Long tube headers VS shorties

I am just trying to get a feel for that everyone thinks
I have a 65 w/ a new 425hp 302 and I am wondering if it matters which headers I choose. Reason being shorties Look kool, and do not get in the way of my power steering. Please chim in and give me your opinon. I am lose with so many differnt types. I know some are 1-5/8" and some are 1-3/4" tubes.
I really do not want to pull the motor to install new Headers!!!!!!


thanks in advance  

shorty headers are better than exhast manifolds "BUT" nothing makes more power than long tube headers. on a 302 making 425hp 1-5/8" maximum , i would run 1-1/2" if your not turing over 6500. i ran 1-3/4" long tubes on a axle breaking 460 , i run 1-5/8" long tubes on my 450HP 392W stroker thats a cruiser , and 1-3/4 long tube headers on my other 600HP 392W stroker thats in my 65 stang. you gotta use parts that work together to get the maximun power from the engine combo you have. what do you want ? headers that look cool to you with the hood open or you looking cool after you just blew the other guys door off ! as far as pulling the engine to put headers on , i have never pulled the engine and you cannot put an engine in a 65-66 mustang with the headers on, further more i have never lifted the engine up , only put the car on jackstands.  

I agree with shifthis, however you may not be paying a big penalty with shortie headers unless as he says you're going above 6500 or you're racing. For the street I think the penalty is likely to be small and might even improve your low end with the shortie type. Depending on the install I have had to raise them a touch off the mounts but never take out the engine to install.
As an engineer I have never been a big fan of scavenging,,,and thats what the claims for long tube headers are based on. I dont mean it doesnt exist, it does, but because it only happens like a harmonic at individual rpms(the higher the flow the more it helps) a street engine will rarely see big benefits from that. So often you see companies making HP claims and they usually are at high rpm where you would never (or very rarely)see that with a street engine and if you study the whole curve you find out it hurts at low rpm. I just feel the issues of looks and complication and installation and living with the parts,,, are just as important(or more so) then finding two or three more HP at 6750 rpm. Just my opinion.  

@ shiftthis......the engine Builder dyno it with 1-3/4 headers and only run it to 5800 rpm's I have had it to 6000 already and more to spare. I agree long tube is best the torgue is 430 I was just making sure that I would not have to pull the motor to install. Must people have said they have to go in from the Bottom up. when I was younger I never installed from bottom up. just making sure and I do really apppreciate all the infom. Long tube 1-5/8 it is then

Thanks Guys  

shiftthis

Nice motors you have/ I was thinking of installing a superchager on my stroker whats your thoughts on me doing so? I was hoping to make about 550 after install??
I am not racing the car, its more show and go then anything Like you said Bkow the doors off that guy & cruise. Its numbers matching too.

Thanks  

i have 11" wide rims with 12" wide KUMHO ECSTA KU36 315/35/17 tires and a detroit locker and if i dont bring the power on just right i will melt the rear tires ! 550 hp is a lot for the light back end of a 65 and thats were slicks are needed especially with a supercharger !  

Nice, thanks for the imput I will think on it. Not that I am doing this now I just want to increase the HP and have some fun doing so.