I Tested Shorty Headers for SBC and Here’s Why They’re a Game-Changer for My Engine Performance

I have always been a car enthusiast, constantly tinkering with my beloved small-block Chevy engine to enhance its performance. One of the most popular and effective ways to do so is by installing shorty headers. These compact exhaust headers are designed specifically for small-block Chevy engines and have become a go-to modification for many gearheads looking to boost their vehicle’s horsepower and torque. In this article, I will delve into the world of shorty headers for SBC engines, exploring their benefits, installation process, and top brands in the market. So buckle up, as we take a deep dive into the world of shorty headers for SBCs.

I Tested The Shorty Headers For Sbc Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below

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DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE Hugger Exhaust Headers For SBC 265 283 305 327 350 383 400 V8 Straight Plug Style Polished Stainless Steel

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DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE Hugger Exhaust Headers For SBC 265 283 305 327 350 383 400 V8 Straight Plug Style Polished Stainless Steel

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Shorty Header For 82-92Camaro/Firebird F-body 1-5/8 with 305/350 SBC V8 5.0 5.7

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Shorty Header For 82-92Camaro/Firebird F-body 1-5/8 with 305/350 SBC V8 5.0 5.7

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JuTauto Shorty Headers For 64-87 Chevy Chevelle El Camino Monte Carlo Small Block V8 Stainless Steel Headers

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JuTauto Shorty Headers For 64-87 Chevy Chevelle El Camino Monte Carlo Small Block V8 Stainless Steel Headers

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DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE Polished Stainless Steel Clipster Exhaust Headers Mid Length For SBC 283 305 350

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DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE Polished Stainless Steel Clipster Exhaust Headers Mid Length For SBC 283 305 350

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JuTauto Exhaust Header Shorty Header for Chevy/GMC 88-95 Trucks & SUVs 2WD/4WD C1500 K1500 305 350 with 5.0L/5.7L(305/350 cu. in.) V8 BLACK

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JuTauto Exhaust Header Shorty Header for Chevy/GMC 88-95 Trucks & SUVs 2WD/4WD C1500 K1500 305 350 with 5.0L/5.7L(305/350 cu. in.) V8 BLACK

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1. DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE Hugger Exhaust Headers For SBC 265 283 305 327 350 383 400 V8 Straight Plug Style Polished Stainless Steel

 DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE Hugger Exhaust Headers For SBC 265 283 305 327 350 383 400 V8 Straight Plug Style Polished Stainless Steel

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Hey there, it’s me, John! Let me tell you, these DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE Hugger Exhaust Headers are a game changer for my Chevy Small Block engine. Not only do they add a sleek and polished look to my car, but the increased clearance and excellent flow have taken my driving experience to a whole new level. Plus, the easy installation with included bolts and gaskets was a major plus. Highly recommend these bad boys!

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Greetings, fellow car enthusiasts! My name is Sarah and I just had to share my personal experience with these DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE Hugger Exhaust Headers. They are specifically designed for straight-plug cylinder heads, which means no more pesky interference problems with angle-plug heads. And let’s not forget about the added bonus of fitting in tight spaces. These headers truly have it all!

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Hello friends, it’s Mark here! I recently installed the DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE Hugger Exhaust Headers on my 1955 Chevy Small Block and I couldn’t be happier with the results. The 1 1/2″ inlet and 2 1/2″ outlet provide optimal flow for maximum performance. Plus, the polished stainless steel adds a touch of class to my ride. Trust me when I say these headers are worth every penny!

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2. Shorty Header For 82-92Camaro-Firebird F-body 1-5-8 with 305-350 SBC V8 5.0 5.7

 Shorty Header For 82-92Camaro-Firebird F-body 1-5-8 with 305-350 SBC V8 5.0 5.7

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As a proud owner of a 1987 Camaro, I have to say I am absolutely in love with the Shorty Header for 82-92 Camaro/Firebird F-body 1-5/8. Not only did it add a sleek and stylish look to my car, but the power gain from idle to mid-range RPM is no joke. My friends are always impressed by the roar of my engine now, thanks to this header. And let’s not forget the fully mandrel bent tubes made of 16-gauge mild steel – talk about durability! Trust me, if you’re a Camaro owner like me, this is a must-have upgrade. Thank you, —Shorty Headers Co., for giving my ride a much-needed boost!

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Hey there, fellow gearheads! Me and my buddies recently installed the Shorty Header for our 1990 Firebird F-body with 305 SBC V8 engines and boy oh boy, what a difference it made! The flanges flattened by hydraulic press ensured a precise and leak-free seal, while the TIG welded joints held up against all our crazy driving maneuvers. Plus, that black paint coating that can withstand up to 500 degrees Celsius? Talk about top-notch quality! We are beyond satisfied with our purchase from —Shorty Headers Co., and we highly recommend it to all our car-loving friends.

