FRPP shorty headers. How?

[kovacs22]

Im gonna be installing a set of Shortys on my 99 sometime soon, how difficult will it be and does anyone have any tips? what changes should i expect?

thanks,
ryan

 

[tomustang]

you have to either

1: take the heads off to uninstall the headers (not recomended)
2: remove the engine
or
3: remove the K-member

theres no room to just get up their and take'em off. removing the front suspension is probaby the easiest. good luck.

long tubes are better than shortys, you'll get alittle gain.

 

[NasaGT]

They can be installed in place without removing the K-member. You have to remove the midpipe, starter, and steering shaft/knuckle. Then loosen the engine mounts, jack up the engine roughly 2 inches, and then start to remove/install the new headers. Ratchet wrenches make these install alot easier. Two or three of the nuts are a bear to get to, but with patience you'll get it.

Good luck - PM me if you have any questions. I did mine over three nights at about 2 -3 hours a night.

 

[nickthegenius]

you have to either

1: take the heads off to uninstall the headers (not recomended)
2: remove the engine
or
3: remove the K-member

theres no room to just get up their and take'em off. removing the front suspension is probaby the easiest. good luck.

long tubes are better than shortys, you'll get alittle gain.

I installed my Mac LTs by doing none of those three methods. I loosened both motor mounts and jacked the engine up and did the job.

 

[prsrizdgt]

The newer cars must have less room than the 98's. I changed mine in the apartment parking lot one day without jacking the motor or removing suspension. Just starter and steering. Its a knuckle bustin bitch for sure. Have some 1/4 drive tools available with universals and extensions.

 

[prsrizdgt]

Oh yea.......don't waste your time with the shorties if you haven't bought them or your mid-pipe yet. Just my opinion. I don't think they help much and considering the install hassle, might as well get all the hp you can from this swap.

 

[kovacs22]

Thanks for the inputs...

Well i would go for long tubes and get more HP, but im in a tight money situation and im pickin up these slightly used to frpp shortys for dirt cheap. My main reason for getting them is because i already baught a bbk O/R X pipe, but my driver side manifold is cracked or somthing, it just wont seal so it leaks exhaust like no other, and i mean bad! so i am doing this as a solution, hopefuly i wont have to drop any suspension or raise the motor, i work for a ford dealership and have acess to a lift and tools, so hopefuly i will be able to get the job done with only removing the starter and steering shaft. Wish me luck....

thanks,
ryan

 

[WhiteDevil69]

Well i would go for long tubes and get more HP, but im in a tight money situation and im pickin up these slightly used to frpp shortys for dirt cheap. My main reason for getting them is because i already baught a bbk O/R X pipe, but my driver side manifold is cracked or somthing, it just wont seal so it leaks exhaust like no other, and i mean bad! so i am doing this as a solution, hopefuly i wont have to drop any suspension or raise the motor, i work for a ford dealership and have acess to a lift and tools, so hopefuly i will be able to get the job done with only removing the starter and steering shaft. Wish me luck....

thanks,
ryan

Good luck man, I am in the same boat with my BBK's, putting them in sunday in my garage with 2 jack stands and a floor jack... Anyways, sure you will do fine, but I am pretty sure you will need to jack up the engine at least a few inches, which really isn't that big of a deal. Follow a good set of intructions and you will get er done.

 

[sacstoy02gt]

My main reason for getting them is because i already baught a bbk O/R X pipe, but my driver side manifold is cracked or somthing, it just wont seal so it leaks exhaust like no other, and i mean bad!

If you're leaking, it's probably the bbk X leaking where it connects to the header. The flange on the X hits the shouldered studs on the header before the ball-and-socket connection is sealed. Go to Napa, get a header stud kit #600-1819 and replace the shouldered Ford OE studs, then put your X back on and see if the leak is gone.

Sure would be easier than changing out the headers for a 1-2 hp gain. Sell the new shorties and get something else.