Headers worth it?
4/26/07, 09:43 AM
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Headers worth it?
Just trying to get some info on ya'll opinions on headers...im BRAND new to mustangs and just want some experienced suggestions
Next week i am going to order... Intake, SCT-2, u/d pulley, Supreme Mufflers, t/b spacer (looks), and i already have the Pypes H-pipe....
in a few months i will be having a set of stage3 comp cams installed as well as the BBK 62mm tb....
My question is...What kind of gains are people getting off shorty headers?
Any advice is appreciated,
Alex
Next week i am going to order... Intake, SCT-2, u/d pulley, Supreme Mufflers, t/b spacer (looks), and i already have the Pypes H-pipe....
in a few months i will be having a set of stage3 comp cams installed as well as the BBK 62mm tb....
My question is...What kind of gains are people getting off shorty headers?
Any advice is appreciated,
Alex
4/26/07, 09:47 AM
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Looking through the other posts, it looks like Shorty Headers aren't the best bang for the buck. I'm sure the sound is better, but most people aren't showing gains from just shorties. I'm banking for some Kooks Long Tubes right now.
Later,
Shaun
Later,
Shaun
4/26/07, 10:25 AM
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Shorties don't gain you much, longtubes will. Looking at your list, I'd forget about that BBK throttle body as well. It doesn't gain anything and lot's of people haven't been able to get them to work either. Save yourself the trouble 
4/26/07, 10:29 AM
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To summarize what I've been reading for a while now, shorties give you some increase "under the curve", but little increase in max rwhp or rwtq, yet "better" sound.
Long tubes, significant gains across the board.
I'd guess in the 25 rwhp neighborhood with hi-flow or no cats.
Obviously other mods will determain effectiveness of headers.
Long tubes, significant gains across the board.
I'd guess in the 25 rwhp neighborhood with hi-flow or no cats.
Obviously other mods will determain effectiveness of headers.
4/26/07, 02:27 PM
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If you are looking at LTs, do not lower your car, I am down to 3 inches of clearance. But to answer you, yes they are really worth it. The smile on my face the first time I fired them up was worth it.
4/26/07, 02:41 PM
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Best bang for the buck listed below for a NA car looking for more power. These are ballpark figures but should be pretty close.
CAI+tuner will net about 30hp = $600 - - hp per dollar = $20
CMDP's will net about 10hp = $150 - - hp per dollar = $15
UDP will net about 5-7hp = $200 - - hp per dollar = $40
X/y pipe will net 5-7hp = $150-400 - - hp per dollar = $50ish
LT's will net about 20hp = $600-1000 - - hp per dollar = $40
cams will net about 20hp = $1200-1500 - - hp per dollar = $68
Shorties will net 5-8hp = $300-400 - - hp per dollar = $70
Mufflers net 5-6hp = $300-600 - - hp per dollar = $90ish
Throttle body nets about 3hp (if that) = $300 - - hp per dollar = $100
CAI+tuner+CMDP's+UDP = 300hp 305ish tq. = $950
CAI+tuner+CMDP's+UDP+Shorties+x/y pipe+mufflers= 310-315ish HP and 320ish tq = $1700
CAI+tuner+CMDP's+UDP+LT's+x/y pipe+mufflers = 220-230ish HP = $2000
CAI+tuner+CMDP's+UDP+LT's+x/y pipe+mufflers+cams+throttle body = 340ish HP = $3500 (for this cost you can almost buy a SC or turbo and get another 100-125 hp safely)
LT's and cams just dont seem worth the cash to me. I suggest going with a CAI+tuner and 4.10 gears. Your car will be a whole diffrent animal after that. Start there and see how you like it. Those are your best bang for the buck parts IMO. If you wanted a cheap 11 sec car - do that and add a nitrous system and lower control arms and you should be in the 11's with some decent tires.
