Posts: 176
Joined: 2/23/2003 From: United States Status: offline
I have an 88 GT. I was wanting to put some long tube headers on it, but was told that it would not be good to do on an everyday driver. Something about burning up plug wires and stuff. What do you guys think?
Posts: 282
Joined: 3/7/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Depends. If your car is lowered you MAY have some clearance issues, they aren't smog legal, and it's a bitch and a half to install. I don't think you'd have any more trouble burning wires than you would with shorties. It's all in how you route the wires.
Posts: 176
Joined: 2/23/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Well, I don't have to worry about emissions, but do you think I would do just as good with a set of shorties? Also, whats the difference b/n equeal and unequeal length and all that? What would be my best route? Thanks.
Posts: 282
Joined: 3/7/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Again, it depends. Longtubes will give you more power than shorties all across the RPM range, but they are a bitch to install and clearance issues come into play.
Shorties add a little convenience as far as installation.
Equal length: more upper RPM power, won't drop off as much after peak hp
Unequal length: more lower RPM power, will drop off more after peak hp
(comparison of MAC shorties; unequal drop 14 hp after peak, equal drop 1 hp after peak)
Posts: 74
Joined: 1/24/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Stay Away from Long tubes, they are nothing but trouble. There can be clearance problems with the steering shaft. For installation of long tubes, steering shaft must be disconnected, then re connected BETWEEN the header tubes (at least with mac long tubes). Very dangerous when making turns and giving gas. Fine if you're going racing, but for everyday driving...not a good idea. Also, new motor mounts may be needed to ensure engine sits correctly to properly clear the steering shaft. They do give great low end torque though. Another down fall....they hang pretty low..everyone will know what you got. hope this helps
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Joined: 4/1/2003 From: United States Status: offline
instalation was not a problem on my car. its an 88 gt. The right side goes in from the top, and it fits in pretty easily. you have to pull out the plugs and take out the dipstick (if it is a manual). the left side is trickier but not too hard. you have to move some of the ac and heater hoses out of the way. you also have to bring the header up from the bottom of the car. you have to pull the starter off. we used bbk 1 5/8" headers. the directions that came with the kit called for the motor to be unbolted from the mounts and the throttle body to be removed, but we didnt do either. it just takes some wiggling to get them in.
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Joined: 4/1/2003 From: United States Status: offline
also clearance is not ever an issue. my car is lowered 2" and the headers have only scraped once on a gravel road. the collector for the header fits right up into the crossmember. they fit very flush.
Posts: 282
Joined: 3/7/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Quote: Originally posted by jarrett on 01 April 2003 also clearance is not ever an issue. my car is lowered 2" and the headers have only scraped once on a gravel road. the collector for the header fits right up into the crossmember. they fit very flush.
I might have to think about getting some longtubes. . .whenever they make them legal in CA
Posts: 282
Joined: 3/7/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Yeah it sucks. I'm paranoid just driving with an O/R X-pipe. Car is f'n LOUD. I swear, you can hear my car coming from blocks away, and that's not exagerrating. My parents tell me my dog runs to the fence and waits like 3 mins for my car to pull up cuz she recognizes it and waits for me. $1000 fine for each cat missing, and I (we) have four. Gotta find the $400 for an X with cats.
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