Thinking about purchasing headers... advice needed

cLeAnRaCiNgLdR

New Member

Dec 6, 2004

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Nov 21, 2006

#1

• Nov 21, 2006

• #1

Hey guys,

I am thinking of purchasing headers for my 05 GT 5-speed and would like to know which header set up you would go with. My current mods are a MAC Axle-back System with a MAC O/R Prochamber midpipe, A C&L CIA with a 93 octane brenspeed tune. I've heard that I can only go with the shorty setup becuase of the midpipe, is this true? would you go with ceramic, chrome or a stainless set? Which brand has put out the best numbers on the dyno? am I going to have to get my retune the car with the headers installed?

Thanks in advance.

 

C

CJMcLean

Founding Member

Jul 26, 2000

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Houston, TX, USA

Nov 21, 2006

#2

• Nov 21, 2006

• #2

Most people will tell you that shorty headers are a waste of money on these cars, being the factory manifolds flow enough exhaust for mild street cars. Long tubes would be worth the effort, but they are expensive and require a different midpipe than you have now.

 

cLeAnRaCiNgLdR

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Dec 6, 2004

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Nov 21, 2006

#3

• Nov 21, 2006

• #3

really, I wouldn't gain any performance?

that's crap

 

6

66_stang

Member

Jul 4, 2004

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Woodlands TX

Nov 21, 2006

#4

• Nov 21, 2006

• #4

Longtubes or go home!

 

V8JamesGT

Member

Jan 22, 2006

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Nov 21, 2006

#5

• Nov 21, 2006

• #5

what about the JBA Cat4Ward shorty headers? I personally just dont like the way the stockers look rusted and even if there isnt much to gain, I think it would be worth replacing.

 

Bags2005

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Aug 13, 2005

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Davis, CA

Nov 21, 2006

#6

• Nov 21, 2006

• #6

I prefer to think of it not as not getting a gain from an aftermarket shorty header, but already having the gain from the stock manifold....basically the case with the S197

 

8

8850

Founding Member

Jun 3, 2000

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TX

Nov 21, 2006

#7

• Nov 21, 2006

• #7

I ran a 10.65 1/4 mile et with ported 1 5/8" shortie Mac headers on my 347 when I first installed it in the car. This was with a ported Cobra intake. Went to 1 3/4" long tubes and a ported Victor 5.0 intake and ran 10.4's. Did finally get it down to a 10.3 with other changes.

 

G

gpp

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Jul 3, 2005

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Nov 21, 2006

#8

• Nov 21, 2006

• #8

buy the kooks headers and cat pipe and you will not regret it.fit and finish is first class and should give about 15 to 18 hp depending on other mods and the tune.

 

BigWorm2005GT

New Member

Mar 30, 2005

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Everett, WA

Nov 22, 2006

#9

• Nov 22, 2006

• #9

The only thing with longtubes is that you'll have to take off that MAC mid-pipe, unless you're willing to do some cutting. Shorties will fit to the MAC mid-pipe, but as others have said, the performance gains from shorties have been shown to be negligible and within the margin of error for a good/bad day or dyno.

Longtubes definitely add power and torque, that I can speak to personally. They are worth the effort, hands down. You'll just have to buy a matching mid-pipe to the headers and take off the MAC. You could put it up on eBay and recoup some expense, though. Unless, like I said, you take to cutting on it.

Good luck!

 

O

official_style

New Member

Apr 18, 2005

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Nov 22, 2006

#10

• Nov 22, 2006

• #10

buy american racing longtubes, with their own x or catted x pipe. they got a deal going on over at modularfords. these are the highest quality headers for these cars.

 

P

Pro Mod

Member

Nov 16, 2005

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Wharton, WV

Nov 22, 2006

#11

• Nov 22, 2006

• #11

Honestly, I gained more ET from my aluminum driveshaft than I did from the longtubes.

 

Van Damage

New Member

Sep 26, 2006

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Nov 23, 2006

#12

• Nov 23, 2006

• #12

Shorty headers work

My very first upgrade was a set of headers. Installed Ford Racing ceramic short headers on to my 2005 4.6 and the low end torque gain was very drastic, the car was so responsive I couldn't stop driving it that day. It felt as if I was driving a diferrent car all together. One of the best/easiest aftermarket upgrades I could recommend.

 

mustangmike6996

5 Year Member

Nov 10, 2005

483

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clinton twp, MI

Nov 23, 2006

#13

• Nov 23, 2006

• #13

FRPP???

so how does everyone like the ford racing ceramic stainless shorties? sounds,E.T., fit/ finish, power????

they look very appealing to me.

do you need a tune with an O/R X or H pipe? or can you use MIL eliminators like the older SN95's? (being a cheaper altenative and all...)

 

scramblr

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Aug 5, 2005

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Geilenkirchen, AB Germany

Nov 25, 2006

#14

• Nov 25, 2006

• #14

mustangmike6996 said:

so how does everyone like the ford racing ceramic stainless shorties? sounds,E.T., fit/ finish, power????

they look very appealing to me.

do you need a tune with an O/R X or H pipe? or can you use MIL eliminators like the older SN95's? (being a cheaper altenative and all...)

Click to expand...

As has been said, you're not going to get any noticeable power from shorties, regardless of the brand. Granted, the cost difference is there between the shoties and the LTs, but if not going with the LTs, use the money on other power adders or save up for the LTs.

 

silverc5vert

New Member

Nov 25, 2006

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Westland, MI

Nov 25, 2006

#15

• Nov 25, 2006

• #15

gpp said:

buy the kooks headers and cat pipe and you will not regret it.fit and finish is first class and should give about 15 to 18 hp depending on other mods and the tune.

Click to expand...

I agree Kook's makes a very nice set of headers and x-pipe for these cars.

-Rick

 

mustangmike6996

5 Year Member

Nov 10, 2005

483

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clinton twp, MI

Nov 26, 2006

#16

• Nov 26, 2006

• #16

can you use mil eliminators like the previous mustangs or do you absolutly need a tune?

 

N

NoFear06

New Member

May 19, 2006

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CT

Nov 26, 2006

#17

• Nov 26, 2006

• #17

would a slp loudmouth catback system work good with jba headers?

 

T

TGJ

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Mar 30, 2005

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Nov 26, 2006

#18

• Nov 26, 2006

• #18

I have not been on ModularFords in quite some time, I would like some info on the AMR long-tubes group buy.

 

V8JamesGT

Member

Jan 22, 2006

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Nov 26, 2006

#19

• Nov 26, 2006

• #19

mustangmike6996 said:

can you use mil eliminators like the previous mustangs or do you absolutly need a tune?

Click to expand...

yes you can use mil eliminators

 

V8JamesGT

Member

Jan 22, 2006

218

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Nov 26, 2006

#20

• Nov 26, 2006

• #20

mustangmike6996 said:

can you use mil eliminators like the previous mustangs or do you absolutly need a tune?

Click to expand...

yes you can use mil eliminators