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

long tube or shorties

  • Thread starter Thread starter 96SCstang
  • Start date Start date Jul 28, 2006
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96SCstang

New Member
Jul 22, 2006
228
0
0
novi, MI
Jul 28, 2006
#1
  • Jul 28, 2006
  • #1
alright guys...want some opinions on header options. do you guys like long tubes or shorties. i believe from my experiances that shortys give more horespower but long tubes give more torque. what are u guys using and how do u like them? trying to build list of add ons for the winter so plz bear with me and my questions. thanx
 

Skidzz

Tinkerbell
Apr 11, 2005
328
1
19
Salt Lake City, UT
Jul 28, 2006
#2
  • Jul 28, 2006
  • #2
LT's are better....period. Shorties aren't really worth the money IMO. Not enough bang for the buck. If you're going to do it, do it right and go with LT's. By the way, LT's will produce a lot more power than shorties, and I'd imagine more tq. also.
 

the98stang

Active Member
Aug 12, 2005
2,408
0
47
Clovis, CA
Jul 28, 2006
#3
  • Jul 28, 2006
  • #3
LT's are going to give you more power, but they are a b1tch to install. If you live in CA, you have to go with shorties.
 

comatose

Member
Jul 24, 2005
57
0
6
Columbus, Ohio
Jul 28, 2006
#4
  • Jul 28, 2006
  • #4
You should do a search on this. This subject has already been covered......alot.
 

Skidzz

Tinkerbell
Apr 11, 2005
328
1
19
Salt Lake City, UT
Jul 28, 2006
#5
  • Jul 28, 2006
  • #5
comatose said:
You should do a search on this. This subject has already been covered......alot.
Click to expand...
Oh yea, that too.....+1
 
B

bdcardinal

tree hugger
Jun 10, 2003
3,612
16
69
santa barbara, CA
Jul 28, 2006
#6
  • Jul 28, 2006
  • #6
im stuck with only a few shorties because thats all thats legal here in CA.
 

Built98GT

New Member
Oct 17, 2005
211
0
0
OKC
Jul 28, 2006
#7
  • Jul 28, 2006
  • #7
Skidzz said:
LT's are better....period. Shorties aren't really worth the money IMO. Not enough bang for the buck. If you're going to do it, do it right and go with LT's. By the way, LT's will produce a lot more power than shorties, and I'd imagine more tq. also.
Click to expand...

LT's are better as far as performance goes...period, BUT if you ever need to change your clutch or have tranny work done, the labor cost will kill you because you have to drop the K member as well as the motor a little bit and take off the passenger header just to get the tranny off.( I just went through this). With shorties it will be easier and cheaper to work on the car in the future. If I were you I would go with the shorties.
 

GT12207

Member
Feb 5, 2003
86
0
6
California
Jul 28, 2006
#8
  • Jul 28, 2006
  • #8
After doing a lot of research, I ordered the Bassani Mid-length headers. They're about 3 inches shorter than full long tubes. There's a long thread here on stangnet somewhere when someone made like 20 hp gain with these. And similarly, there're many threads about them with dyno graphs on other forums.

UPS just delivered them to my house today; craftsmanship is top notch. Oh yeah, I live in CA..................
 

Skidzz

Tinkerbell
Apr 11, 2005
328
1
19
Salt Lake City, UT
Jul 28, 2006
#9
  • Jul 28, 2006
  • #9
Built98GT said:
LT's are better as far as performance goes...period, BUT if you ever need to change your clutch or have tranny work done, the labor cost will kill you because you have to drop the K member as well as the motor a little bit and take off the passenger header just to get the tranny off.( I just went through this). With shorties it will be easier and cheaper to work on the car in the future. If I were you I would go with the shorties.
Click to expand...
You bring up a good point, especially if you are a person who does the work themselves.
 

Skidzz

Tinkerbell
Apr 11, 2005
328
1
19
Salt Lake City, UT
Jul 28, 2006
#10
  • Jul 28, 2006
  • #10
GT12207 said:
After doing a lot of research, I ordered the Bassani Mid-length headers. They're about 3 inches shorter than full long tubes. There's a long thread here on stangnet somewhere when someone made like 20 hp gain with these. And similarly, there're many threads about them with dyno graphs on other forums.

