the 302 irons.

 

[bronkenn]

Does crushing the tubes count "as fit"!!?? lol

NO IT DOES NOT! It counts as a CUSTOM fit.

 

[rmk57]

I think the engine was over carburated for a 400 hp motor. It may work on a dyno but in real world street driving it sure wouldn't be my choice. Also 1 5/8 headers would be a better choice for a street engine.