Long tube vs shortie headers. What's the difference in:
Clearance
Performance
Sound

Thanks
Dave (18 year old daughter has a 79, 15 year old son has an 81z t-top, 44 year old me got nuthin)

Clearance = usually goes in favor of shortys
Performance = depending on application, power wise usually goes to long tube
Sound = huuhhmmm, never ran across that question...

:)

I will try to start this off!!

You have stock exhaust manifolds that can be upper log type like the old Tri-5, 265's and mid '70's Monza's had and lower log like almost every other 350 has, then also the early Tri-5, '57 Small, (2"), and BIG Ramshorns, (2.5" 'Vette jobbers '64/'65).

The 2.5" 'Vette Ramshorns are the best cast-iron exhaust manifold's GM ever offered for our engines!! If they will fit the car?

Next roadster block-hugger Ramshorn replacements, then Tri-Y's and finally short and long 4-tube!!

ALL of them have their place!!

4-tube shorties tend to work in the street range whereas 4-tube, long work higher up depending on engine size, rpm, primary tube size AND length and collector diameter! UNLESS I have this backwards guys, so please check me here??????

And guys say for a street engine, Tri-Y's are better still for midrange T!! It all depend's on the combination............

All I can really say is you need to just do your homework!!

pdq67

PS., one last point!!

Bigger here is NOT better!! So if we could buy them, for a street 350 engine, a 1.5" header just may be WAY better than a 1.75" header!! And the 1.625" is about average....

since switching from stock manifolds to long tubes...given my 350 a badass raw whining sound when get in higher rpms......it is night and day difference the engine breathes so much better....

I like shorties on my bb. I'll give up the 5-6 hp (if that) for the sake of being able to unbolt and lift them out from above, no problem. They clear my starter easy, and my oil filter is easy to get off /on with a kicked out pan. The rest of my exhaust is 3".

Don't waste your money or time on shorties. Better to stick with exhaust manifolds IMO. I ran them before I got my long tubes. The long tubes made a lot more torque and are ironically quieter then my shorties were. Long tubes or nothing as far as I'm concerned.