UPS just delivered them to my house today; craftsmanship is top notch. Oh yeah, I live in CA..................
Click to expand...
So what mid-pipe do you plan on buying? I think there are fewer options available when you go mid-length.
 

GT12207

Member
Feb 5, 2003
86
0
6
California
Jul 28, 2006
#11
  • Jul 28, 2006
  • #11
Skidzz said:
So what mid-pipe do you plan on buying? I think there are fewer options available when you go mid-length.
Click to expand...

I already have the bassani 5-piece x-pipe. It will connect directly to the cats. So that means, the two pipes that came with the x-pipe that connected to the old/stock shorty headers will no longer be of use. I'll get some pictures up for you soon, once i find some batteries.

But these headers are compatible with basically any mid-pipe. You just have to visit a muffler shop for them to cut your mid-pipe to fit the header.
 

GT12207

Member
Feb 5, 2003
86
0
6
California
Jul 28, 2006
#12
  • Jul 28, 2006
  • #12
For an extra $100, I opted for the ceramic version. Looks really nice, but not as shiny as chrome. Everything feels very sturdy and heaving in my hand.




My catback, used MM k-member, cobra bumpers/hood. I painted the K-member yellow to match my car, in case god-forbid i get in an accident, the k-member being yellow, then the insurance adjuster would probably not realize it's aftermarket.


new wheels
 

Built98GT

New Member
Oct 17, 2005
211
0
0
OKC
Jul 29, 2006
#13
  • Jul 29, 2006
  • #13
So whens all that stuff goin on? Looks like your saving it all up to put on at once
 

GT12207

Member
Feb 5, 2003
86
0
6
California
Jul 29, 2006
#14
  • Jul 29, 2006
  • #14
Built98GT said:
So whens all that stuff goin on? Looks like your saving it all up to put on at once
Click to expand...

I'm still missing a couple of critical pieces before I could install everything. Mostly MM A-arms and Evolution Motorsports Tri-link. As for the body parts, I don't have money to paint them as of now. And tires are freaking expensive: $1000 for four Goodyear DGS3.

my own version of OVERHAULIN'
 

jivepepper

Founding Member
Jun 19, 2002
776
5
18
Under a Sombrero. in WV.
Jul 29, 2006
#15
  • Jul 29, 2006
  • #15
I have a friend who took out his tranny with the long tubes. He said you have get it ready to drop then rotate toward the passenger side before it will drop.
 

Dope 97GT

New Member
Jul 16, 2005
439
0
0
Rochester, NY (SUNY Brockport)
Jul 29, 2006
#16
  • Jul 29, 2006
  • #16
nice pile of stuff to put on your car and im sure you will be happy with the bassani headers I love all their stuff
 
P

Pennywise2

Banned
May 16, 2006
1,379
1
0
Jul 29, 2006
#17
  • Jul 29, 2006
  • #17
If your emissions laws are very strict than get shorties.
CA emissions are very strict.
L/T's don't have carb numbers and probably never will.
L/T's are best as said above.
 

blackfang

Founding Member
Dec 17, 2001
1,290
1
39
Richmond, Va
Jul 29, 2006
#18
  • Jul 29, 2006
  • #18
Good thing i bought LT's that allow you to remove the trans with them in.
 
P

Pennywise2

Banned
May 16, 2006
1,379
1
0
Jul 29, 2006
#19
  • Jul 29, 2006
  • #19
blackfang said:
Good thing i bought LT's that allow you to remove the trans with them in.
Click to expand...
What brand L/T's do you have?
 

blackfang

Founding Member
Dec 17, 2001
1,290
1
39
Richmond, Va
Jul 29, 2006
#20
  • Jul 29, 2006
  • #20
Flowtech. Hookers and kooks(if I recall) also allow the trans to come out. I havent had any issues with the LT's yet.
 
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