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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
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headers worth it on stock setup?

  • Thread starter Thread starter slo65
  • Start date Start date Nov 16, 2004

slo65

New Member
May 26, 2003
448
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Southern California
Nov 16, 2004
#1
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #1
hey guys my friend just got some longtubes so he let his bbk shorties go for 40 dollars, so i picked them up, now my question to you is, is it worth it to put them on a pretty much stock car such as my own? i still have 2 high flow cats, would that be enough backpressure? i know eventually they'll go on but i wanna hear your thoughts on the subject, i've always heard that you'll lose low end torque on pretty much stock setups. thanks
 
2

2002BLGT

Well-Known Member
Dec 18, 2003
2,945
4
59
Bedford VA
Nov 16, 2004
#2
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #2
definitely not going to hurt and 40 bucks is a steal
 

slo65

New Member
May 26, 2003
448
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0
Southern California
Nov 16, 2004
#3
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #3
2002BLGT said:
definitely not going to hurt and 40 bucks is a steal
Click to expand...

thanks, anyone else have any opinions? as of now my exhaust system consists of : stock headers, 2.5" h pipe w/2 highflow catco cats, into 40 series flows dumped. should i expect any difference in performance or sound?
 

artus70

New Member
Jul 31, 2004
72
0
0
Nov 16, 2004
#4
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #4
It will help a little and will probably help the rest of your exhaust sound better as long as you stay with the shorties on stock!
 

mustangramair

Member
Feb 24, 2004
326
0
17
Iowa
Nov 16, 2004
#5
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #5
It should help you a some. It will also give your exhaust a better sound, or atleast it did on mine. I say do it for 40 dollars!
 

willys1

Active Member
Dec 2, 2003
1,004
1
36
New Jersey
Nov 16, 2004
#6
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #6
Stock headers are the best set up for a 5.0,,until you get in the range of 270+HP.All those crimps and bends they have,,there there for a reason,,low end torque!!! I wish I kept mine on.
 
8

87'GTstang

New Member
Feb 16, 2004
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Nov 16, 2004
#7
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #7
I'm with willys 1 on this one. Stock is going to work fine until a certain point. It is a game of lose in one area then gain in the opposite. If you lose torque on the low-end, you'll gain horsepower on the upper - but not until a certain point. If you do it, your exhaust note should change a little but $40 is hard to beat considering they are about $200-$250 new. Just think of it this way, if you ever do anything to your car that creates more horsepower or allows more air to flow through your engine, then you are covered already.
 
B

BaXTeR3221

Member
Jan 12, 2004
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16
Orange County, NY
Nov 16, 2004
#8
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #8
Yea i agreed for that price you cant go wrong. I was going to say that you won't miss the low end torque, but with the stock gears, it might make more of a difference. You can always put them on and take them off if you hate them. Either way, its a steal and i'm sure you'll want them at some point assuming your going to keep modding your car.
 
8

87gtconv

ragtopman
Founding Member
Feb 11, 1999
2,595
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0
Southern Calif
Nov 16, 2004
#9
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #9
I have JBA shorties and they made a difference for my Stang. Not huge but a worthwhile difference. More than my underdrive pulies did for sure. I also have Bassani catted X pipes and stock mufflers. Much better performance than those sad looking stock tubes for sure!!
 

willys1

Active Member
Dec 2, 2003
1,004
1
36
New Jersey
Nov 16, 2004
#10
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #10
Hold on to them until you really need them.40 beans,yeah its cheap,but its even cheaper to keep the stock ones on.Im telling you,you will notice a significant loss of low end torque.Get some 410's first to make up for it
 

GT Drifter

New Member
Mar 26, 2003
386
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0
Ontario, Canada
Nov 16, 2004
#11
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #11
I think even stock you will notice a little gain.
That's just me.
 

slo65

New Member
May 26, 2003
448
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0
Southern California
Nov 16, 2004
#12
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #12
well i forgot to mention i'm gettin 3.73's within the next two weeks or so, do u think that'd make up for the low end loss? i plan on dr's after the gears (once my tires go bye bye)
 

willys1

Active Member
Dec 2, 2003
1,004
1
36
New Jersey
Nov 16, 2004
#13
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #13
slo65 said:
well i forgot to mention i'm gettin 3.73's within the next two weeks or so, do u think that'd make up for the low end loss? i plan on dr's after the gears (once my tires go bye bye)
Click to expand...
To be honest,,,your car will be faster with the stock headers!! Someone said change them back if you dont like em,,LOL,,,NOT A FUN JOB SWITCHING HEADERS!!!!! Get a loud cat back,,it will sound mean,while keeping the low end torque in tacked!! Do what you want,,just remember those famous words,,I TOLD YOU SO<<LOL,,,keep the headers for when you need them!!
 

slo65

New Member
May 26, 2003
448
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0
Southern California
Nov 16, 2004
#14
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #14
willys1 said:
To be honest,,,your car will be faster with the stock headers!! Someone said change them back if you dont like em,,LOL,,,NOT A FUN JOB SWITCHING HEADERS!!!!! Get a loud cat back,,it will sound mean,while keeping the low end torque in tacked!! Do what you want,,just remember those famous words,,I TOLD YOU SO<<LOL,,,keep the headers for when you need them!!
Click to expand...

but i want to!!!!! arghhh.... ok ok ok.... what about 4.10's!!!!! thats my final offer, TELL ME TO PUT THEM ON!!!! hmm well .... damn.... i thought the gears + headers would be teh win
 

willys1

Active Member
Dec 2, 2003
1,004
1
36
New Jersey
Nov 16, 2004
#15
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #15
slo65 said:
but i want to!!!!! arghhh.... ok ok ok.... what about 4.10's!!!!! thats my final offer, TELL ME TO PUT THEM ON!!!! hmm well .... damn.... i thought the gears + headers would be teh win
Click to expand...
Dude if your that pumped about it,,do it.Im just telling you from experience!!
 

remat457

Founding Member
Aug 7, 2002
587
0
16
Seattle/Tacoma
Nov 16, 2004
#16
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #16
You will like them with the new gears!
 

slo65

New Member
May 26, 2003
448
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0
Southern California
Nov 16, 2004
#17
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #17
well from the guys that went from stock gears to 3.73's how did it feel? i'm getting all excited hah and how much would i expect to drop in the 1/8th? or my '60 with a good launch?
 

4dStang

Banned
Oct 23, 2002
718
1
0
Near St Louis, Missouri
Nov 16, 2004
#18
  • Nov 16, 2004
  • #18
slo65 said:
well from the guys that went from stock gears to 3.73's how did it feel? i'm getting all excited hah and how much would i expect to drop in the 1/8th? or my '60 with a good launch?
Click to expand...



373 are the second mod anyone with a Mustang/Cobra should do. First of course exhaust!!!
 

Henceforward

The Avatar Master
Founding Member
Jul 17, 2001
485
0
0
Nov 17, 2004
#19
  • Nov 17, 2004
  • #19
I put the BBK shorties on for sound personally

I bought the shorties, because I wanted the setup to sound just right, and later on I will get up into the 270-300 HP range, and I wanted to have it out of the way. Considering that the chrome shorties are $160 new, go ahead and put em on. I could personally care less about low end torque because my car is a daily driver, sound is far more important at this point.

I second the gears, ( I really need 3:73s )
 

slo65

New Member
May 26, 2003
448
0
0
Southern California
Nov 17, 2004
#20
  • Nov 17, 2004
  • #20
well ima go ahead and do it, i'll post my opinion after, thanks for the replies guys (i made a rhyme )
 
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