Here is what I have observed:
(1) Zuffen has made me aware of the design inefficiencies in the Tex's Header collectors (20mm of pipe protruding into the collector, inhibiting and not encouraging flow). This drops the Aussie headers down on my wish list, that's for sure.
(2) S&S Headers are appropriately designed for a 4L motor. Using general equations to give an idea of where peak torque would be made on a 4L motor with 1.5" primary exhaust pipes, the result is 4569rpm. This number is very close to stock peak torque rpm numbers from the factory, which means the S&S Headers should result in a similarly shaped -albeit stronger- power band upon install (
Understanding Header Design - Car Craft Magazine).
(3) A 2.5" exhaust like Jibby has installed is rather oversized, even for a 1UZ on nitrous. Based on the standard exhaust conventions of 115CFM/sq.in of pipe cross sectional area and 2.2CFM/hp, a 2.5" pipe should capacitate unobstructed flow for 530 CFM, or 240hp. This means 2.5" duals are sufficient for a 480hp engine, which clearly the 1UZ is not. (
Auto Exhaust Science)
An oversized exhaust will present exhaust gases too much room to "get lost" on their way out on the low end when exhaust gas velocity is not swift. An undersized exhaust will present exhaust gases an overly efficient scenario on the low end, resulting in more low to midrange power while choking the motor on the top end.
Put a ready-to-race 1000whp TT 1UZ on 2.5" duals, and it may not make its full power potential, but it will certainly make more than the 480hp which the exhaust piping would supply flow for unobstructed. Additional power would be being made in spite of -and at the expense of- exhaust backpressure from choke, but big power will still be made, and that motor would have a wicked low end to boot.
Put this same motor on 4" duals, and the motor would dyno the full 1000whp, but the turbo would take longer to spool, the low end would be underwhelming, and the car would be much less useful in nearly every automotive scenario save the dyno itself.
(4) In my opinion, the stock motor probably deserves 2" duals or a 2.5" single, mandrel-bent or not. Based on the exhaust assumptions above, 2" duals would flow 150hp unobstructed in each pipe, and a 2.5" single exhaust would flow 240hp before experiencing any choke. To me, these numbers are most appropriate for the stock motor.
For my intended mild FI set up (~375whp) via centrifugal suupercharging, I think 2.25" duals should be appropriate (425CFM/pipe or 193hp/pipe). Although, for a street car, I think I would be more well served to put 2" duals from the headers back rather than 2.5" duals on such a supercharged set up.