I have a supercharged 93 mustang running 6lbs of boost. should I go with long tube headers and a 2.5" exhaust or short tubes. I hear installation of long tubes is a nightmare and the power difference is not that great. I also hear longtubes are for the track and not the street. 
ANY OPINIONS OUT THERE?
Long Tube Or Short Tube Headers?
- Thread starter killerk
- Start date
25thmustang
Mustang Master
I have em at my house, so i can't tell for sure until they go on in May. As far as installation, ive heard that u need to jack up the motor and possibly remove the steering shaft. I would deffinetly think that with a supercharged car, you get see much much better gains with longtubes. And there are plenty of guys who run em on the street.
Xterminator03
Member
Couple of things you will need to be aware of with long tubes.
1. If you don't have a mini starter don't even think of trying to make the big ass old-style one fit. Trust me on this one. Plan to purchase some wire and various connectors as well as the starter.
2. You probably will need to re-route your o2 sensors. Peel back the loom and remove the o2 wires and oil level sensor wire all the way back to the firewall. Create a new loom for just those and run the new loom down the back of the engine. Plan on buying more loom and duct tape.
3. Plan to pull the steering shaft.
4. You will have undo the motor mounts and jack up the engine on the side you are working on. The headers might not drop right in with your brand new aftermarket motor mounts in the way. You might as well save the frustration and completely remove those prior to installing the header.
5. Don't expect them to go in perfectly the first time. You will probably run into fitment issues and clearance problems. It will probably take removal/installation a few times until you get all the proper places dinged enough (in the frame, firewall, and underbody) to clear the headers.
6. Plan to ding, scratch, scape your shiny new headers. Prepare for several cuts and scrapes. Plan on going to Church that Sunday to make up for using the Lord's name in vain so many times.
7. Expect your fiancee to be mad at you for two days because every time she came into the garage to ask how you were doing, you either snapped at her or just glared at her.
8. At some point you may need to cry, or just whine a whole lot.
So that's what you are in for. Just thought you should know. But with that said, I know that I would have not been happy with shorty headers. Just expect to not have fun with it.
1. If you don't have a mini starter don't even think of trying to make the big ass old-style one fit. Trust me on this one. Plan to purchase some wire and various connectors as well as the starter.
2. You probably will need to re-route your o2 sensors. Peel back the loom and remove the o2 wires and oil level sensor wire all the way back to the firewall. Create a new loom for just those and run the new loom down the back of the engine. Plan on buying more loom and duct tape.
3. Plan to pull the steering shaft.
4. You will have undo the motor mounts and jack up the engine on the side you are working on. The headers might not drop right in with your brand new aftermarket motor mounts in the way. You might as well save the frustration and completely remove those prior to installing the header.
5. Don't expect them to go in perfectly the first time. You will probably run into fitment issues and clearance problems. It will probably take removal/installation a few times until you get all the proper places dinged enough (in the frame, firewall, and underbody) to clear the headers.
6. Plan to ding, scratch, scape your shiny new headers. Prepare for several cuts and scrapes. Plan on going to Church that Sunday to make up for using the Lord's name in vain so many times.
7. Expect your fiancee to be mad at you for two days because every time she came into the garage to ask how you were doing, you either snapped at her or just glared at her.
8. At some point you may need to cry, or just whine a whole lot.
So that's what you are in for. Just thought you should know. But with that said, I know that I would have not been happy with shorty headers. Just expect to not have fun with it.
tunedin302
I AM the law!!!
tunedin302
I AM the law!!!
Go with long tubes if u want to...im sticking with shorties cause to me its not worth the hassle
Piston
Founding Member
dstanggt50
Founding Member
tunedin302 said:
Yep i bought the blower and the longtube set-up from sirsureshot(mike) back in october. But, since i'm up at school, i haven't had many chances to get everything on. Just about all of the blower stuff is on, just need to punch the oil pan. As for the headers, i had to swap my stock h back on to get it inspected on the last day i was home for spring break, so i'll put the longtubes on first thing when i'm done in May.
Scot_94GT
Founding Member
Xpipe said:
good to hear. I have a 94GT and will be getting BBK LTs soon. So you didn't need a mini-starter like others have said? what about removing the steering column? It doesnt say you have to do that to install them in the instructions I got online.
Mavrick
Founding Member
25thmustang
Mustang Master
Biggeley said:
I have a stock starter, and it fits fine. No connectors or anything on that were changed at all.
Biggeley said:
You have to lengthen them, and they sell a cheap kit for it, but I didnt have to do anything in the engine compartment.
Biggeley said:
Unbolted mine, didnt pull it.
Biggeley said:
I only had to do this on the drivers side, but had the bellhousing out of the car, so maybe thats why the pass side slipped right in.
Biggeley said:
I only installed them once, but they did and still do rub the sterring shaft some. Now new motor mounts should solve this as mine have 130,000 miles on them.
Biggeley said:
These things I can agree with, there was a lot of foul language and such, but I was single at the time, and only had work and the beach to worry about, so I got it done without too much worry.
Not dogging on what yuo say, just sharing my experience!
25thmustang said:
Maybe you already have the mini starter. From my understanding it came stock on anything 92 and above. I purchased a stock replacement for a 94. I could see how old-school starter would fit if the headers would have been built slightly better. If you get lucky and reeive a set with slightly better build tolerances than I see how you can get away with it. Nonetheless it will be close. I thought I could make mine fit, and fit I did.. But the header touched the starter. I decided to buy the mini for the clearance.
25thmustang said:
Getting extensions is the easy but more costly way. I decided to go the cheap but more frustrating way.
25thmustang said:
Yeah that's meant to say. Didn't have to completely remove it.. Just unbolt it at the rag joint.
25thmustang said:
That's probably why.. Mine's an AOD so there was even less clearance.
25thmustang
Mustang Master
Yes, well I have the original 1989 starter, so it isnt a mini one. The AOD might have a different Bhousing which could cause issues with the starter and Bhousing, I dont have an auto. I think I spent $10 tops for the lengthener kit, and there are enough connectors in there to make 8 O2 extensions. Get a group of uys to buy it, and spend $2 each, lol!
All in all it was a pain, but my car picked up a tremendous amount, went from 13.8 to 13.0 with LTs, prochamber and pulleys!
All in all it was a pain, but my car picked up a tremendous amount, went from 13.8 to 13.0 with LTs, prochamber and pulleys!
Scot_94GT
Founding Member
25thmustang said:
You got to be sharting me. I know those times were form different days and probbably different conditions, but DANG! 0.8 sec with LT's h-pipe and pullies? I was hoping to get maybe 15hp tops out of my stock headers/h-pipe to BBK LT's & BBK catted-h swap. Really hoping for some SOTP gain with this mod, considering the cost. Oh well..even if it isn't it'll sound cooler
BTW: I have another thread about this question, but its in the 94-95 seciton, so maybe some of you have not seen it.
Do the BBK LT's come with a hole for the EGR? If not, can I run my car without the EGR hooked up?
