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5.7 Shorty Headers

15K views 47 replies 19 participants last post by  Cordishead 
#1 ·
I have been looking around and have heard alot of talk about headers that may work for the WK but not alot of feedback on what happened. I know a few have had LT's made for the hemi but I am not looking to go that route. Has anyone had success with any shorty's?

thanks
nick
 
#5 ·
Believe they are in the 1000-1500 range.. but from what i see... you really get what you pay for. Id get a set for my 4.7 if I had that kinda change on me.
 
#6 ·
Yeah you about right, and they are top notch headers. Just to much coin for me to swallow just for headers. My 07 mustang gt was the same way with the headers till some cheaper suppliers started making them, I did the same with it waited till they got in the 400-500 range before buying. Thats why I was looking into some shorty's much cheaper.
 
#7 ·
i priced these out a lot, you can buy a set of shorties for 300 or so, but then all the fab work that is required from the shorties, to mid pipes to cats and blah blah

Its gonna end up being at the same price, and gonna fit

ARH still need a little modification to fit too. But yeah youre better off with arh
 
#13 ·
i priced these out a lot, you can buy a set of shorties for 300 or so, but then all the fab work that is required from the shorties, to mid pipes to cats and blah blah

Its gonna end up being at the same price, and gonna fit

ARH still need a little modification to fit too. But yeah youre better off with arh
Well I can do the fab work myself as long as it nothing crazy. I was just seeing if anyone had done it yet. I am also looking for some better pics to compair the headers. 300. plus a little bit of cutting and welding is way better then 1500.00. I dont need this thing to run 11's just faster then stock. I have a mustang to run the 11's
 
#11 ·
Gotta modify your tranny pan for the AR headers. The bolts are a major PITA at the manifold and they are LOUD!

I originally had StainlessWorks 3" catback system on it and had to go with the stock SRT8 catback in order to be able to hear myself think. It's still louder than my Borla for the 5.7L, but similar in sound.

I had a small fire on the dyno and had to go back into the shop...turned out to be excess oil from the build and a few wire got burned from contact with the headers. All is good now and I'll be heading back to the dyno shortly.

Just make sure your headers are not touching anything and it may be a good idea to research an aftermarket tranny pan that will provide enough clearance for the header as it wraps around to the passenger side. Another way to take care of it would be to remove it and cut/weld, instead of heating it up and dimpling it like I did. You have to make sure you don't interfere with the filter whichever way you do it.

I'm still waiting for my BuilderBill Valve Body to arrive, for he is custom fabricating some new parts for it for me to test out on the 545RFE. I can't wait to get rid of the sloppy shifts!
 
#16 ·
1500 bucks plus a shit ton of work to install just doesnt seem practical to me. you can get a twin turbo setup for 1500 bucks right now. i know they sound good and from what ive heard they give decent gains, but thats a TON of money. just my opinion.
 
#17 ·
Gotta pay to play... What you arent considering (twin turbo from where?) is the install of the whole kit

Plus gauges and sensors to monitor it
Plus if it needs a meth pump, nozzle, tank ( if there isnt an intercooler)
Plus a tune which will probably involve dyno time.

I was quoted about 350 to install headers, so when thats all said and done, its about 2100 bucks for headers, install, cats, harnesses, and wideband.

You can run headers without a custom tune, or just get an email tune.

I am not saying headers add the same about of power, but really, a turbo kit isn't "cheap"
 
#19 ·
I'd like to know what is involved in 'adapting' a pair of 300/charger 5.7 headers to our chassis...is it just the secondary (collector) flanges? or maybe it comes with intermediate piping and that's what is causing grief? That wouldn't be 'too bad', as you could make a custom Y if that was the only main drawback...I'd like to know if they physically fit in our limited engine bay with respect to the 'frame' rails...we have 0 clearance and I have no clue about those cars and the room available.

Normally 'shorty' headers are kind of a waste of money (esp on something like my GTO that had reltively long runner cast manifolds), but in our case, the manifolds are extremely restrictive and have no runners, so to speak...The 6.1 SRT manifolds at least have some form of 'runner' and bet those would help. I would loooove full length, but with commifornia, don't want to take a chance with smog and such...Besides, $1500 is absolutely ridiculous!
 
#21 ·
It was hemi beast... I dont remember him saying what he spent, but 800 bucks is pretty crazy...

The shop i got a quote from also mentioned they had never done it on my vehicle before, but have for an srt jeep. Not sure why it would cost so much (800) considering that you dont have to pull the heads off.

I'd love for a cheaper alternative than 1500 dollar headers, thats why i fully support trying to fab up your own from the Lx platform headers.

But Id still like to know what twin turbo setup you can get for 1500 bucks specifically for the srt or non srt wk.. Because the universal kits will need double if not triple the fab work.

No doubt about it i would love to do a turbo set up, but there is so much involved

off topic but why not put loctite on your header bolts so they dont loosen?
 
#26 ·
Not twin turbo and 1500 without turbo...

I told myself if i win the forged rotating assembly on ebay right now, I am going to buy this via credit and pay it off over a few months because they are both smoking deals, but yeah.

