Tri-Ys or LTs for a NA 346 or 383 LSx

[Vettezuki]

I have power sitting on the table with just a better exhaust. My H&C LSx (currently 346ci) has about 3psi of back pressure at WOT. That's kind of a lot.

My Cam is moderate (the biggest possible smog legal cam) 114LS 224/224 @.566 lift AIR. I have no plans to change the cam, but *might* go to a 383 stroker some day, and maybe just maybe a centrifugal SC, but that would be years down the road at best.

Shaolin Crane knows a fabricator at Doug Throrley who could custom fab up a pair of Tri-Ys. The good news with that is they'll actually be guranteed to fit, otherwise, I'm rolling dice. I don't know of any LS swapped C3 in the country with Long Tube headers.

I guess the trade if is simple. Tri-Ys more low mid torque, LTs more top end power.

What ya'lls think?

[Shaolin Crane]

He can actually make you either, tri-y's or long tubes. He just prefers tri-y's for the best of both worlds so to speak, i agree. He uses a modified tri-y to get low end and top end power.

[Vettezuki]

He can actually make you either, tri-y's or long tubes. He just prefers long tubes for the best of both worlds so to speak, i agree. He uses a modified tri-y to get low end and top end power.

He prefers LT overall? How does it compare to a modified Tri-y? What the hell is a "modified Tri-Y"?

[Shaolin Crane]

No he prefers tri-y's over long tubes.(my bad, typo) A modified tri-y uses slightly longer y runners instead of the standard type, it hard to explain without seeing it. But basically longer equal length runners.

[Vettezuki]

No he prefers tri-y's over long tubes.(my bad, typo) A modified tri-y uses slightly longer y runners instead of the standard type, it hard to explain without seeing it. But basically longer equal length runners.

Cool. I'm assuming he can ceramic coat? Can he fab the rest of the exhaust? Can he install all of it or does he just fab?

[Shaolin Crane]

His price includes a ceramic coat. He made my entire exhaust system. When the exhaust is done it will be installed on the car.

[94cobra69ss396]

I'd go with what ever he says. He does it for a living so I wouldn't question it. Besides, I've seen your exhaust and anything would be an improvement.

[enkeivette]

I would go with full length headers always in a well breathing NA light weight car.

Shorter primaries and fatter tubes are better for engines that build hp up high. If you're making power NA, that's what you're doing... hopefully.

Longer runners with the tri-y's isn't necessarily a good thing, but it depends on your engine. If you engine was stock I might say go tri-y.

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/header_basics/viewall.html

But more than anything, get some high flow cats. A high flow cat should make less back pressure than a high flow muffler. And get some 3" pipes. I run cats, dual 3" high flow magnaflow, got them off of e-bay for about $120 for the set.

[enkeivette]

Then again, you can fit what you can fit, if you can't easily squeeze long tubes in there for a decent price, go with the best economical choice. Headers will buy you 60hp with your setup, but the difference between them will probably be less than 15hp.

P.S. I don't understand the hype with tri-y's, other than they are probably easier to build. I would always want equal length primary tubes.

[Shaolin Crane]

The primary's are equal length, just a different shape. I ran them on my stock engine to an 8.7 in the 1/8th. And ground clearance is not an issue which is nice.

[Vettezuki]

I'd go with what ever he says. He does it for a living so I wouldn't question it. Besides, I've seen your exhaust and anything would be an improvement.

Ouch! But you're right. Nice to know have as much as 30whp, maybe more, sitting on the table with just an exhaust and retune. Althugh that'd still be in the $2,000 range (should refab the cross member which is why my dual exhaust is goofy, the cross member was originally for a 2-1-2.

fab of headers and exhaust
cats
cross member
install
tune

Yeah, at least $2k sadly. But it'll be much nicer. Might be able to do in 2012 . . . Gotta fix the goddamned electrical gremlins first. Fortunately the original installer who knows the hybrid harness and system better than anyone is still kicking.