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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Decent hp gain?

  • Thread starter Thread starter tjmaxx
  • Start date Start date Jul 17, 2007

tjmaxx

Member
Jun 21, 2004
157
3
19
Jul 17, 2007
#1
  • Jul 17, 2007
  • #1
Im thinking about buying some BBK shorty headers, BBK 70mm throttle body, C&L upper intake plenum. I dont not have a handheld tuner and the only power mods I have now are offroad X-pipe, Mac catback, 9mm wires, fenderwall cai. How much Horse power do you think would be added to my 96 GT with the mods Im thinking of buying? I know the mods I have now probably only added 15hp or so. Are the rest of the mods worth doing if I dont have a tuner
 

deftsound

Please ask me how much my supercharger cost
Apr 6, 2004
945
1
39
Texas City TX
Jul 17, 2007
#2
  • Jul 17, 2007
  • #2
im telling you, dont waste your money on shorty headers, 5.0 mustang mag had an article where they put a set on an 03 gt i think and it gained like 2hp from them...

Get Longtube headers and dont look back, you will be amazed at the difference in power and sound
 

tjmaxx

Member
Jun 21, 2004
157
3
19
Jul 17, 2007
#3
  • Jul 17, 2007
  • #3
I do want long tubes but I would like to keep my x-pipe I have one there now. Plus If I get these parts it will be for a partial trade for some rims I have now, so I do not have much of a choice.
 

goshia

New Member
Jul 1, 2005
252
0
0
Mead, Colorado
Jul 18, 2007
#4
  • Jul 18, 2007
  • #4
headers will be less than a 10HP gain longtube or shorties. Not a big improvement on the car and tons of trouble putting them in. Not worth it IMO
 

BurningRubber

10 Year Member
Dec 6, 2004
1,865
24
58
Jul 18, 2007
#5
  • Jul 18, 2007
  • #5
Just do the PI swap and then worry about bolt ons after that. If not the heads at least the intake manifold and cams.

A non PI with full bolt ons probaly wont put out as much power as a stock PI would, hate to be the bubble burster... lol.
 

the98stang

Active Member
Aug 12, 2005
2,408
0
47
Clovis, CA
Jul 18, 2007
#6
  • Jul 18, 2007
  • #6
God, even a 96 with PI heads would suck, because then you can't run too much boost on a high compression motor. If he goes PI heads, he'll need to stick to the juice, not a blower.
 

Green&GoldGT

Member
Aug 1, 2005
302
0
17
Virginia
Jul 18, 2007
#7
  • Jul 18, 2007
  • #7
What are your plans? If u are planning a PI swap or blower those mods could help alot. If u go blower than port your non PI heads bc they flow the same as unported PI and you dont raise your compression, and those mods you are planning on buying will help. If you plan on the PI swap then go ahead and get better cams and shorty headers will help regardless.

If you plan on a PI swap or blower you will need a tuner and a dynotune.
 

tjmaxx

Member
Jun 21, 2004
157
3
19
Jul 21, 2007
#8
  • Jul 21, 2007
  • #8
Im not too sure on my plans right now Would the shorty headers make my car louder or quieter? My exhaust is a 2 1/2 inch catless x-pipe, 2 1/2 mac catback, 3 1/2 ss tips.
 

goshia

New Member
Jul 1, 2005
252
0
0
Mead, Colorado
Jul 22, 2007
#9
  • Jul 22, 2007
  • #9
tjmaxx said:
Im not too sure on my plans right now Would the shorty headers make my car louder or quieter? My exhaust is a 2 1/2 inch catless x-pipe, 2 1/2 mac catback, 3 1/2 ss tips.
Click to expand...

Shorty headers will make it a little louder, but you will be lucky to gain 2HP. Not worth the cost of the headers and the cost of an install.
 

white99gt

Founding Member
Aug 8, 2000
4,649
1
0
stockbridge,Ga(near atlanta)
Jul 22, 2007
#10
  • Jul 22, 2007
  • #10
Shorty headers are a WASTE even if they are FREE..Changed mine YEARS ago and netted a whole ZERO horsepower gain over the stockers(n/a days)..
Went longtubes and gained 15rwhp and about 20rwtq(give or take because it was YEARS ago i did this).

Also if you go longtubes the car will be QUIETER than it is now.I have put longtubes on both my cars and both got quieter.
 

the98stang

Active Member
Aug 12, 2005
2,408
0
47
Clovis, CA
Jul 23, 2007
#11
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #11
Shorties aren't TOO bad if you have some sort of FI. Other than that, you might see 5whp N/A.
 
P

Pennywise2

Banned
May 16, 2006
1,379
1
0
Jul 23, 2007
#12
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #12
Don't waste your time with shorty headers you will
be lucky to get 2-5 rwhp.
 

COramprat

...I can take it. I think.
20+ Year Stangneter
Mar 2, 2003
8,474
1,463
223
Sea of Tranquility
Jul 23, 2007
#13
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #13
The header swap is a tough one on these cars. If you go that route you want long tubes or don't do it at all. Listen to what everyone is saying. With the money it would cost to install headers you could slap gears on that dude and get a bigger bang for the buck.
 

white99gt

Founding Member
Aug 8, 2000
4,649
1
0
stockbridge,Ga(near atlanta)
Jul 23, 2007
#14
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #14
the98stang said:
Shorties aren't TOO bad if you have some sort of FI. Other than that, you might see 5whp N/A.
Click to expand...


Guess you didnt READ my post.N/a i gain ZERO over manifolds with a modded 4.6.

With the PITA they are to install,they are NOT worth the time or money even if they are FREE.
 

tjmaxx

Member
Jun 21, 2004
157
3
19
Jul 23, 2007
#15
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #15
COramprat said:
The header swap is a tough one on these cars. If you go that route you want long tubes or don't do it at all. Listen to what everyone is saying. With the money it would cost to install headers you could slap gears on that dude and get a bigger bang for the buck.
Click to expand...


I already have a 4.10 gear. The instal on the headers would probably be free for me. If the shorties will make it louder than I will probably get them
 

the98stang

Active Member
Aug 12, 2005
2,408
0
47
Clovis, CA
Jul 23, 2007
#16
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #16
You guys are forgetting, LT headers are illegal in CA, so some of us have no choice.
 

Stan Weiss

Member
Dec 8, 2006
347
2
16
Philadelphia, PA
Jul 23, 2007
#17
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #17
white99gt said:
Guess you didnt READ my post.N/a i gain ZERO over manifolds with a modded 4.6.

With the PITA they are to install,they are NOT worth the time or money even if they are FREE.
Click to expand...

Was that with or without a tune after installing them?
 

COramprat

...I can take it. I think.
20+ Year Stangneter
Mar 2, 2003
8,474
1,463
223
Sea of Tranquility
Jul 23, 2007
#18
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #18
Stan Weiss said:
Was that with or without a tune after installing them?
Click to expand...

Probably with a tune. Bill has been pretty much from bottom to top as far as mods.
 

BigDave06

New Member
May 22, 2007
39
0
0
Felton, DE
Jul 23, 2007
#19
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #19
Buy a tuner first.
 

white99gt

Founding Member
Aug 8, 2000
4,649
1
0
stockbridge,Ga(near atlanta)
Jul 23, 2007
#20
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #20
Stan Weiss said:
Was that with or without a tune after installing them?
Click to expand...

Both..Tune wont matter not with shorties.

If emissions isnt a issue.Then longtubes all the way..But shorties are not worth it.Even in cali.


I was testing and dissing internet and magazine numbers YEARS ago on what adds what power .
 
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