I have to remain smog legal in CA, so I have to keep the stock cats and have a CARB number on the headers. I have replaced the Y with a flowmaster Y and custom exhaust from the cats to the Y and out the back through a Magnaflow single in dual out.

Would a smog legal shorty be worth anything? I am assuming it is not worth the $500 and the pain in the ass to install. It would have to drop my 1/4 mile time by 3 tenths to make it worth it. I think that would take 30hp and I'll bet I would only get 10hp. The ET change really depends on the torque though and if it ups the torque much in the 2000-4000rpm range it could really help it get off the line.

Thanks,
Craig

You could try using mid length headers. Those are smog legal and are half between the shorty and the longtubes. Probably not worth 3 tenths in the 1/4 by themselves, but headers are a most on a full bolt on truck.

The shorties will more than likely net you no more than 15hp at the most, long tubes barely get you in the 25hp range. They will give you an improvement, you just have to decide yourself if you think its worth it.

If it would put the truck in the 14's under all conditions then it would be worth it. On a hot day with the kids seats in the truck and the gate on and the spare, it is at least 3 tenths away. It is probably half a second away on a really hot day. It was 100 out yesterday and the truck felt like a pig on the way home from work. It must have close to 30hp more in the morning when it is 60 degrees.

At the track, the $10 short belt gives me 3 tenths! That is much cheaper. I think it helps so much because it barely puts any tension on the waterpump so I don't think it is spinning the fan much. I would probably need to switch to an electric fan and add the headers to drop 3 tenths. Too much time and money.

The manifolds just look so restrictive, but the nice tubes coming out of the shorties still have to go into a tiny collector so they don't look like they would help much. The stock Y was horrible on the 06 so I thought I would get a huge increase from upgrading it. I only gained a little so I figure that the manifolds must be so bad that the horrible Y wasn't causing much more of a restriction.

You may want to check out the JBA shorties, their collector is suppose to be pretty good and the gains they claim are up there, still not as much as the LT's but they are up there.

Just dont know about the CARB requirements though.

IMO shorties aren't worth the expense and hassle. Can I get some quick details on the short belt? I've heard several guys running it with good success. Guessing it bypasses A/C and maybe power steering? Are these stocked online anywhere?

Can you run doug thorleys? May be the next best thing.

Just FYI long tube headers and full exhaust knocked over a full second off my 0-60 time but only improved my 1/4 by .07. The weather was warmer and more humid but those are the times I ran.

If mids or shorties are the best you can do in cali then go for it.

I tried shorties on my truck no long after I got it.. (they were free) They made a little difference but I didn't like them. I later went to the Edelbrock mids and have been very happy with them.
I had them and a replacement Y pipe before I went to true duals. Each step was a nice little improvement.

Find some mids that are made for your truck and just do it.

If you live in Cali and want to be smog legal. Edelbrock (TES) mid length headers are the best I think. I run them and noticed a big improvement especially after the Y pipe change



05 1500 QC Laramie 4x2 mineral gray metallic/Edelbrock (TES)mid-length headers/ Magnaflow Y pipe/Stage 8 locking header bolts/Aerotubine 3030 muffler and 3040 exhaust tip/Mopar cold air intake/Superchips programmer/SRT-10 a pillar gauge pod/SRT-10 22" Nightrunner rims/Hemisport body accent kit with hood scoop/Hemibedliner/3.92 antispin rearend,coming soon Diablosport tuner, Comp cams 260,carbonfiber tailights,Street scene grille,SRT-10 hood.

Man, they really crack down on you guys don't they? I never cared for all those rules/regs. But I guess if they inspect your vehicle every year or something you are stuck.

the Edelbrock TES are well designed they claim 27HP i think

Yes the Edelbeock Mids are very well made,but im telling you right now if I ever move out of Cali its Dynatechs or Pacesetter longtubes right away


05 1500 QC Laramie 4x2 mineral gray metallic/Edelbrock (TES)mid-length headers/ Magnaflow Y pipe/Stage 8 locking header bolts/Aerotubine 3030 muffler and 3040 exhaust tip/Mopar cold air intake/Superchips programmer/SRT-10 a pillar gauge pod/SRT-10 22" Nightrunner rims/Hemisport body accent kit with hood scoop/Hemibedliner/3.92 antispin rearend,coming soon Diablosport tuner, Comp cams 260,carbonfiber tailights,Street scene grille,SRT-10 hood.

Longtubes are just a longer more efficent tube right? I don't remember then eliminating any emissions. If you still have cats and sensors why will mids and shorties pass in CA, but longtubes won't?

Any item that moves or relocated the cats in any way will not pass. I am sure that if company wanted to spend the money on testing they could make a case for long tubes to be smog legal but they would have to be a header and cat package.

Is not just the state but there are fed laws about removing functioning cats or any cats with less than 50k on them other than to replace them.