u should remove the shorty headers cuz basically all ur doin is forcin the exhaust through the shorties and then to the pipes........ umm if u do remove them it is best to get the long tube headers because u will get more torque and a lil' bit more top end...... and the copper header gaskets are the best to us because basically once u put them on and torque them on they never leak..... ive had a set on my 85 k-20 pickup that i drive to school and do a lot of muddin in for about 8 months now and so far i havent had ny leaks.............. ohh and another way to save urself some bucks is to run reducer cones instead of collectors cuz u will never have to replace the gaskets down there if u juat have the cones........... well im only 16 but i hope i could help u figure out ur header problems......