LT Header Questions!

[arcwcb]

Ok, I'd like to get my order placed this weekend for the Hooker SuperComp longtube headers for my 2006 Mustang GT, but I just have a couple reservations before I make the plunge and get them. One, how much does it alter the exhaust tone? I've got stock exhaust except for a Borla axle-back and I absolutely LOVE the sound of my car, will the headers change the tone? Also, are LT headers legal for street cars? I'm using a catted H-pipe with them, so I assumed so, but I want to check before I shell out $1k on exhaust. Jegs has them listed as off-highway use only. Thanks for your help guys!

 

['08GTcaRED]

They will change it yes. Usually deeper tone comes with it, but if you are sticking with the axleback you have and some sort of catted midpipe then it will sound good still, just different good. They are not street legal. They can be made to pass emissions with a short catted h pipe and some O2 sensor harness extensions. You will also need another tune as they will lean out your a/f ratio. Also I would recommend new gaskets and locking header bolts.

Don't know how much you knew about LTs and the process so I just stated most of it.

 

[21MsclCr]

Yes it is going to make it deeper mainly, you should get a shorty mid pipy, you will need it in the long run. I got my car dynotuned this week and talked to them about the LT headers I was planning on getting (JBA) and they said they are great but the surprising response I got was go with pypes.. Ive never been a big fan of pypes for no reason honestly just I dont mind spending more money on my car for the better products and they said that though the steel is quite as good as JBA, American Racing, Etc... they can get more HP out of the pypes than almost any other for half the price of some.. Just a thought. I think I am still going to go with the JBA and get the JBA shorty o/r x pipe with it..

Though to answer your question its going to be a bit louder and usually a deeper throaty sound to it. SHould sound great, as long as you have cats on it it will be street legal again stating my point above you need a shorty mid pipe.

 

[arcwcb]

Yeah, forgot to state, I'm getting a shorty H-pipe from Hooker too, my bad. So it will just make the tone a little deeper, maybe a little louder? That'd sound really good with the cams I'm getting, so that's good. I'm just making sure I don't f*** up my sound, I've heard some mustangs that have such a raspy, almost metal noise coming from them. I'd be so mad if I spent all this money on something that sounded like that lol.

 

[21MsclCr]

No yeah it should sound a bit louder and deeper. The raspier sounding mustang usually dont have as good of exhaust or a different type of exhaust. Like no offense to anyone with them, but the SLP loudmouth exhaust IMO just sounds ridiculous, it is loud but at the same time kind of obnoxious (again my opinion so I dont mean to offend anybody and I appologize if I do in advance) where as I have the magnaflows which are a deeper not as crackly sound and it is still really loud but I can make it not be and sounds liek it is supposed to be like that not like theres a hole in the exhaust haha.But yeah youll be fine, just make sure you have cats on it, unless you know someone that can hook you up with an inspection

 

[SpartaPerformance]

The only way you get that loud raspy sound if you don't have cats. It will get louder and the tone will be the same or even a bit deeper, you may get a little more popping under deceleration but it would be livable

 

['08GTcaRED]

Pypes are also one of the hardest to put on Vipernuge just installed his though so if you have questions about that specific brand he can help.

I really want either JBAs like you are thinking of because even though other brands have a little higher HP, the JBAs keep the low end torque.
Either that or American Racing headers. If they are good enough for a Cobra Jet then they are good enough for me!

Whatever you choose it will sound good, as long as you have your cats like others have said. Probably a little louder because once you go from stock cats to aftermarket they flow a little better which means a little more noise goes through instead of being cancelled.

Good luck in choosing arcwb! Let us know what you decide and see if there any fellow members who would want to help you because it is difficult with only one pair of hands...

 

[ViperNuge]

I did just install Pypes long tubes with a catted h pipe. Its much louder even with the hf cats. Now two weeks after having them I think I will keep my spin tech mufflers. At first I thought it was way too loud, but now I am getting use to it. Install was long but no problems. You just have to take off lots of stuff to get in there. Fitment was spot on. I went with Pypes cause Brenspeed recomended them over all others. Price was good too, $679 for headers and h pipe.

Here is a vid clip of the sound now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSjLlRoBL1M

If you need help on install let me know.

patrick

 

[arcwcb]

Wow, that's a really good deal on the Pypes LTs... The Hooker LTs were gonna run right at $1000... Is it true that the JBAs keep low end torque though? If so, that'd be great!

 

['08GTcaRED]

For a LT they keep torque well. You will still lose some, that's the nature of LTs, but not as much as other brands.

5.0 magazine did a write up here: http://www.mustang50magazine.com/techarticles/m5lp_0904_s197_ford_mustang_headers/hooker_jba.html That's their write up on the 5 major brands at the time. Pretty interesting.

For me I don't get up high on the rpms so a good mid range is what I wanted and the JBAs have the best of the 5 in terms of consistent mid range power. Could there be a better one? Sure, but I haven't really looked lately since buying a home became top priority Eventually I will be able to talk the wife into it, but until then...

Remember all of this is my opinion and what I want for MY car. It's your car and you decide on what is best for YOUR car Good luck!