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

Help with Headers???

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mustangman5.0
  • Start date Start date Dec 18, 2005

Mustangman5.0

Founding Member
Oct 26, 2001
364
0
0
Bakersfield, Ca
Dec 18, 2005
#1
  • Dec 18, 2005
  • #1
Hey guys, i havent been on this site in so long and let me just say its great to be back. Well im back and im ready to give the stang some nice upgrades for the winter season. I want to start with some shorty headers. I dont want to spend too much, i hear a reasonable pair should cost around 300 or so dollars. Which headers would you use to match up with my Catted X-pipe and my Dynomax Bullet Mufflers? Any help would be great, also how long of an install time am i lookin at for these things.?
 

merc123

Active Member
Jan 27, 2003
420
2
39
North GA
Dec 18, 2005
#2
  • Dec 18, 2005
  • #2
From what I've read, don't waste your money on shortys, go with long tubes. The HP/TQ gain isn't worth the price.
 

mity2

I like Pro3 and all I got was this crappy CT.
Jul 24, 2003
2,872
3
48
StateCollege PA
Dec 19, 2005
#3
  • Dec 19, 2005
  • #3
Hes from CA. LT is out of question sadly.

I would go with JBA shorties. from what i hear, they make most power of all shorties...
As far as install goes, Don't know what shop would charge you. I did mine myself, and i took sweet ol' time doing it. Took me 4 days, but thats mostly because i spent more time getting drunk then turning wrenches. If your gonna install it yourself, and if its your first time, I would keep weekend open for it.

Now that I did it few times, I think I can get it done in about 6hours(disassemble and install)
 

invertmast

Founding Member
Dec 12, 2001
379
0
16
North Port, FL
Dec 19, 2005
#4
  • Dec 19, 2005
  • #4
I've installed a set of FRPP & JBA shorties and both of em took about 6 1/2 to 8 hours.. the JBA's taking a wee bit longer than the FRPP's.. either are great headers though.
 

Mustangman5.0

Founding Member
Oct 26, 2001
364
0
0
Bakersfield, Ca
Dec 19, 2005
#5
  • Dec 19, 2005
  • #5
Thanks guys, i think im gonna go with the Ford Racing Shortys. The JBA's are awfully expensive and seem to be out of my price range. I have installed shorty's on my 5.0 before, but as you know the 4.6 is a completely different story. Ill be sure to keep a weekend open.
 

mity2

I like Pro3 and all I got was this crappy CT.
Jul 24, 2003
2,872
3
48
StateCollege PA
Dec 19, 2005
#6
  • Dec 19, 2005
  • #6
FRPP or BBK they are about same as far as performance goes.

Personaly, I would spend that money for shorty somewhere else, like gears, or TB/Elbow combo, or Cobra brake.

But if your gonna do it your self, here is how to that I followed. its prolly one of best how to on header install. Its for LT, but procedure is same on shorty
http://www.fnsweet.com/garage/lt_install/index.shtml

Good luck!
 

invertmast

Founding Member
Dec 12, 2001
379
0
16
North Port, FL
Dec 20, 2005
#7
  • Dec 20, 2005
  • #7
Wow,
thats a heck of a HOw-to on doing LT header installs.. I've done 4 of them so far (2 in the driveway, 2 using a lift), and never dropped the K member on any of them. And the longest one took me 8 hours b/'c BBK's flange was too big to get into the engine compartment (from below) so i had to grind some of it away..

But none the less... great writeup on it
 
F

FalconGuy016

New Member
Oct 26, 2004
437
1
0
Northern VA
Dec 20, 2005
#8
  • Dec 20, 2005
  • #8
Wow that is a very great writeup.
 

mity2

I like Pro3 and all I got was this crappy CT.
Jul 24, 2003
2,872
3
48
StateCollege PA
Dec 20, 2005
#9
  • Dec 20, 2005
  • #9
invertmast said:
Wow,
thats a heck of a HOw-to on doing LT header installs.. I've done 4 of them so far (2 in the driveway, 2 using a lift), and never dropped the K member on any of them. And the longest one took me 8 hours b/'c BBK's flange was too big to get into the engine compartment (from below) so i had to grind some of it away..

But none the less... great writeup on it
Click to expand...

Now, I've done my LT x3(damn clutch ), and I just don't now how you can do LT without dropping K

Something like FRPP shorty, i can see how, but with somethig like BBK LT, some bolts are sooo hard to get to with K-menber not there, i just don't see how do you tighten them bolts with K-menber in placeRoom you have between cylinder head and framerail are soo stinking tight for my bigass hand(you know what they say about man with big hand ), that i had to employ my GF(with much smaller hand) to get the nut started, after dropping engine down as far as it go down(which was nurvewrecking...)
View attachment 494203

So i always tell people that any time you'll save by not dropping K is going to be consumed by fighting with those bolts, and not to mention infamous 3rd bolts on starter
 

invertmast

Founding Member
Dec 12, 2001
379
0
16
North Port, FL
Dec 20, 2005
#10
  • Dec 20, 2005
  • #10
ohh yea.. I agree with you 100%, thats why after the 4th set i did, i told everyone, that if they wanted me to install them, they had better get a tubular K member to slap on at the same time, b/c there are sooo many bolts that are such a PITA to get too, its easier to drop the K member..
 

hotmustang331

Active Member
Apr 29, 2004
2,967
3
48
Bastrop,TX
Dec 20, 2005
#11
  • Dec 20, 2005
  • #11
mity2 said:
Now, I've done my LT x3(damn clutch ), and I just don't now how you can do LT without dropping K

Something like FRPP shorty, i can see how, but with somethig like BBK LT, some bolts are sooo hard to get to with K-menber not there, i just don't see how do you tighten them bolts with K-menber in placeRoom you have between cylinder head and framerail are soo stinking tight for my bigass hand(you know what they say about man with big hand ), that i had to employ my GF(with much smaller hand) to get the nut started, after dropping engine down as far as it go down(which was nurvewrecking...)
View attachment 494201

So i always tell people that any time you'll save by not dropping K is going to be consumed by fighting with those bolts, and not to mention infamous 3rd bolts on starter
Click to expand...

LOL exactly...as far as im conserned, it would be impossbale for me to install the BBK LTS without the K. We had to drop the motor WAY down to where the oilpan was hitting the sway bar, and then WAY up to where the motor was just about touching the hood just to get the bolts in.
BTW the pic brings back memorys...not sure if they are good lol.
 

mity2

I like Pro3 and all I got was this crappy CT.
Jul 24, 2003
2,872
3
48
StateCollege PA
Dec 20, 2005
#12
  • Dec 20, 2005
  • #12
i can't remenber what it was, but I think I had something else other then sway bar that got in the way of dropping engine down. I think it might have been powersteering line or A/C line..
 
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