That is a good point you have there about the factory mid pipes, I didnt consider this, even though they arent 304 stainless, they are 3in diameter and would still flow more than the crap exhaust manifolds we have. Maybe even gut the cats and add an adjustable O2 sensor..

Very interested now

Keep the comments coming, food for thought
 
#23 ·
^^^I wouldn't use loctite, but would anti-seize (for other reasons)...I've used Stage 8 locking fasteners on my 383 'velle engine and never had one loosen :D Compared to a camaro I had that I must've replaced the gaskets 5X from loose bolts, lol [this was before Stage 8 were around]...I'm sure they make them for just about any application, but if not they're a simple, effective device that is easy to replicate (get some small head bolts and throw on lathe to get a groove about the thickness of an e-clip; make a plate that has a hex opening to match bolt head and that would hit the primary if you were to loosen; the e-clip simply holds on this plate)

Keep in mind with a twin turbo setup, you still need to use a different pair of manifolds (most effective vs. a header to retain the heat for exhaust turbine(s)) and while ours could work, there are better designs that would be more effective, for sure...Then, where do you mount those turbos in the WK? Not too many places, for sure.

To take full advantage of the turbo(s) you of course would want and intercooler, to upgrade the cam, maybe do some head work and all the other goodies that go with it (fuel and control/tuning)...certainly not a trivial matter and definitely not a 'slap on a turbo' thing (I hate when people say that like it's some simple task and all...ricer talk :D )
 
#25 ·
Keep us posted, please. I am very interested in the outcome and options.

As a side question, say the LX headers work and are CARB approved...do you think it would be acceptable to the smog guy? Being it's CA, I would bet it is voided as soon as it's put into something else, but only thing have to worry about is a visual, but good luck seeing down in there, ha ha.
 
#29 · (Edited)
So how much different is srt engine layout vs hemi? I thought I read that the main difference was the shape of the exhaust holes on engine block but other than that there was not much more.

LTs are PIA to install into anything, not just Jeeps. I remember when I installed a set on my car, I spent about half of a day trying to get oil lines back into steering rack that I had to drop to get the headers in in the first place. But now, looking back, it was so worth it.

Also LTs will generally significantly outperform shorties and even mid-length headers.

The high price tag is also due to headers being made out of stainless steel. They dont rust and look great year after year. Just something to consider before you opt out to buy a cheaper, non ss set...
 
#30 ·
So how much different is srt engine layout vs hemi? I thought I read that the main difference was the shape of the exhaust holes on engine block but other than that there was not much more.
The layout isnt that much different. How ARH headers makes the 5.7 long tubes is by taking the exact tubes as the SRT, and just put a 5.7 flange on them.

You have to beat on the trans pan to make them work because the difference in transmissions between the two.

I've had an email chain with BBK this last week, I might be getting a set of LX shorty headers to see how they bolt up. If all works out, we will have some great options out there.
 
#33 ·
Ok from what i understand, the problem using the AR SRT8 headers is the transmition, i know that the 6.1 Hemi uses 2WD Danna 44 (226RBI) its that correct? the problem is with the 4X4 front diff?, so if there a 5.7 Hemi 2WD that use the same Danna 44 like the 6.1, i can use the AR SRT8 Headers, without problem??
 
#34 ·
So basically ARH is the only one who currently makes headers or the 5.7? I thought there would be other companies by now. $1500 is just crazy. I guess headers are out. The Gibson exhaust will have to do for Pop. :)
 
#35 ·
I wonder if the 5.7 manifolds have any material worth porting. A gasket-match and cleaning up rough spots in the casting, along with perhaps a coating would go a long way. Provided the manifolds themselves werent warped, there would be no fitment issues, and installation in comparison to the AR headers would be easier.
 
#36 ·
Ryan, that actually sounds pretty good. I think you would need an extrude hone process to really open up any area, and the internal coating sounds good too. The question is, since it is still a manifold and every thing (all the ports) come together in a short distance the gains may be minimal for the amount of work, let alone R&D.

The stock manifolds are cast iron aren't they, or are they steel? I have looked at Pops truck to see.
 
#38 ·
Bingo.... 09 WK here and I installed a complete srt8 Exhaust with res delete about 2 weeks ago... woke the 5.7 right up and with CAI and 93 predator tune and 180 stat, this bitch runs hard now. Basically, srt8 stock exhaust manifolds ARE shorty headers. Look at them..... I have pics of the complete exhaust side by side I will post soon. The stock exhaust mani folds are pitiful and not designed for performance. The stock exhaust is very restgrictive and the muffler must have weighed 85lbs and about 5 feet long???? crazy.... with speed limiter raised to 155, I ran up to 140 very,very easily and it was still pulling nicely. Top speed is easily over 150 with these minimal bolt ons. Changing the exhaust from the very restrictive stock single to a nice free flowing dual with headers made a huge difference in my jeep. Now I do have an 09 which has the D port exhaust just like the srt8 so it was a perfect match on my heads... TBF
 
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