Long tube headers for Tundra.....yes or no

The TLDR: if you are chasing power numbers look elsewhere instead of headers. Consider the other benefits but not if your state has strict emissions. The post I mentioned talks to cylinder temps being lower from running LTHs vs running fat AFR for cooling.

If you are looking for a power adder the gains from LTHs are marginal compared to what the base blower will add. I think I jumped up from 520WHP to 530WHP on the same dyno with the stock R2D2 "Y" exhaust. This is less than 2% power. The builds with SCers + LTH making more gains are almost exclusively at the top and are going with a less restrictive setup usually catless with straight pipes.

What is consistent with folks running headers is the reporting of lower boost while making same or more power; translates into less restriction and better efficiency.

While headers aren't required for cat upgrade most of the aftermarket headers ship with high flow high power rated cats. So while the stock cats flow well chances are the boosted Tundras will end up crapping their stock cats out the exhaust at some point especially if you WOT around a lot.

The loss of low end torque of LTH is overstated on a SCed build. This is probably very noticeable on a NA build with any blower the low end TQ is already higher than what is lost on a NA set up. So you may loose 10 TQ with LTH on the low end but you are making 100+ TQ out of the gate with the blower. You won't notice it with how quickly the blower kicks in.

While you search for your answer the main problem you'll see is you have such a variety of builds (as in different mods) and how HP #s are reported. Most don't report or even know their baseline stock numbers. Also consider since the early builds tuning options have improved considerably as well. Even the header construction varies from LTH set to set.

 

That's funny...... I didn't want an exhaust system before reading this thread. ?????
That X pipe looks tempting.
I went thru this before in the 90s with my 95GT 5.0 removed 100% of the exhaust and went long tubes into an X and into two one chamber Flowmasters out with 2.5" pipes and stainless tips.
Changed the 3.27 to 3.73 gears
Let me tell you it was instant FAST and full of
BADASSERY.....the 90s were great for me.

 

I installed long tubes before s/c, and I chase very particular sound, if those things are not important to you, save the money.

 

Nada. The supercharger forces the air in no matter which exhaust you have. Only compressor which benefits by exhaust is centrifugal and/or turbo.

 

The 90’s were the last of the badass years for most things!! My 89 5.0 notch was the inspiration for this system:

https://dirtydeedsindustries.com/store/ols/products/bamufflers-2000-2006-toyota-tundra-race-exhaust

 

I engineer, design, and build exhaust systems for tundras. It’s been my full time job for 2 decades. When I first discovered that headers don’t do anything, I was devastated.

they don’t hurt anything if you tune for them. But for the money to do it right, they’re pointless.

Just a good catback is all you need.

 

Thats nice to hear since they're already sitting in my entryway.

 

What would you do in the situation of being supercharged and having 3” midpipes and then find that your stock manifolds are leaking. Would it be worth it to install long tubes in that scenario, or would the JBA shorty headers be a good fix for that situation for the price?

 

I personally would put stock exhaust manifolds back on it with 2 1/4” mid pipes. 3” is way too big. Shorties lose low end torque and gain nothing. Long tubes can be tuned for a little more power but the cost to power only makes sense to somebody looking to squeeze out every ounce.

 

Credentials are cool, but they don't carry much weight, especially when what you're saying goes contrary to evidence of the effects of LTHs on both SC'd and non-SC'd vehicles.

Piggy backing on what's already been said by others in this thread, the greatest benefits of LTHs I've read about are -

-Reducing back pressure - a very good thing that frees up the flow of exhaust flow resulting in greater efficiency across the rpm range. A happier, better-performing engine all said and done.

-Scavenging of exhaust gases - resulting in reduced heat and possibility of detonation in the cylinders.

-POWER! who doesn't want more power?

 

Thanks for the input, guess I’ll be doing long tubes or nothing then unless I can just seal up the likely leaking air injection tubes using a trick I had seen elsewhere. I really don’t want anything else header/manifold wise. I have noticed no downsides to the 3” midpipes so I don’t see why I’d remove them at this point. They look great, sound great, and I’ve noticed no negative impact on power or torque anywhere in the RPM range vs the factory ones.

 

I’m down to sell you a set for sure. Definitely not trying to talk anybody out of a set. I’m just saying what I’ve seen. I can’t in good conscience sell a set without telling people the right way first.

 

Sounds like a plan. We are a dealer for Arh, kooks and stainless works. I’ll hook up the best pricing and customer service. 760-877-4234

 

Any more headway on the jba style headers?

 

ARH or Stainless works?
Have your TRD replacement exhaust with turn down dumps before the rear axle.

 

One nice design on the ARH headers is the single air tube for the aip system. Makes it for a little bit easier install.

 

Real close to getting a set over to my header guy. We have been in the middle of reproducing S&S headers for first gen. Should have 20 sets in my hands this week or next. Then 2gen is up!!

 

We will make that for you.

 

Nice!

 

Im lost on this. Long tubes do nothing?

 

Long tubes for Naturally aspirated have some gains in HP and torque but can run a little lean in afr's. Stock exhaust for supercharged has good power with better low torque, some just change the muffler and exit type. But if your pushing some air for power it's good to let it flow. Need to weigh it out what you're looking for.

 

When supercharged, there’s nothing there. Headers don’t gain power.

naturally aspirated, you gain 49hp 89tq. And reduce e/t in the 1/8 Mile by .9 seconds (with 3” dual exhaust behind the long tubes)

the stock ecu compensates for afr perfectly. A tune is not necessary, but a good tune does make it drive even better.

 

Good to know. I haven't ran NA since 2012 just going by the observations back then during development. Thanks!

 

I think this sums it up. unless im reading this entire post wrong

LTHs do nothing. Rework ur factory exhaust with the factory headers and ur good?

 

And now this totally contradicts.
- What in the wide world of sports!!!

no joke, am i missing something?

 

Yeah, he's saying the headers only make a difference in power when the engine is naturally aspirated.

If the engine has forced induction, the headers do little to nothing to add more power.

 

https://youtu.be/_hFUr_j0z3M?si=-rKSAXc4_6MAVjEm



Long tubes gain power yes. Also not the whole picture. Gaines in efficiency less boost to make the same power. No brainer, gains are gains and in whole package even more so.

 

why is forced induction even on the table here? SC has zero to do with this post
Post is referring to LTHs. Thats it.
I skimmed the comments and literally had to reread 3xs. These forums sometimes have side bar humor mixed in and that can add to the confusion

————
A factory vehicle installing LTHs / will gain what?

-LTHs + mid pipe OEM cats / OEM Rear CB = ?

-LTH + mid pipe OEM cats / custom rear CB = ?

ASSuming these changes maintain factory tune.

And pipe size shouldnt be a debate. Theres only one way so arguing over 2.5 vs 3” is a waste. If your guna do it / do it
DD seems to be top dawg on this topic.
Hopefully hel clear this up, for me at least

 

My 03 with JBA LTs from Dirty Deeds

Five years later and the street queen's are still shiney. I plan to rip out the TRD catback (and possibly the cats) once she passes her final inspection at the end of this year. Going to get some 3"-->2.5" reducers and run duals with an H pipe to two Flow FX mufflers, and reuse the TRD tips.




My 06 with JBA LTs and equal length race exhaust from Dirty Deeds