97 Cobra Headers?
- Thread starter 97venom
- Start date
SLP, Kooks and Bassani are some of the top choices
BBK would be another less expensive choice. It all depends on what you're looking to spend.
BBK would be another less expensive choice. It all depends on what you're looking to spend.
Bang for the buck
I really dont want to spend more than 400 bucks or so cause i'm planing on twin turboing it in the next year or so. I saw flowtech's and pacesetters but havnt heard anything good about flowtechs and havnt heard anything at all about the pacesetters. I dont want something thats going to fit like sh*! and leak all the time, but i'm not worried about ceramic coatings or anything as I will be getting rid of them in a year or so. Let me know if you have any ideas or have heard anything about either of those brands.
I really dont want to spend more than 400 bucks or so cause i'm planing on twin turboing it in the next year or so. I saw flowtech's and pacesetters but havnt heard anything good about flowtechs and havnt heard anything at all about the pacesetters. I dont want something thats going to fit like sh*! and leak all the time, but i'm not worried about ceramic coatings or anything as I will be getting rid of them in a year or so. Let me know if you have any ideas or have heard anything about either of those brands.
COBRA90GT
Mustang Master
Well, if that's the case, save your money for the twin turbo kit and/or associated plumbing costs instead.
Gallows
Member
Like the response above me, might be your best choice to wait for that twin turbo kit instead. Depending on the design/system, you may have custom exhaust headers coming with the kit, and while you could sell the "old" ones, might not be worth the hassle, especially with the installing and uninstalling (they are somewhat of a pain).
horsinaround9
New Member
- May 13, 2009
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I used a set of bbks on my 01 cobra awhile back. They fit well. I gasket matched them at the flange as they were very restricted with the bead of weld. I couldnt swing a nice set of kooks at the time so bbk I went. With a p1sc, 12lbs of boost,42lb injectors, and a 03 cobra pump it made 450 hp and 540 ft/lbs to the tire. Pretty respectible for what was done to it I think. I would buy them again.
Don't waste your money on LT's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I regret them because of trans and clutches that need replacing after the LT's are installed.
BTW.....My friend's supercharged 97 gained 13 RWHP with the addition of LT's. He had it dynoed before and after.
Is 13 RWHP worth $500 plus labor??????
I regret them because of trans and clutches that need replacing after the LT's are installed.
BTW.....My friend's supercharged 97 gained 13 RWHP with the addition of LT's. He had it dynoed before and after.
Is 13 RWHP worth $500 plus labor??????
But how much was picked up across the entire power band. There's more to making power than just peek figures. I'd be interested in seeing what his torque figures looked like.
I agree, the stock manifolds to a decent job of evacuating spent exhaust gases and carrying horsepower figures into the 450rwhp range, but the torque gains that can be had with a properly matched set of Long Tube headers are more than worth the cost IMO.
Not sure across the board. I went on my local forum and found the thread and before and after numbers. He never posted the graph.....here....
Only change was some BBK Longtube headers and x pipe.
Before:
459 RWHP
403 RWTQ
After:
473 RWHP
420 RWTQ
14RWHP and 17RWTQ. I don't think that's worth the cost of the headers themselves let alone the time it takes to install them or the cost of labor if someone does them. I regret doing them on my 96.
My 04 will never get LT's. It made almost 600RWHP with stock manifolds. Could make more too with 19-21psi vs. 17psi.....Plus our tuner thinks I had some spark blowing off the plugs on the top end. lol
horsinaround9
New Member
- May 13, 2009
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Different strokes, different folks. To me it is worth it. It took me a afternoon to install the headers and tubular k and all. Like others have said its not just the peak numbers you look at. Oh well just my 02 cents
Still isn't worth the money though. Just throw more boost at it. It's cheaper and will give you gobs more power than the headers.
Ahhh, but the object of the game is to make as much, or more power using the least amount of boost for engine and blower longevity. Not to mention that freeing up things on one end means room to grow on the other.
If one could make the same or more horsepower turning their blower 5-10% slower and without stressing head gaskets or bottom end components, why wouldn't that be a good idea?
And picking up 14rwhp/17rwtq at peek and gains accross the board for around $500....you don't consider that a worth while bolt on? How many other bolt ons do you know of short of a power adder that will add that much power, for that little money?
horsinaround9
New Member
- May 13, 2009
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So why not more boost and long tubes ??? You would make even more power.
When i build something i try to get as much power out of it as possible. The horsepower gain at the crankshaft is well worth the 500 $$ investment and a afternoons work to me and many others. I will bet you would be surprised by how much more power your car would make with a nice set of long tubes.
blackfang
Founding Member
I loved my LT's. I definitely felt a huge low and midrange gain. The install wasn't too bad. I ran flowtechs for a few years without any leaks or issues. Still able to drop the trans if needed too. Plus the car sounded sick as hell when you got on it too
Again do not focus on the peak power numbers because that is not the objective. Plus if you decide to go a heads/cams or a FI route those LT's will make those gains even better.
