So I've finally decided that the Mustang will become a weekend and track car and end it's life as my daily driver sometime before next spring.

I already have a full blown race car that I'm using at the track but that's not keeping me from hooking up the Mustang for Street nights and test and tunes.

I'm not planning on going too crazy with it (yet) but I want it to run better then the 14.02 - 14.19 range it's running now.

After I get drag radials the next step looks to be a complete exhaust. I already have the cat backs so I'm going to piece the exhaust together rather then buy a whole new set up.

Here are my questions:

What is the difference between shorty headers and full headers?

Are there advantages to use the shorter headers over full length headers?

Will a shorty set fit with an X pipe that is stock length or will I need a longer X to use the short headers?

The only thing I worry about is that the flowmaster cat back I have was a little shorter then stock so my pipes already sit a little further in then stock pipes and I don't want them moving in any further.

TIA

 

Longtubes will give you more power and would be good if you aren't using it as a DD. You will need a shorter midpipe to accomidate the longtubes.

Shorty headers are direct replacment of stock manifolds. therefore any midpipe that can be used on stock manifolds will work on shorties.

 

Cool, thanks for your help.

 

I myself am torn between installing SLP or BBK long-tubes with their accompanyinf shorty x-pipes versus keeping the stock manifold and installing the MRT H-pipe. Both set-ups will require cats due to the state I'm living in. I already have a nice Borla cat-back system. Some questions I have about long-tubes that will affect my decision:

1. Sometimes my stock subframe connectors already hit speed bumps. Normally, is the ground clearance from the long-tube/short x-pipe lower than the standard manifold/h-pipe stock configuration? If so, how much lower?
2. Are there any issues with the long-tubes that cause a loss of steering travel (would the tires ever hit the headers?)?
3. Would my 2001 GT convertible 5-speed have additional issues due to extra bracing under the car that might interfere with the headers?
4. Do the headers (with catted x-pipe) change engine airflow so much that I will have to have my Bamachips custom tune further tweaked to accomodate the change in the exhaust system?
5. How much louder or different will the long-tube headers make my car sound?

Please feel free to help me with these answers and offer any opinions on which way I should go (stock manifold with MRT H-pipe or long-tubes with shorty x-pipe).

 

Here's an idea: don't threadjack.

ON TOPIC: shorty headers are a essentially waste of time, ESPECIALLY if you're going for a track car. Long tubes it is.

 

i have long tubes on my 98 cobra and i use it as a daily driver. the major difference is the pain to install. shorties are basic bolt ons. where long tubes are more involved. my long tubes dont hit, just my side exhaust scrapes on everything. but my car was just lower by 2 1/2 inches in front and 3 in back

 

Installing long tubes you'll have to unbolt the motor from the K-member and jack the motor up to get the passenger side hedder on and there is a definitly a difference in sound mine when the engine is idling you can hear the primary tube giving off the tink tink tink sound that only longtube will give and the horsepower difference is in the upper rpm range above 4500 ground clearance isn't really a difference mine are even with the steeda frame connecters