Like the topic says any benifit am looking to do a set of headers for my car V8 engine 5.0 Lexus. Wanted to see if there is any benifit. I assume that equal is better but it what sense?

 

Depends on how much you want to get out of the engine and the application. Nothing leaves our shop not equal length, unless the customer specifically asks for a particular way he wants the tubes routed and knows that they will not be equal length.

 

Unequal length headers create more, smaller power peaks and generally a smoother power curve. Equal length produces larger peak power

 

I read a big writeup on the reasons for equal length headers. The "bundle of snakes headers" has benefits of scavenging that unequal length does not. Something about the stroke of the engine determines the amount of exhaust being scavenged on the cylinder next to it. If I can find that writeup I'll post it here. It's very nit-picky science. But very cool

 

we have seen benefits from putting the firing order in a circular fashion on the collector itself. especially when you get into the larger displacement engines. this is a minimal benefit, but a benefit none the less

 

equal length headers help scavenging because the pulse of exhaust gasses are at the same temp and velocity in the collector creating a small suction event that improves the event in the cylinder as rpm increases. i have not really seen the benefit of unequal length headers other than they fit in places a set of equal length wouldn't. new to the 4 cylinder world though got my first Honda about a week ago. but for your v8 equal length are the way to go for performance and sound.