Open headers... worth it?

[Motorhead350]

I've had open headers... well exhaust cut offs for years and the only time I used them it made the car slower down the 1320. That was when the car was 100% stock. Now that it's blown and has Hooks I am tring to decide if I should keep them for annoying the zip code from time to time or if they will actually give me benefit now. I think KillJoy said he gained 30RWHP with his open and his car has a lot of work done.

Do these actually give the car benefit or will it hurt my top end and end up not helping me at all in the end? I'm very confused here. I'm going to the muffler shop in the morning so I need some quick answers. Thanks!

[BlackIce]

I would think that leaving the dumps installed now that your MM is blown is a good idea.

Running with a N/A setup you really have to "tune" the flow of air through the engine to achieve maximum horsepower, whereas with forced induction it suddenly becomes a game of maximizing airflow in and out of the engine. Problematic intake manifold designs and low- or no-restriction exhaust systems are much less of an issue with forced induction from all that I've read.

If you have them already you might as well try it, at the very worst they can be removed later and pipe welded in their place.

[KillJoy]

I picked up the power I did because my system consists of the following:

SW LT's
Dumps
Stock Fron Cat
Stock H-Pipe, Mufflers and Tips

:up:

KillJoy

[Motorhead350]

I think I have the same set up, but what are SW LT's?

Something longtubes???

[ctrlraven]

Stainless Works Long Tubes

Open headers is going to kill your low end but your going to pick up speed at the top end. It's a trade off but all you do is try. Practice your launch and find the sweet rpm spot to launch at.

[magindat]

I had straight pipes and hated them. No muff/cats at all. TJA had cut outs and got rid of them - no real benefit and problematic.

if you are bypassing a slightly more resrtictive exhaust as Steve described, do it.