New to the forums and this may have been discussed before but the search feature gave no results. Anyway, I just got an 04 Mustang GT, manual tranny. I have installed a Flowmaster American Thunder catback exhaust system. This system uses the Delta flow mufflers. I also installed a Mac offroad H-pipe. The sound is very nice...but it's not quite loud enough at low RPM and idle. I want more volume and more horsepower. I don't race around town much, and this is a daily driver.
Someone recommended I get some headers to get some more volume out of this car. And here's the problem. I know very little about headers. I do know what they do, how they can help performance, and basic stuff like that. However, I have been scouring forums for over a week trying to get some basic answers that no one can really seem to agree upon. I have decided that I want to go with JBA headers, ceramic coated. So, you guys are my last hope. Here goes...
1) Should I go with shorty headers, or long tube headers? I do very little highway driving and I don't want to lose any lower end torque. JBA's site claims that their pipes do not cause ANY power loss at ANY RPM.
2) Are mid-length headers a better option for my application?
3) Will I have to get my engine pulled to have these things installed? If so, can anyone give me an idea of what this will cost? $200? $500?
4) Should I stick with the 1-5/8" pipes, or go with a larger diameter? Some people have told me that going with larger pipes is why there is usually a low-RPM power loss, since the engine needs a little back-pressure.
5) Will any of these headers cause heat damage to my starter or other engine components? Some people have mentioned getting heat shields, but that would kind of defeat the purpose, since I want more sound....and nice shiny pipes under the hood would be a nice thing also.
6) Realistically, how much power would this add given my setup? And will adding headers REALLY make a noticeable different with fuel economy?
Okay guys, thanks in advance for ANY info you can give me.
Excellent question Warghost...i'm with ya...I just got a 2004 GT 40th Ann and i'm wondering the same thing...I just had 40 Series flows put on yesterday and want a little more out of it, and eveyrone is telling me headers also, but giving answers to my similar questions as yours...guess I'll wait here for a proper answer as well. Good luck with the stang!
New to the forums and this may have been discussed before but the search feature gave no results. Anyway, I just got an 04 Mustang GT, manual tranny. I have installed a Flowmaster American Thunder catback exhaust system. This system uses the Delta flow mufflers. I also installed a Mac offroad H-pipe. The sound is very nice...but it's not quite loud enough at low RPM and idle. I want more volume and more horsepower. I don't race around town much, and this is a daily driver.
Someone recommended I get some headers to get some more volume out of this car. And here's the problem. I know very little about headers. I do know what they do, how they can help performance, and basic stuff like that. However, I have been scouring forums for over a week trying to get some basic answers that no one can really seem to agree upon. I have decided that I want to go with JBA headers, ceramic coated. So, you guys are my last hope. Here goes...
1) Should I go with shorty headers, or long tube headers? I do very little highway driving and I don't want to lose any lower end torque. JBA's site claims that their pipes do not cause ANY power loss at ANY RPM.
2) Are mid-length headers a better option for my application?
3) Will I have to get my engine pulled to have these things installed? If so, can anyone give me an idea of what this will cost? $200? $500?
4) Should I stick with the 1-5/8" pipes, or go with a larger diameter? Some people have told me that going with larger pipes is why there is usually a low-RPM power loss, since the engine needs a little back-pressure.
5) Will any of these headers cause heat damage to my starter or other engine components? Some people have mentioned getting heat shields, but that would kind of defeat the purpose, since I want more sound....and nice shiny pipes under the hood would be a nice thing also.
6) Realistically, how much power would this add given my setup? And will adding headers REALLY make a noticeable different with fuel economy?
Okay guys, thanks in advance for ANY info you can give me.
Warghost,
I just installed BBK shorties on my 03 GT. They were a pretty good price and without having to cut my X-pipe (UPR off Road) I decided on the shorties. I will attempt to answer your questions in the order.
1. Depends. Shorties you can still use your pipes as they are a direct replacement for your manifolds. Long tubes produce more power than shorties.
2. I dont think so. If I had the extra $$$$ I would have ordered Long Tubes and a new X-pipe to fit.
3. No engine pulling. If you have a friend that has a shop w/ a lift, just take the motor mounts off, starter off, and jack the motor up as high as you can get it. For the drivers side, depending on header, you will need to loosen the steering shaft. I would say you are looking in the ballpark figure of $400-$800 to have a mechanic do it. For regular joes, it usually takes between 12-32 hours to do this if not in a shop.
4. That size should be fine using 2.5-3 inch pipe.
5. No heat problems from the BBK. They have excellent clearance. BBK also offers crome shorties. They look wicked under the hood expecially with one of the tubes how it loops around (drivers side).
6. My car was loud (high pitch) with the manifolds and now it is loud (deep) with the headers. I would say with just basic boltons you are looking at maybe 10-15 HP gain. These headers really work great on TOP END and it makes a noticeable change that you can feel.
hp gains for shorty headers will be in the area of maybe 5 hp if youre lucky...long tubes will give you more in the ballpark of 15.
another side note on install and such...from what i have heard...if you put on long tubes...replace your clutch too. if you need to replace your clutch later...you need to mess with the headers...especially on the pasenger side...and labor costs are going to be extravagant if you get it done somewhere.
if you have the money for it...DEFINITELY go the long tube route.
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Vortech V2-SQ, BBK LT Headers, O/R H-Pipe, Bassani Catback, Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch, MGW Shifter, Eibach Prokit Springs, and more...
Okay, thanks for the info guys! I'm glad I decided to post here. Good suggestions and product knowledge! I wish I had known about about long tubes giving more power before I insttalled tgis O/R H-pipe. I will probably switch out the H-pipe to fit in headers now.
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!!!Important Questions Regarding Headers!!! - 
RE: !!!Important Questions Regarding Headers!!! - 