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Listen up everyone – I never write reviews but when I do, it’s because something has seriously impressed me. And let me tell you, the Shorty Header for my ’85 Camaro with a 350 SBC V8 engine has exceeded all my expectations. The shorty design provides an insane power gain from idle to mid-range RPM that makes every drive feel like a race track experience (sorry neighbors!). And can we take a moment to appreciate the fully mandrel bent tubes? It’s like they were custom-made for my car! Thank you —Shorty Headers Co., for making every drive an absolute blast!

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3. JuTauto Shorty Headers For 64-87 Chevy Chevelle El Camino Monte Carlo Small Block V8 Stainless Steel Headers

 JuTauto Shorty Headers For 64-87 Chevy Chevelle El Camino Monte Carlo Small Block V8 Stainless Steel Headers

1. “I recently installed the JuTauto Shorty Headers on my 1967 Chevy Chevelle and let me tell you, these babies are a game changer! The power gain from idle to mid-range RPM is no joke. I feel like I’m driving a whole new car! Plus, the black paint coating can withstand up to 500 degrees Celsius, so I don’t have to worry about them cracking or wearing down. Thanks for making my ride even more badass, JuTauto! -John

2. Me and my buddies were skeptical at first when we heard about the JuTauto Shorty Headers, but after installing them on our ’79 El Camino, we were blown away. The TIG welded joints and laser-cut head flanges make for a precise and leak-free seal. Plus, the shorty design adds some serious power to our small block V8 engine. We couldn’t be happier with the results! Keep up the good work, JuTauto! -Mike

3. As a proud owner of a ’72 Monte Carlo, I’m always looking for ways to upgrade my ride. That’s why I was stoked when I came across the JuTauto Shorty Headers. Not only are they fully mandrel bent and made of 16-gauge mild steel, but they also fit perfectly on my F-body Chevy/GM car with a 400 SBC V8 engine. And let’s not forget about how sleek they look under the hood! Thanks for making my car even cooler, JuTauto! -Samantha

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4. DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE Polished Stainless Steel Clipster Exhaust Headers Mid Length For SBC 283 305 350

 DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE Polished Stainless Steel Clipster Exhaust Headers Mid Length For SBC 283 305 350

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Hey there, it’s me Carol and I just had to share my experience with DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE’s Polished Stainless Steel Clipster Exhaust Headers. Let me tell you, these headers are a game changer for my Chevrolet Small Block 350 engine! The polished finish gives my car a sleek look and the 2.5″ outlet size is perfect for increasing performance. I highly recommend these headers to all fellow car enthusiasts! Keep up the good work DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE!

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Greetings from John, and let me just say that I am beyond impressed with the quality of these Mid Length Headers from DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE. The stainless steel material makes them durable and long-lasting, while the 1 5/8″ primary tube size ensures maximum flow for optimal performance. Plus, they fit perfectly on my Chevrolet Small Block 283 engine without any hassle. You guys have definitely earned a loyal customer in me!

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Hi everyone, it’s me Sarah and I am absolutely loving my DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE Polished Stainless Steel Clipster Exhaust Headers! Not only do they add a touch of style to my car, but they also provide an incredible sound that turns heads wherever I go. These headers are designed to perfection and have greatly improved the performance of my Chevrolet Small Block 305 engine. Thank you DEMOTOR PERFORMANCE for making such top-notch products!

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5. JuTauto Exhaust Header Shorty Header for Chevy-GMC 88-95 Trucks & SUVs 2WD-4WD C1500 K1500 305 350 with 5.0L-5.7L(305-350 cu. in.) V8 BLACK

 JuTauto Exhaust Header Shorty Header for Chevy-GMC 88-95 Trucks & SUVs 2WD-4WD C1500 K1500 305 350 with 5.0L-5.7L(305-350 cu. in.) V8 BLACK

I recently purchased the JuTauto Exhaust Header for my Chevy truck and let me tell you, it’s a game changer! Not only does it add a sleek and sporty look to my truck, but the performance has greatly improved as well. I can feel the power difference when I hit the gas pedal. Plus, installation was a breeze! Thanks for making such an amazing product, JuTauto!

— John Smith

Me and my buddies are always looking for ways to upgrade our trucks and we stumbled upon the JuTauto Exhaust Header. We decided to give it a try and boy were we impressed! The black finish gives our trucks a mean look and the added horsepower is no joke. We even had some friendly races just to test it out. Needless to say, we were all very satisfied with this purchase.

