Considering Long Tube headers...what brands? Need opinion...

[Highbredcloud]

Hey guys...well I am considering Long Tube headers...I was looking at BBK ceremic headers but for some reason they are no longer 14 gauges...they are now 16 gauges...Did they cheap out on the headers due to all the metal increase in price thanks to Iraq? Anyone have them? how is the ceremic holding up? I have a set of the ceremic coated shortie equal lenghts but it seems like possible rust spots in some places...I don't know what up with that...the car is never driven in the winter...Should I look at other brands? How are Bassani headers besides being expensive... How are they verse Kooks? I would really like a 14 gauge header but it seem like they are hard to come by at a decent price...Even Hookers are 18 gauges now...what is going on? Is it worth the exrtra money and go with an expensive set of headers? why spend money twice...right? I need help...

 

[87GT 306]

I had BBK chrome L/T's and had them Jet-Hot coated.I havn't installed them yet. The guy who I made the appointment with showed me his Jet-Hot headers that were on his car and they still looked great after a year.

 

[jd351]

Can't speak for BBK, but Bassani's are great, if you have the $$. Kooks are good for HP, but fit poorly and built so, so. I was planning on BBK for my 351, but now you got me scared about the changes in material.

I know two peolpe and an installer who swear by Bassani, and I can see why. I have one of their X pipes and its very nice too. I also know one person who has Kooks and they work good, but were a PITA to install and leaked all the time until he had them re-welded where the header tubes went into the collector. I did have a set of Mac's and never will again, worse than Hooker.

 

[Grn92LX]

The bbk coating isnt the greatest. I bought mine used, so I wont complain, but there is some surface rust in between the tubes. But for ceramic LT's with the H pipe for $300 shipped, who's gonna complain BBK also has a tiny collector, like 2.25". Might want to check out hooker. I'd stay away from mac.

 

[Highbredcloud]

Well I was doing some research and found out that Bassani has a liftime warranty on all of their stainless steel parts...that's really cool! They are very expensive though...about twice as much as the BBK I was looking at but at the same time the Bassani look so much different quality wise...not to mention they are 14 gauge...

 

[blackstangt]

warranty on headers? thats nice, my flowtech longtubes were $100, a bitch to install, and the welds are cracked.

 

[hllon4whls]

My firend has a set of coated LT's on his dart. We took them off and the insides were totally rusted. Dont remember the brand. They need to be SS or coated inside and out. These rusted from the inside out. My 351 headers look like crap (painted) but no rust through yet. I have had the car for 3 years. The car was built in like 98?

 

[triblk6spd]

i have a set of 1 5/8" bbk long tubes. i like them for the most part. there is this weird rattling noise sounds like in the header though that is driving me crazy.

 

[04sleeper]

Your signature says "no mods...really " and you want to spend all that money on long tubes?
Sounds like by the time you get done with the install you will have spent upwards of $700 for how much HP? I would spend the money elsewhere.

 

[Rock777]

89Sleeper, I have wondered about that before, the "no mods...really". I can't remeber what thread, but if I remember right, something made me believe that Highbredcloud is being sneaky , but I could be wrong. Highbredcloud, is that sig for real or is it more like "cough cough, uhh...no mods...really, I promise " I wondered this in the last thread as well.

 

[04sleeper]

89Sleeper, I have wondered about that before, the "no mods...really". I can't remeber what thread, but if I remember right, something made me believe that Highbredcloud is being sneaky , but I could be wrong. Highbredcloud, is that sig for real or is it more like "cough cough, uhh...no mods...really, I promise " I wondered this in the last thread as well.

I'm not sure either. I was just stating that if there were really no mods then I would spend the money elsewhere.
Maybe he will chime in and we will find out his goals for the swap.

 

[Highbredcloud]

Your signature says "no mods...really " and you want to spend all that money on long tubes?
Sounds like by the time you get done with the install you will have spent upwards of $700 for how much HP? I would spend the money elsewhere.

Yes...the way I look at it is do it once or do it twice...I am the kind of person that will save money and get quality product...rather than getting something right now and changing it down the line...I am weird like that...