If you plan on going w/ a turbo do not get them. It will be cheaper to sit down, plan out the goals of the car and what you want from it, then plan the mods to achieve that.
Again do not focus on the peak power numbers because that is not the objective. Plus if you decide to go a heads/cams or a FI route those LT's will make those gains even better.
If you plan on going w/ a turbo do not get them. It will be cheaper to sit down, plan out the goals of the car and what you want from it, then plan the mods to achieve that.
Ahhh, but the object of the game is to make as much, or more power using the least amount of boost for engine and blower longevity. Not to mention that freeing up things on one end means room to grow on the other.
If one could make the same or more horsepower turning their blower 5-10% slower and without stressing head gaskets or bottom end components, why wouldn't that be a good idea?
And picking up 14rwhp/17rwtq at peek and gains accross the board for around $500....you don't consider that a worth while bolt on? How many other bolt ons do you know of short of a power adder that will add that much power, for that little money?
LT's just aren't worth it. I have longtubes and I am saying they are not worth it. It is not worth the hassle when a clutch or trans goes bad or gives you issues. I don't even beat on my car and I've had a Centerforce PP go bad and the T45 reverse synchro replaced and both times it was a hassle.
Numbers aren't everything. 400-600-800 HP cars all feel the same when they are spinning their tires. I'm so sick of hearing about squeaking every single little pony out of cars. It makes me sick. I would put LT money towards some good suspension parts or tires to get your car to run better times. There are many SN members who have the HP to run only 13's, but they are running 12's because of suspension and tires.
Big HP numbers are for Dyno Queens and bragging rights, which I am not either one of those with either of my cars. I drive them.
Well, coming from someone who's also running a set of LT's, I say they are worth it. You make it sound as the the headers are responsible for your clutch or transmission issues? Have trouble accessing your trans..then I guess you bought the wrong header. I can get to my R470W just fine with my Kooks?
I also find the "sick of hearing about squeaking every single little pony our of our cars" and "Big HP numbers are for Dyno Queens and bragging rights" statements a little ironic coming from someone who's built not one, but two high powered Cobra's....one of which has minimal suspension mods and the other that's got none at all....but both are making 400 and 600hp though?
By your own definition, you're one of the guys building a Dyno Queen, or bragging rights that you're chastising, whether you choose to admit it or not? I'm also betting you'd have a different attitude about squeezing every ounce of power out of your set up if were you still hovering around stock horsepower ranges.You of all people should know, there's no such thing as "enough" when you start with the modding. You wouldn't have spent the kind of money you did on either of your cars if you really believed that.
Well, coming from someone who's also running a set of LT's, I say they are worth it. You make it sound as the the headers are responsible for your clutch or transmission issues? Have trouble accessing your trans..then I guess you bought the wrong header. I can get to my R470W just fine with my Kooks?
I also find the "sick of hearing about squeaking every single little pony our of our cars" and "Big HP numbers are for Dyno Queens and bragging rights" statements a little ironic coming from someone who's built not one, but two high powered Cobra's....one of which has minimal suspension mods and the other that's got none at all....but both are making 400 and 600hp though?
You of all people should know, there's no such thing as "enough" when you start with the modding. You wouldn't have spent the kind of money you did on either of your cars if you really believed that.
My LT's have been on since 2001. I went with those first since I wanted more power. My tuner didn't have a dyno at that time so I don't know the number difference N/A, but my whole arguement started when I saw this thread because I knew how much they added on a friend's car that is similar to mine. And that car is supercharged. An N/A Cobra motor won't pick up numbers close to that of a supercharged Cobra motor. After hearing his results I kicked myself for wasting money, but that was 8 years ago, that money is long gone.
BTW...Kooks....I didn't hear of those in 2001. I started hearing of those in 03-04 and in 07-08 again when the Terminator and Shelby guys started modding.
My statement sounds ironic, but it's true. All of my friends know that I do not brag about my cars HP numbers and I never go cruising around and pick on people for races. I just drive. If they mess with me....I MIGHT take them up on a race, but I am very humble when I drive. I hate guys who act better because their car is faster. I usually just slow down or speed up a little so they are not pacing me.
The only mods on my 96's suspension are the Mega Bite Jr's (which helped with 60ft times) and Lakewood 50/50's, (which make the car ride like ****). I hardly call those mods. If I went tubular up front, coil overs all the way around and a 5 link rear, I would call that suspension mods, but I don't drag race enough, or take it seriouslly.
Cobra Jay
Member
Gone, but not forgotten? Where is your 2003 GT vert going....and why is there a 96 Cobra in your sig coming soon?? That's what type of car I have.
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