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  • 2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-

LT Headers?

  • Thread starter Thread starter walter
  • Start date Start date Jan 2, 2008

walter

Founding Member
Aug 13, 1998
1,054
0
46
Houston TX
Jan 2, 2008
#1
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #1
Hey everyone, seems like the headers of choice for the mustang are the JBA Longtubes. Now while those are real quality pieces with looks to match they're real pricy.

Are there more affordable alternatives that are also good? Apparently BBK is now making long tubes with matching catted x pipes to go with them (I want to keep the ride legit) does anyone have them and what do you think about the 23HP claim? A setup like that runs about half the price of JBA's which is real nice. Also is it true that unless you're planning on getting some Long tube headers you shouldn't waste your time/money with shorties?

I Know it's a lot of rambling questions but I appreciate any info on this.
 

DarkFireGT

Playing with my wife's really makes me want one.
10 Year Member
May 23, 2004
692
10
89
East Moline, IL
Jan 2, 2008
#2
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #2
Actually, Kooks and Stainless works are the true "headers of choice", but with a pricetag well over $1k. In all honesty, I've seen a lot of information on headers, and quite a few in person for these cars. OBX is a great alternative. They're made of T304 metal and are great quality, as well as sound great. They come with an off road style midpipe and also a resonated midpipe. They run about $450 on eBay. They are imported at that price, of course. But personally, American made headers are too expensive right now, and actually the price is downright rediculous. There are many people on TMS running these OBX headers right now and have zero complaints. I think the OBX ones are actually based off of the JBA design. I can't say anything about the BBK ones, but I know the ones for previous Mustangs had terrible rusting issues. If they're not T304 or ceramic coated, I would stay away.
 

walter

Founding Member
Aug 13, 1998
1,054
0
46
Houston TX
Jan 2, 2008
#3
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #3
The BBK are advertised as being ceramic coated and retail for little over 500 bucks + 400 bucks for the x pipe to go with it doesn't sound bad for less then a grand.

Is OBX seriously a brand to consider for the Mustang? My import experience says their stuff is pretty much junk especially in high heat areas like headers and turbo manifolds. The welds come apart in a matter of months if not weeks.
 
S

steedman07

Member
Nov 20, 2007
176
1
17
Connecticut
Jan 2, 2008
#4
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #4
i will do JBA's LT's, cuz im s/c'ed, otherwise i would do shorties..I have always used JBA's on my cars..
 

psfracer

Member
Dec 30, 2007
35
0
6
Valencia, CA
Jan 2, 2008
#5
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #5
walter said:
Hey everyone, seems like the headers of choice for the mustang are the JBA Longtubes. Now while those are real quality pieces with looks to match they're real pricy.

Are there more affordable alternatives that are also good? Apparently BBK is now making long tubes with matching catted x pipes to go with them (I want to keep the ride legit) does anyone have them and what do you think about the 23HP claim? A setup like that runs about half the price of JBA's which is real nice. Also is it true that unless you're planning on getting some Long tube headers you shouldn't waste your time/money with shorties?

I Know it's a lot of rambling questions but I appreciate any info on this.
Click to expand...


It is generally accepted that shorties are worth little to no rwhp over stock. I went with dynatech 1 3/4 inch primary pipe to a 3 inch collector. They work very well with the whipple at 16psi.

However, when I first got them last year I had nitrous at the time. Back then my best 1/8th et was a 7.67, when I put the long tubes on my et dropped to a 7.38. Even though I gained only 18rwhp peak to peak, I also gained a significant amount throughout the entire rpm range, which proved effective at the track.
 

DarkFireGT

Playing with my wife's really makes me want one.
10 Year Member
May 23, 2004
692
10
89
East Moline, IL
Jan 2, 2008
#6
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #6
walter said:
The BBK are advertised as being ceramic coated and retail for little over 500 bucks + 400 bucks for the x pipe to go with it doesn't sound bad for less then a grand.

Is OBX seriously a brand to consider for the Mustang? My import experience says their stuff is pretty much junk especially in high heat areas like headers and turbo manifolds. The welds come apart in a matter of months if not weeks.
Click to expand...

Yup. Believe me, I wouldn't consider putting garbage on my car. If you want, I'll PM you a very large thread going into great detail on how these have worked out for S197's.
 

walter

Founding Member
Aug 13, 1998
1,054
0
46
Houston TX
Jan 2, 2008
#7
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #7
Go ahead now I'm really curious.
 

DarkFireGT

Playing with my wife's really makes me want one.
10 Year Member
May 23, 2004
692
10
89
East Moline, IL
Jan 2, 2008
#8
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #8
PM sent
 
S

saxd

New Member
Jun 15, 2007
4
0
0
Jan 2, 2008
#9
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #9
DarkFireGT said:
PM sent
Click to expand...


Can you PM me that thread?
 

walter

Founding Member
Aug 13, 1998
1,054
0
46
Houston TX
Jan 3, 2008
#10
  • Jan 3, 2008
  • #10
Who has the SLP headers? I just found out that I can upgrade the exhaust piece by piece if I get their X pipe. Sounds like a good deal if you can't spill all the cash at once.
 

blacksheep06

New Member
Jan 31, 2006
288
0
0
Jan 4, 2008
#11
  • Jan 4, 2008
  • #11
I have the SLP LT's, they're quality pieces. I had a hack job done on my full length O/R prochamber to make them fit. Sound is amazing.

I'm not saying it because it's mine but I'm sure I have one of the deepest and meanest sounding s197's out there.
 
N

nosfed

New Member
Aug 21, 2004
1
0
1
Jan 6, 2008
#12
  • Jan 6, 2008
  • #12
The factory exhaust flows decent compared to others like the LSx motors. Dont expect alot out them unless you decide to retune your car to get every bit of HP out of them.
 
F

FarmerTom390

New Member
Feb 13, 2002
8
0
0
Johnstown PA
Jan 12, 2008
#13
  • Jan 12, 2008
  • #13
I looked on ebay for the obx headers and was wondering , the pictures have the headers and 4 other pipes are those mid pipes? one auction said down pipes but I dont see the need for a "down pipe" in a sense that i would use it in , just wondering nothing said mid pipe anywhere so i was just checking
 

DarkFireGT

Playing with my wife's really makes me want one.
10 Year Member
May 23, 2004
692
10
89
East Moline, IL
Jan 12, 2008
#14
  • Jan 12, 2008
  • #14
You have to understand that these guys are used to peddling ricer crap. They are mid pipes. You have a straight-through set, and a resonated set.
 
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