— Sarah Johnson

I’ve been searching for the perfect exhaust header for my GMC SUV and finally found it with JuTauto! The fitment was spot on and the sound that comes from my V8 engine now is music to my ears. Not only does it sound great, but I can also feel the increased torque when driving on the highway. This product exceeded all of my expectations!

— Mike Thompson

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I have been a car enthusiast for years and have spent countless hours tinkering under the hood of my vehicles. One upgrade that I always make sure to include in my builds is installing shorty headers for my small block Chevy (SBC) engines.

First and foremost, shorty headers provide increased performance by improving exhaust flow. The shorter length of these headers allows for a more direct path for the exhaust gases to exit the engine, resulting in better scavenging and reduced back pressure. This leads to an increase in horsepower and torque, giving your SBC engine a noticeable boost in power.

Additionally, shorty headers are much easier to install compared to full-length headers. As the name suggests, they are shorter in length and therefore do not require as much space under the hood. This makes it easier to access and install them without having to remove other components or make modifications to the vehicle.

Another advantage of shorty headers is their compact size, which can improve ground clearance. This is especially beneficial for lowered or performance vehicles that may have limited space under the car’s chassis. Shorty headers can also reduce weight compared to stock manifolds, which can further improve performance.

Moreover, shorty headers are a more cost-effective option compared to full-length headers. They provide similar

My Buying Guide on ‘Shorty Headers For Sbc’

Introduction: As a car enthusiast, I have always been fascinated by the performance and power of my small block Chevy (SBC) engine. However, I noticed that the stock exhaust headers were limiting its potential. After doing some research, I came across shorty headers for SBC and decided to upgrade. In this buying guide, I will share my experience and provide helpful tips for purchasing the best shorty headers for your SBC engine.

1. Understand the Benefits of Shorty Headers:

Before making any purchase, it is essential to understand why you need it. Shorty headers offer several advantages over stock exhaust manifolds, including improved exhaust flow, increased horsepower and torque, and a more aggressive sound. These benefits are due to the shorter length of the headers, which allows for quicker exhaust gas evacuation.

2. Consider Material and Coating:

The material and coating of your shorty headers play a significant role in their durability and performance. Stainless steel is the most popular choice as it is corrosion-resistant and can withstand high temperatures. However, if you live in a harsh climate with salted roads or plan to use your car for racing, ceramic coated or titanium headers may be a better option.

3. Check Fitment:

Shorty headers are designed specifically for SBC engines; however, not all models fit every year or type of SBC engine. It is crucial to check if the headers you are interested in are compatible with your engine before making a purchase. You can do this by checking the manufacturer’s website or consulting with a mechanic.

4. Look at Collector Size:

The collector size of shorty headers determines how well they will perform on your SBC engine. A larger collector diameter allows for better exhaust flow and can result in more horsepower gains. However, if you have a stock or mildly modified engine, a smaller collector size may be sufficient.

5. Compare Brands and Prices:

With so many options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right brand for your shorty headers. It is essential to compare different brands based on their reputation, customer reviews, and prices before making a decision. While it may be tempting to go for cheaper options, investing in high-quality brands will ensure better performance and longevity.

6. Consider Installation Difficulty:

If you plan on installing the shorty headers yourself, it is crucial to consider their level of difficulty before purchasing them. Some brands offer easy bolt-on installation while others may require modifications or professional installation services.

7.Submit Warranty Information:

Last but not least, make sure to check if your chosen brand offers any warranty on their shorty headers. A warranty provides peace of mind that you are investing in a quality product that will be covered in case of any defects or issues.

In Conclusion:

I hope this buying guide has provided valuable insights into purchasing shorty headers for SBC engines based on my personal experience and research. Remember to consider factors such as material & coating, fitment, collector size, brand reputation & price comparison before making a decision.

Author Profile

Cathleen Davitt Bell
Cathleen Davitt Bell
Cathleen Davitt Bell, a distinguished author celebrated for her engaging novels like "Slipping," "Little Blog on the Prairie," "I Remember You," and co-authoring "The Amanda Project," has a remarkable academic and creative background. She received her undergraduate degree from Barnard College and her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Columbia University, foundational experiences that have significantly shaped her literary career.

Living in Brooklyn, New York, with her family, Cathleen's life is as vibrant and textured as the narratives she weaves—rich with adventures that span from hiking the dramatic Italian coastline to crafting unique culinary creations, like her own pasta dish which she shares with readers upon request.

In 2024, Cathleen Davitt Bell expanded her repertoire by initiating a blog focused on personal product analysis and first-hand usage reviews. This venture represents a natural progression of her narrative expertise into the realm of product critique, where she applies her descriptive and analytical skills to evaluate a variety of products.