Well, after working the past four days off and on I finally got finished with my JBA 1 5/8 shorty header (1625s-9) install on my 2001 GT convertible. My goal has been to open up the breathing of the 4.6 in prep for a Kenne Bell 6psi in the next year or two. By making intake, engine, and exhaust upgrades I'm hoping to be able to run with less SC psi and still make reasonable hp.
All the posts saying what a PITA this job is was absolutely right. But I'm happy with the results. Here was my intake/exhaust setup prior to the JBAs:
Intake:
Engine:
Exhaust:
Why get shorty's instead of mid-length or full-length?
Some things I found out about JBA products:
Some things I found out w/the install:
-Driver side install
Results:
All the posts saying what a PITA this job is was absolutely right. But I'm happy with the results. Here was my intake/exhaust setup prior to the JBAs:
Intake:
-K&N filter
-Silencer removed
-Accufab polished plenum
-Accufab 75mm throttle body
-Silencer removed
-Accufab polished plenum
-Accufab 75mm throttle body
Engine:
-Comp Cams xe262ah
Exhaust:
-Magnaflow x-pipe
-Magnaflow catback
-Magnaflow catback
Why get shorty's instead of mid-length or full-length?
-I really like my Magnaflow catted x-pipe (power and sound)
-its more expense to go mid-length or full length
-not a huge difference in performance gains w/mid or full length
-Kenne Bell website says no significant gains with headers at all
-my vert is dropped and I didn't want any issues with scraping pavement
-wanted to keep everything emissions legal
-got to replace my clutch soon and wanted to make it easier
-its more expense to go mid-length or full length
-not a huge difference in performance gains w/mid or full length
-Kenne Bell website says no significant gains with headers at all
-my vert is dropped and I didn't want any issues with scraping pavement
-wanted to keep everything emissions legal
-got to replace my clutch soon and wanted to make it easier
Some things I found out about JBA products:
-weight of stock manifolds was same as the JBAs so no gains there
-costs more then BBK even tho BBK has coating and chrome
-JBA uses quality materials for their products
-JBA has excellent fabrication and very nice welds
-JBA fitment overall was very good (but I did do a little grinding)
-JBA ships excellent gaskets with their products
-the final finish on the headers was not very good
-really rough grinding done on the ports
-the ports weren't perfectly round like i expected (like the stockers)
-I had to use my dremel to smooth out the ports and round them
-lots of crap (dust, shavings, etc) in the tubes and collectors
-cleaned everything out using a rag and stuffing it down the tubes
-exhaust ports were 1 1/2 at best and not 1 5/8 like i thought
-the pipes themselves are 1 5/8
-could not get the lower passenger side x-pipe bolt in
had to use a shorter bolt due to clearance issue
-the supplied bolts worked but were a lot shorter then stock
-the shorter bolts were needed because of clearance issues
-instructions mentions a dipstick spacer. I didn't have a space but
I did have an extra nut. I wonder if that is their "spacer" solution
-would be very nice if JBA welded the bolts for the x-pipe to the flanges
-OVERALL: satisfied with JBA product but it is expensive
-costs more then BBK even tho BBK has coating and chrome
-JBA uses quality materials for their products
-JBA has excellent fabrication and very nice welds
-JBA fitment overall was very good (but I did do a little grinding)
-JBA ships excellent gaskets with their products
-the final finish on the headers was not very good
-really rough grinding done on the ports
-the ports weren't perfectly round like i expected (like the stockers)
-I had to use my dremel to smooth out the ports and round them
-lots of crap (dust, shavings, etc) in the tubes and collectors
-cleaned everything out using a rag and stuffing it down the tubes
-exhaust ports were 1 1/2 at best and not 1 5/8 like i thought
-the pipes themselves are 1 5/8
-could not get the lower passenger side x-pipe bolt in
had to use a shorter bolt due to clearance issue
-the supplied bolts worked but were a lot shorter then stock
-the shorter bolts were needed because of clearance issues
-instructions mentions a dipstick spacer. I didn't have a space but
I did have an extra nut. I wonder if that is their "spacer" solution
-would be very nice if JBA welded the bolts for the x-pipe to the flanges
-OVERALL: satisfied with JBA product but it is expensive
Some things I found out w/the install:
-lots of swearing took place during the install
-I took lots of breaks to keep from getting too frustrated
-I needed lots of different size extensions and deep sockets
-My 13mm flex ratcheting wrench was indispensable for this install
-I didn't remove the K-member
-Since I have a vert, I had to remove the x-brace first to jack engine
-It really helped to jack the engine up about an inch from oil pan
-Jacking the engine up wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be
-Passenger side install
-removing starter and jacking engine is a must do
-starter was a PITA to remove
-best way to remove the top two starter bolts were to use
extensions so I could use a jointed rachet from directly in front of
starter
-removing the manifold nuts and studs was a PITA
-i wish i had smaller hands and longer fingers
-I took lots of breaks to keep from getting too frustrated
-I needed lots of different size extensions and deep sockets
-My 13mm flex ratcheting wrench was indispensable for this install
-I didn't remove the K-member
-Since I have a vert, I had to remove the x-brace first to jack engine
-It really helped to jack the engine up about an inch from oil pan
-Jacking the engine up wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be
-Passenger side install
-removing starter and jacking engine is a must do
-starter was a PITA to remove
-best way to remove the top two starter bolts were to use
extensions so I could use a jointed rachet from directly in front of
starter
-removing the manifold nuts and studs was a PITA
-i wish i had smaller hands and longer fingers
-Driver side install
-I thought this was going to be the fast/easy side, it wasn't
-had to unbolt motor mount so i could get dipstick in place
-I had everything installed and then noticed clearance issue w/engine
-metal to metal contact with block edge where it's out-dented to
hold the bolt from the transimission
-I backed bolt out, used dremel to grind down block and manifold
-managed to get a little more then 1/4" clearance
-dipstick sticks out about 1/2" from the head. Had to use the spacer.
-man-o-man, i wish i had smaller hands and longer fingers
-fitment to my Magnaflow catted x-pipe was perfect
-had to unbolt motor mount so i could get dipstick in place
-I had everything installed and then noticed clearance issue w/engine
-metal to metal contact with block edge where it's out-dented to
hold the bolt from the transimission
-I backed bolt out, used dremel to grind down block and manifold
-managed to get a little more then 1/4" clearance
-dipstick sticks out about 1/2" from the head. Had to use the spacer.
-man-o-man, i wish i had smaller hands and longer fingers
-fitment to my Magnaflow catted x-pipe was perfect
Results:
-no exhaust leaks...wahoooooo
-exhaust note is slightly deeper, not much louder at all
-performance...not exceptional...seems like I have a little more power
starting around 3700 rpm.
-not as much bang for the buck hp wise as other mods like my x-pipe,
cams, Accufab plenum/tb, Meziere waterpump)
-engine doesn't seem to labor as much getting up-to-speed which is one
of my goals for my eventual KB SC setup
-overall, I'm satisfied but wouldn't care to do it again!
-exhaust note is slightly deeper, not much louder at all
-performance...not exceptional...seems like I have a little more power
starting around 3700 rpm.
-not as much bang for the buck hp wise as other mods like my x-pipe,
cams, Accufab plenum/tb, Meziere waterpump)
-engine doesn't seem to labor as much getting up-to-speed which is one
of my goals for my eventual KB SC setup
-overall, I'm satisfied but wouldn't care to do it again!
