headers?

[HO5POINTO1990]

I have a 1990 mustang gt. (Obvious from the name) and I have an off road h pipe by pacesetter, and force 2 flows, and I was wondering what type of headers I should get. I want a little more sound, and I DEFINATELY want more performance. As far as the induction is concerned, I have not upgraded the intake manifold yet, which I am planning to do VERY soon. Trick flow probably. I do have a 76 mm MAF sensor C&L. So if anyone could point me in the right direction that would be awesome. You guys are usually hella cool and have answered my questions pretty well. Thanks all.

Eddie

 

[xherdlr]

I just installed the Ford Motorsport ceramic coated shorties (299). Originally orderd the BBK chrome shorties (159), but they were poorly made and I sent them back. Got the FMS from Summit and the quality and the finish is 10 times better than the BBK. I also added a Bassani X pipe with cats to go with my Flow Master 40 series mufflers. The sound is great!! I think the FMS shorties are one of the best values on the market. Also, a friend of mine has had a set of the shorties for 3 years and they look just like the ones that I bought...

Kelly

 

[Michael Yount]

If you want peformance, long tubes should make a noticeable difference on the bottom. On top, unless/until you get other mods (up over about 280HP), shorties won't make any difference over the stock headers. I lost about 3HP when I installed FRPP shorties on mine - no other changes, similar dyno conditions; same dyno/operator. If you're gonna keep modding up over that power level, you'll need an upgrade at some point. But even with your manifold upgrade, I doubt you'll gain much of anything other than a warm feeling ( ) with the shorty install; long tubes should noticeably boost the bottom.

 

[HO5POINTO1990]

I need shorties, because I heard putting in longtube headers will be a bitch So as far as shorties go my friend said he like the 1 3/4 bbk headers but if people say that they're bad then what's next best bet? just the ford performance type?

 

[GATOR98GT]

Full Lenght aren't that bad to install. The driver side is really easy, the passenger side a little harder. From past experoence if you do get the ful lenght, when you take the starter out try not to drop any header bolts into the opening in the trans. They ARE VERY HARD TO GET OUT. ba

 

[blkstangman88]

equal length shorty headers are what i got, i got a noticable amount of hp gain, not hard at all to install, the tubing on the passanger side can me unhucked and moved easily. thats my opinion

 

[HO5POINTO1990]

ok so what amount of hp could i gain with what type? because i know that 10-15 is more like 3-5 but i want to get the best bang for my buck and i wouldn't mind spending mediocre money to get better headers

 

[Michael Yount]

blkstangman - did you dyno before and after with just the header's added, or make timed runs? What's the basis of your 'noticable amount of hp gain'? Not doubting - just trying to understand if it was actually measured or seat of the pants/anecdotal. There's a pretty solid body of evidence (dyno) in the forum and in magazines that points to little if any gain by adding shorties alone on lower HP combos. While they look 'pinched', the simple fact is that the stock headers aren't much of a restriction until the HP starts to climb quite a bit higher than what this guy's gonna have with his mods.

Eddie - what gears does your car have in it? If they're stock, a set of 3.73's would REALLY wake things up; I'd go there long before I added shorties.

 

[HO5POINTO1990]

i have 3.55's on my car at the moment. I need some headers because im still looking for a better sound and some hp. So what brand will give me hp and sound? for the price?

 

[blkstangman88]

it was more like my car would rev up faster, cuz if anyone has seen the stock headers on 5.0, ford kinked the hell out of them for emmission perposes, when i say "a noticable difference" i mean somthin like my car revs up faster from less restricive exhaust pipe and i think it has a better sound to it.

 

[Michael Yount]

Actually, Ford kinked them to make it easier/quicker to assemble them - makes getting to the bolts much easier. Despite the way they look, they don't really hurt flow compared to other shorties until hp levels are quite a bit over stock. Those kinked stock HO headers made 3HP more on my car than my ceramic coated stainless 1 5/8th's FRPP shorties.

 

[blkstangman88]

did they really kink them for that, the mechanic at ford told me they were for emission perposes, just from the looks of them they look like. they would create less flow then the 1 5/8. anyways the equal length shorties gave it a lil diff sound and i like it better

 

[cjman15]

I have 1 5/8" MAC Un-equal Shorties with a MAC O/R H-pipe and Flows and it sounds AWESOME... can't go wrong with MAC, noticeable power increase also

 

[HO5POINTO1990]

difference btw unequal length headers and equal length headers? does anyone know the answer to this? is there a difference in hp or not? I am purchasing headers this week so if anyone who is a header "buff" knows the answer to this that would be awesome. And I think I might just go with Mac Headers. Seems like a good idea. BTW, here is my website for my car. Tell me what you all think:http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/567905

 

[Sevan]

Ford Motorsport shorties can't go wrong

 

[Michael Yount]

hot - the difference is just as the name describes - equal length shorties have equal length pipes from each port to the collector. They take up quite a bit more room under the hood, are more difficult to get to the bolts to tighten, and can make changing the plugs more difficult. I've only seen one dyno test comparing equals to non-equals - and there was only a HP or two difference between them.

 

[cleanLX]

Hooker 1-5/8" SuperComp LT's. 6222-1 and matching H pipe.
Forget the exact numbers, but, I certain it was 15hp and 18tq over stock stamped units with off road H, this is on an otherwise stock motor... 76mm C'n'L.
Power was over the entire curve(well, not so much under 2600), and netted darn handy to 3/10ths at the track.

I would definatly NOT go with 1-3/4" primaries on your combo...

 

[SCORPION]

FlowTech long tubes!!!!

I have them and love them

 

[Whytry91]

I put my Ford racing ceramic coated headers pn two weeks ago, nice finish and they sound pretty good, I have to get some updated sound clips of them on the rest of my system, but I think they are well worth it....pretty easy install too!!!

 

[SCORPION]

those look sweet