put my new BBK headers on today

[Roland69]

was borred so I figured I would stuff them in there. I bought some BBK chrome shorty's. The old ones came out awsome and everything went smooth witch was nice.

I also changed the plugs (had champions in there) with a set of autolite 25's and gapped them to .54 while I was in there. I was impressed with the fit of the bbk's they bolted right up and fit great with the stock H-pipe. I did cheat a little with the new gaskests and taped them on the headers with a piece of masking tape (works awsome BTW) But I did notice the starter was really loose to the point I was surprised it didn't fall off so I tightned it up and now it sounds different. It must have been loose since I bought it 3 a few years ago lol.

Next I will be buying an OR H-pipe and getting rid of the smog pump and all the air lines

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Cool....as for the gaskets, next time look for a set that has the end holes set up so you can put in the first and last bolt so the headers are hanging, and just drop the gaskets right down between the header and the head. After that it's a breeze.

 

[foxmustangman]

Schweeet.

 

[Roland69]

Cool....as for the gaskets, next time look for a set that has the end holes set up so you can put in the first and last bolt so the headers are hanging, and just drop the gaskets right down between the header and the head. After that it's a breeze.

the gaskets the hearders came with had that but the stock valve covers wouldn't really allow for that. I have done the tape trick before a few times before with good results so I did it on mine today.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

the gaskets the hearders came with had that but the stock valve covers wouldn't really allow for that. I have done the tape trick before a few times before with good results so I did it on mine today.

It's a pretty good idea..i'll log that one away


I'm actually really thinking about swapping back to shorties. I love the full lengths but mine are rusted to hell and back and i've been wanting to lower my car more (Eibach Sportlines low) and full lengths just don't allow for it.

 

[Roland69]

I like the shorties....but if I was givin a set of LT's and a h-pipe for them I would swap them out and try them for sure

 

[Roland69]

one thing I don't understand is they make a 3/8 thick flange but give you shorter header bolts...

Oh and the dipstick tube came out easy.....I was wondering why people would cut the flange to fit around the tube.

 

[ryan218]

wish the equal length headers went in that easy....i put a set of the BBK equal length headers on my 88 and i didn't like em....make it a pain to get to the spark plugs and some of my plug wires rested on them....i took them off later that day and put the stocker back on...although like you said...BBK fits really nice right up to the stock H...........

sorry but i had to add this....


you happy with the BBk shorties? any complaints with them?

 

[foxmustangman]

Dang. I was thinking about getting eq's. Did you drive it around when they were on? I figure they'd let your car breathe alot easier...

 

[ryan218]

Dang. I was thinking about getting eq's. Did you drive it around when they were on? I figure they'd let your car breathe alot easier...

yeah im sure they breathed better and it gave it a little deeper exhaust note but i didnt like tht i 1 could not get the the spark plugs 2 my plug wires rested on them and 3 they were a pain to get around all my smog ****...

 

[foxmustangman]

Cool, so I can check those off of my list.

 

[poneypower89]

I have had zero problems with my BBK EQUAL length shorties... i find its even easier to get to the spark plugs

the only thing i WILL tell anyone... DO NOT.. for the love of god.. use the gaskets that come with the BBK headers... they SUCK.. and you WILL blow them out. and they WILL cake themselves to the head.. and you WILL be a pissed off grease monkey.

 

[Roland69]

so should I get me some copper ones

 

[Roland69]

and I don't have to unhook from the H-pipe to change the header gaskets do I.....unless I need to clean the gasket surface again.

 

[MustangOwner]

I'm actually really thinking about swapping back to shorties. I love the full lengths but mine are rusted to hell and back and i've been wanting to lower my car more (Eibach Sportlines low) and full lengths just don't allow for it.

wish the equal length headers went in that easy....i put a set of the BBK equal length headers on my 88 and i didn't like em....make it a pain to get to the spark plugs and some of my plug wires rested on them....i took them off later that day and put the stocker back on...although like you said...BBK fits really nice right up to the stock H..........

BBK Shorty unequals are by FAR the best header you can put on a 5.0. Easiest to install, no worry about spark plug wires touching, no ground clearance issues, no steering rack clearance issues, easy to swap plugs. The only way i'd go LT is if i had a drag car only. The Shorty unequal is the best overall header period!

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

BBK Shorty unequals are by FAR the best header you can put on a 5.0. Easiest to install, no worry about spark plug wires touching, no ground clearance issues, no steering rack clearance issues, easy to swap plugs. The only way i'd go LT is if i had a drag car only. The Shorty unequal is the best overall header period!

Yeah you're probably right. The only thing i don't like about EL's is how they rust in the inner parts of the headers. I guess all headers are going to rust eventually unless you buy ceramic coated (which can still rust) but it seems like the equals get hot spots or something where the headers are close together. I also noticed hotter engine bay temps with EL's.

 

[MustangOwner]

Yeah you're probably right. The only thing i don't like about EL's is how they rust in the inner parts of the headers. I guess all headers are going to rust eventually unless you buy ceramic coated (which can still rust) but it seems like the equals get hot spots or something where the headers are close together. I also noticed hotter engine bay temps with EL's.

Yeah i bought ceramics, i hate the way the chrome ones look after a few drives

 

[blackened88lx]

the only thing i WILL tell anyone... DO NOT.. for the love of god.. use the gaskets that come with the BBK headers... they SUCK.. and you WILL blow them out. and they WILL cake themselves to the head.. and you WILL be a pissed off grease monkey.

Agreed. DO NOT use those gaskets. The guy that had my car before me used them, and after I bought it one blew out. They cake on the head and header and are a BITCH to get off. I had to pull the header out and get a wireweel on a die grinder down in there, and it was still hard to get it all off. I just threw in another paper gasket from the parts store because the heads will be coming off soon and I didn't care. My buddy had a problem getting copper gaskets to seal on his car, he tried a couple different brands too. We ended up picking up some aluminum crush gaskets from the parts store that work fantastic. They are really thick and look like they're several layers, but it all crushes together when you tighten them.

 

[Roland69]

my original gaskets came off nice...the passenger side in one piece and the driver side in 3 pieces....should I just order a set of MR gasket copper ones or what would you guys reccomend I get.

 

[Roland69]

and anyone have any issues with the bolts the BBK headers come with coming loose on them....I quickly checked today and they were good. But should I be ordering some better gaskets before the BBK ones bake themselves to the head. I don't really want to unhook them from the H-pipe so I want to do this soon so I dont have to take them right off to clean the gasket surface again. I would rather just unbolt from the heads and replace the gaskets if I can. I guess I could just back the flange folts off and swing the headers out of the way a little.