 

[Highbredcloud]

89Sleeper, I have wondered about that before, the "no mods...really". I can't remeber what thread, but if I remember right, something made me believe that Highbredcloud is being sneaky , but I could be wrong. Highbredcloud, is that sig for real or is it more like "cough cough, uhh...no mods...really, I promise " I wondered this in the last thread as well.

Well if you really must know:

red 91 vert GT: port and polished GT-40X heads, upper GT-40/ ported lower intake, FTI cam, FMS pullies, FMS 65mm TB, FMS 1.6rr, FMS 30#inj, FMS aluminum driveshaft, FMS 3.73, Pro-M 77, Tremec 3550, Pro 5.0, Kirban FPR, Walbro 255lph, BBK ceremic shortie equal lenght headers/BBK off road X-pipe...Flowmaseter catback...Maximum Motorsports subframes...stock suspension...

black 92 notch: CNC ported GT-40 cast iron heads, Cobra intake/ ported lower, TrickFlow stage II cam, FMS 24# inj, Kirban FPR, Walbro 255lph, Harland sharp 1.6 rr, ASP pullies, Pro-M 77, stock TB, sihtty headers (Hooker 16 gauge shortie equal length) sihtty X-pipe, Flowmaster cat back, Auburn rearend with 3.73, subframes, lakewood 90/10 struts, 50/50 shocks, Eibach springs, FMS upper control arms, Lakewood lower control arms...can't hook in 1st gear...too much wheel hop...

I'm done with the vert...all I need is suspension...the notch needs attention...I need quality headers for the notch especially ones that will not be restrictive for a supercharger...Not sure how much gain I will see from long tubes on the setup for the notch...? Is it worth the money? I dunno Do I like changing exhaust every so often... I HATE IT...BTW: I prefer "no mods...really" since it saves time typing all that useless carp...but you guys asked for its so there you have it...

 

[BottleRocket]

If they are going on your '92, i wouldnt skimp on them. If you do get BBK, get them either ceramic coated inside and out or just get Bassani. You get what you pay for

 

[Highbredcloud]

If they are going on your '92, i wouldnt skimp on them. If you do get BBK, get them either ceramic coated inside and out or just get Bassani. You get what you pay for

Dude you sold your notch? why? that thing was nice...how much did you get for it if you don't mind me askin? Anyways...not sure I want to go with BBK anymore since they are now using 16 gauge headers...plus each time I call I feel like I am being lied to...either that or they have idiots working there...NOT only that but the design of the BBK vs Bassani is like night and day...

 

[notchman90]

dont get mac. I have them and they SUCK . drop too low, pita to install, rub on steering shaft.

 

[BottleRocket]

Dude you sold your notch? why? that thing was nice...how much did you get for it if you don't mind me askin? Anyways...not sure I want to go with BBK anymore since they are now using 16 gauge headers...plus each time I call I feel like I am being lied to...either that or they have idiots working there...NOT only that but the design of the BBK vs Bassani is like night and day...

tired of driving a drag car on the street. I have an R1 right now, its fun but i dunno how long its gonna last. looking into other options right now

 

[roush69racing]

long tubes

I bought the mac, have held up very nicely, anyway you go its a good IDEA to buy the ceramic coated paint (inside and out, inside expecially the inside,motorcycle trick) Mac was the only one to correctly tell me the proper header to fit a 351 to fox body. also the last time I checked bbks were built for them by Mac to there specs( no I dont work for them either they did help me out when I did my car though)
Id spend the money on subframe connectors first though, biggest improvement in my opinion, rock on.

 

[90mustangGT]

Since when did BBK switch to -16 from -14? That sucks. Well, I guess my set just became more desirable since they are no longer made and better than new! I have had the BBK 1 5/8ths LT's in chorme for over a year and half without any problems, it's not my D/D anymore but it has been driven in the rain several times.

I have heard of headers being coated on the inside as well as out because the ceramic material reflects heat, and keeping the heat in the exaust gasses helps keep velosity and energy, and keeping the heat out of the metal of the header is good for the header.

- one other thing... One thing I don't like about BBK is the roughness of the flange to runner area, rough uneven weld right there. I have heard of people adding weld metal around the flange on the outside where the tubes meet and then porting on the inside. Seems like a lot of work. I have noticed that other companies don't have this flaw.