Short ones or long ones...

[casper98gt]

I need new exhaust. Running stock everything except a catback the prev. owner put on. I want front heads back. Unsure on what i want i was hoping for some answers and opinions. Im open to both.

Shortys or equal lenght. whats the diff and should i look for one of the other. Im not worried about chrome or black because i dont care what my exhaust looks like. Except the tips. What are the better brands and what is also good but cheap as well. I bought a pair of ebayer's shortys for my last 5.0 because the flange broke off and it came with gaskets and hardware for 90 bucks new and they worked great.

Longtubes..im not worried about the install because i have done longs on a 4.6 and that wasnt fun but i got the job done. I found some on ebay as well, black possibly Flowtech? Wondering if anyone runs them and if they are any good, also what mid pipe are you running to match. I know of MAC and BBK because its what people i know run and i have installed.

Midpipe...its either full lenght or shorty for longs. I would rather have cats because i went cattless with my last 4.6 and it was a bit too loud. Most mid pipes are the same but i also know about the Prochamber...was thinking Mac shortys or long tubes and a prochamber. Does it sound good?

Catbacks...only thing i have put on a 5.0 are flows and im thinking its time to break away and put somethign else on. I have heard magnapacks on a stock and sound nice. But i will have full exhaust, X303 heads, f-cam and intake.

Thanks for anything.

Matt

 

[BK_CAULEY]

first off i have also done a set off kooks long tubes on my 96 gt and i sucked so props2u!!!

and i would recomened egual lengths. they are much easier to install and work around and since you wanna keep cats you can keep your stock h-pipe. if you are getting a new H-pipe get a nicew set of long tubes. BBK ones are easily installed and are very nice quality. just my opinion.

 

[bloopbloob]

i'm sure the general consensus will be BBK over MAC big time. I like my bbk LT's. They also have the 1 piece flange which is a better design than mac's. I found the LT's actually quietened my exhaust, even with the O/R xpipe, except above maybe 3000rpms.

 

[5spd GT]

BBK seems to be the best median between quality and price.

Longtubes are not emission legal if I recall.

Unequal or Equal Length headers have similar performance, and allows you to use your stock h-pipe.

Many will say you gain lots of power over shorties, with longtubes. I did not find that to be the case, but longtubes do sound better in my opinion.

I swapped out 'crimped' and rusted Mac shorties (with caved-in H-pipe) for new BBK Longtubes and H-pipe. I also put on a ported lower intake to match the AFR heads better, and I had the bottomend rebuilt. With those changes I gained 1.3 mph (est. 13 useable hp).

 

[casper98gt]

awesome.

I have a buddy with a catted midpipe ( shorty ) BBK for longtubes said he would give me. So midpipe wont be a problem. Just gotta save up $400 and decide what i want for catback.

Have heard people say BBK gaskets and header bolts are trash. Where can i find a nice set of gaskets and hardware.