Alright, long story short, I was going to keep my 94 fairly stock, meaning just replacing the catback and h-pipe. In doing that, I snapped the stud off of one of my headers. So, my friend said to get a shop to drill it out, and for that much, I might as well just have an excuse to get headers. I know LT's are better, but I can't afford to switch all that over and I just want to buy a pair of shorties. I was looking on Summit and frankly I dont want to spend a whole lot so I was looking at BBK's or even Flowtech's. I thought there was a thread of here before about some of the comparisons but I searched for threads and couldnt find any. So, if someone has some knowledge it would be great. The GT is off the road right now and I need to get it back on ASAP, so I want to put this order in right away. Thanks for your help as always.
Need help with Header selection
- Thread starter AdamFogle
- Start date
SQUEEZE&STROKE
New Member
I have the BBK shorties...the chrome discolors in about 24 seconds so dont expect it to last. I've had them for probably 3 years now with lots of nitrous and strip driving...only problem I have had is when I over tightened the h-pipe to header studs I bent the flange...only do it to where it is tight enough not to have leaks or its a PITA to get them off.
In all, Decent product for a decent price
In all, Decent product for a decent price
94-302-vert
Active Member
Another option is to jsut drill out the stud in the car. I had broken all 4 of mine and I did this... took forever to get 3/8" bolts in but it was still quicker than doing shorties at the time (I also didn't have the funds at the time).
I went with shorties when i took off my cats as alighing the bolts/nuts/wahsers was a pain and the cats have to go back on next september for a few few weeks....
I went with shorties when i took off my cats as alighing the bolts/nuts/wahsers was a pain and the cats have to go back on next september for a few few weeks....
95COBRA241
New Member
In reference to shorties:
1. Don't get equal length. Not worth the effort to put em in over unequals.
2. If your budget allows get coated ones. As was stated the chromes stay shiny only in the box.
3. Don't get MAC or any other individal runner headers. Not that they are a bad company, but their shorties are prone to gasket leaks. The only ones that don't leak are the original factory shoties. Look for ones with a flange.
1. Don't get equal length. Not worth the effort to put em in over unequals.
2. If your budget allows get coated ones. As was stated the chromes stay shiny only in the box.
3. Don't get MAC or any other individal runner headers. Not that they are a bad company, but their shorties are prone to gasket leaks. The only ones that don't leak are the original factory shoties. Look for ones with a flange.
legalize420
Active Member
mo_dingo
20+ Year Stangneter 
legalize420gt95 said:
Lucky you.
Ditto what others have said. I was very impressed with the BBK headers my brother got. Solid flange is nice.
Unequal make more power up top, so there isn't any logical reason to get equals. So much easier to install unequals.
Scott
blksn955.o
Founding Member
Either get un-equals shorties or get long tubes that is it.
BBK is nice. I have flow-tech's and they are showing their age bad now...I hope to replace them with either a BBK or bassani headers (dont know if I want to go long tube or what though when I do it again).
Buddy had the bbk equals and catted H on his fox. They were a PITA to install and they did get "purple" at the bends from the heat but still looked nice even after some time, they were just not as nice as they were new. The flange at the head is nice and thick too.
BBK is nice. I have flow-tech's and they are showing their age bad now...I hope to replace them with either a BBK or bassani headers (dont know if I want to go long tube or what though when I do it again).
Buddy had the bbk equals and catted H on his fox. They were a PITA to install and they did get "purple" at the bends from the heat but still looked nice even after some time, they were just not as nice as they were new. The flange at the head is nice and thick too.
nmcgrawj
Advanced Member
03REDFIRE said:
I vote bbk but the most popular are probably bbk or macs. Some guys hate both others love both. I like bbk's 1-piece flange personally.
94-302-vert
Active Member
I have the Mac's and I have no leaks either (breslin SS bolts and felpro 1415 gaskets).
However I bought them used and I would not reccomend buying non-flanged headers used as I had to do some finagling to get everything bolted up.
However I bought them used and I would not reccomend buying non-flanged headers used as I had to do some finagling to get everything bolted up.
18mustangs
New Member
I've run MAC equal length shorties and BBK long tubes. I didn't have trouble with MAC, but prefer the single flange of the BBKs. IMO LTs are the best, but if you're stuck on shorties do not get the equal lengths, the unequal lengths are not a PITA like the equal lengths and the limited performance gain for the trouble of equal lengths isn't worth it IMO.
Tim
Tim
a50sn95
Founding Member
I had MAC shorties, but HATED trying to put them on after they had been on already. The individual flanges are nearly impossible to put back on, and have a hard time not leaking after they've been heat cycled. If you have Aluminum heads you WILL strip out a bolt hole with these. I used studs, which was also a PITA with these.
Switched them out for BBK's. Loved the one piece THICK flange. HATE the studs in the collectors. Don't even use them. Go down to the hardware store and get some good ones.
When I tried to remove the H-pipe to put the stocker back on for smog, Two of the studs broke. On the passenger side... (the one that is hard to pull out, especially on a S/C car...) Was able to drill them out, but had to use bolts on the H-pipe, as the threads were toast. THen 2 days later, when I tried to put the off-road H back on, I broke one on the other side. Pulled the headed this time and drilled them out, put a bolt in and spot welded it to keep it from turning.
Anyway, other than that I like them. Just get rid of that CHEAP chinese hardware....
Dennis
Switched them out for BBK's. Loved the one piece THICK flange. HATE the studs in the collectors. Don't even use them. Go down to the hardware store and get some good ones.
When I tried to remove the H-pipe to put the stocker back on for smog, Two of the studs broke. On the passenger side... (the one that is hard to pull out, especially on a S/C car...) Was able to drill them out, but had to use bolts on the H-pipe, as the threads were toast. THen 2 days later, when I tried to put the off-road H back on, I broke one on the other side. Pulled the headed this time and drilled them out, put a bolt in and spot welded it to keep it from turning.
Anyway, other than that I like them. Just get rid of that CHEAP chinese hardware....
Dennis
Sounds like I am going to go with the BBK unequals then. Thanks for the advice. I am definately going to get the stage 8 locking bolts this time, as when I did my 90 I didnt and all the bolts are backing out now. Now, the headers come with gaskets and of course one could buy "better" ones, but is that for sure necessary. Are the ones that come with the headers that much of a piece? Not that the gaskets are all that much, but if it wasn't a huge difference, I wasn't going to worry about getting them. Any input on that?
a50sn95
Founding Member
I have the Percy's, but I bought those trying to get my MACs to seal. The trick with paper gaskets is to get them wet (so they swell a little), then bolt them on....
Dennis
Dennis
FORCED2DV8
New Member
Similar threads
