Topic: DDMWorks long tube or solo header??

[hammy221]

I'm looking into doing a higher hp build for my LE5 and I want to stick with being supercharged as long as the price isn't ridiculous but if it is ill go turbo instead. So now as far as the two headers the obvious thing you notice is the prices although I do know the DDMWorks long tube comes with a cat and S pipe. Between the two what would the better buy be and is there any Dyno sheets to compare the performance. Also if it helps my goal is well what I would like to see is 375+ to the wheels which is a big step front my current DDMWorks stage 2 SC kit. 

[ophidia31]

If you want big power and being supercharged, the solo header wont cut it. Its just a slightly better design of the stock header. You need a nice flowing header to get all that extra air you shoved into the engine out. The longtube is the only way to go. Even thoguh ive decided if i keep this car, im going supercharged but only to stage two, im still going with a longtube just for the safety factor.

Though not between the ddm long tube and solo shortie, this is a comparison between the stock, tri-y, 4-1 and shortie from clearimageautomotive including the use of different tunes and fuels. also, their shortie wont clear the supercharger with the way theirs is designed.
 http://clearimageautomotive.com/files/Pontiac_Solstice_Header_Comparison.pdf

[Helios]

As explained to me by Dave back in the day, the DDM LT header doesn't provide more HP per se, but it does give you more lower end torque. Also, I don't know if we can achieve 375+ WHP with the supercharger that DDM offers without other power add-ons. I think I have the highest WHP achieved thus far with the stage 3+. I'd like more power, but honestly don't know if I really need it. Dave told me I'd need to upgrade internals to go any higher and into a twin charge setup.

[ophidia31]

If there was a possiblity of getting a tvs or a whipple supercharger instead of the stock one that they use in the kits, you can see better gains. The twinscrew style is more efficient than an eaton roots style setup which leads to better gains and a higher psi output. Along with it being a little cooler of an output as well due to the efficiency. With the roots style, all the air that enters the supercharger doesnt always exit and gets recycled and in the process heats up. From your sig, helios, from my experiance with the eaton roots blowers on my last car, the 14psi you are seeing is basically it for them. Sure, a smaller pulley can see more, but you get very minimal gains from the heat build up. A twins screw can go well into the 20s.

And im not 100% on this but i believe that an air to water intercooler is better than an air to air. The same reason you dont see aircooled engines anymore is that air is horrible for heat transfer. Water just absorbs and disperses heat much better. The only downside to the air to water is that there are more parts that you need to make it work and also doesnt have a big intercooler in the front of the car to look sweet but just a normal looking radiator. So if the electric pump were to fail, you basically lose a huge chunk of your cooling ability were the air to air is just always on. I dont see 375whp out of the question for a single supercharger setup. Its just whether you have the money to get there since that would be strictly custom and not available off the shelf from a store.

[Spedee]

I have the DDM Stage 2 and have broken 4 Solo short tube headers which destroyed two high flow cats.
All under warranty. Jeff and I both agreed the setup will not work on my car. Solo welds did not hold up to the heat no matter what they tried.
Have now spent the money and bought DDM Long Tube with High Flow Cat. Also bought the heat blanket. A must to keep that blower cooler. Very close down there to the intake tube and exhaust.

I can say this car screams now. Its like the exhaust flow has found an easier path. I am running 3" pipe front to back with 4" tips all done by Magnaflow.
Little loud but I like it. Long tube also sets me up for stage 3 soon.

No regrets now.

[Critterman]

DDM has done a Whipple set up before.  It can be done.

[ophidia31]

DDM has done a Whipple set up before.  It can be done.

I wonder what unit they used. Never heard or saw anything about that one. The rotorex centrifugal one i know theyve done before.

[Critterman]

Your right it was the rotorex

[hammy221]

As explained to me by Dave back in the day, the DDM LT header doesn't provide more HP per se, but it does give you more lower end torque. Also, I don't know if we can achieve 375+ WHP with the supercharger that DDM offers without other power add-ons. I think I have the highest WHP achieved thus far with the stage 3+. I'd like more power, but honestly don't know if I really need it. Dave told me I'd need to upgrade internals to go any higher and into a twin charge setup.

I was going to upgrade Esther to a rotrax or a TVS but if the cost of doing that was high I might go to a turbo