CAI+tuner will net about 30hp = $600 - - hp per dollar = $20
CMDP's will net about 10hp = $150 - - hp per dollar = $15
UDP will net about 5-7hp = $200 - - hp per dollar = $40
X/y pipe will net 5-7hp = $150-400 - - hp per dollar = $50ish
LT's will net about 20hp = $600-1000 - - hp per dollar = $40
cams will net about 20hp = $1200-1500 - - hp per dollar = $68
Shorties will net 5-8hp = $300-400 - - hp per dollar = $70
Mufflers net 5-6hp = $300-600 - - hp per dollar = $90ish
Throttle body nets about 3hp (if that) = $300 - - hp per dollar = $100
CAI+tuner+CMDP's+UDP = 300hp 305ish tq. = $950
CAI+tuner+CMDP's+UDP+Shorties+x/y pipe+mufflers= 310-315ish HP and 320ish tq = $1700
CAI+tuner+CMDP's+UDP+LT's+x/y pipe+mufflers = 220-230ish HP = $2000
CAI+tuner+CMDP's+UDP+LT's+x/y pipe+mufflers+cams+throttle body = 340ish HP = $3500 (for this cost you can almost buy a SC or turbo and get another 100-125 hp safely)
LT's and cams just dont seem worth the cash to me. I suggest going with a CAI+tuner and 4.10 gears. Your car will be a whole diffrent animal after that. Start there and see how you like it. Those are your best bang for the buck parts IMO. If you wanted a cheap 11 sec car - do that and add a nitrous system and lower control arms and you should be in the 11's with some decent tires.
4/26/07, 03:07 PM
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LT's and cams just dont seem worth the cash to me.
Here is my N/A plan: CAI/tuner ($600) + CMDP's ($140) + UDP ($200) + LT's/H-pipe ($1,400) + mufflers ($250) + cams ($1,400) + heads ($2,700) = 380ish rwHP = $6,690
......dam.....that's a lot of jack......let's see...same w/o cams and heads:
330ish rwhp for $2,590....that looks better. I'll live w/ that for a while.
4/26/07, 03:14 PM
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Yeah, it sucks that they cost that much, but if the plan is to stay N/A, that's the price to pay. It's the only way to get that 50+rwhp increase.
Here is my N/A plan: CAI/tuner ($600) + CMDP's ($140) + UDP ($200) + LT's/H-pipe ($1,400) + mufflers ($250) + cams ($1,400) + heads ($2,700) = 380ish rwHP = $6,690
......dam.....that's a lot of jack......let's see...same w/o cams and heads:
330ish rwhp for $2,590....that looks better. I'll live w/ that for a while.
Here is my N/A plan: CAI/tuner ($600) + CMDP's ($140) + UDP ($200) + LT's/H-pipe ($1,400) + mufflers ($250) + cams ($1,400) + heads ($2,700) = 380ish rwHP = $6,690
......dam.....that's a lot of jack......let's see...same w/o cams and heads:
330ish rwhp for $2,590....that looks better. I'll live w/ that for a while.
The old days of 300 LT's and 300 cams for mustangs are over. 
let me ask you this. For the almost 7k you spent, do you wish you would have got boost and running 450HP? I know each person likes diffrent things, just asking.
4/26/07, 03:30 PM
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Whoa...that was the PLAN. I haven't fully executed yet. So far I'm here:
CAI/tuner ($600) + CMDP's ($140) + UDP ($200) + LT's/H-pipe (just ordered) ($1,400) + mufflers ($250) = $2590 and 330rwhp.
Another part of the plan is nitrous, so for another $500 or so, I'll be REAL close to 425 hp, i.e. boost territory and for a little over $3,000. And with that the power is only when needed. Engine isn't under constant boost pressures.
CAI/tuner ($600) + CMDP's ($140) + UDP ($200) + LT's/H-pipe (just ordered) ($1,400) + mufflers ($250) = $2590 and 330rwhp.
Another part of the plan is nitrous, so for another $500 or so, I'll be REAL close to 425 hp, i.e. boost territory and for a little over $3,000. And with that the power is only when needed. Engine isn't under constant boost pressures.
4/26/07, 03:47 PM
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I think a while back I heard a rumor about the cast delete plates being to small to fit ported cylinder heads and only the $300 Billet ones will. Does anyone know if this is true?
4/26/07, 04:12 PM
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CAI+tuner cost me $450
I bought the mac CAI for $150, and a predator tuner for $300.00 you dont have to go with the big package deals. charge motion delete plates can be done at the house by removing the butterflies from the current ones for free!
A set of 410 gears will wake her up a whole lot, especially with a tuner to rid you of the throttle lag.
I am thinking of going with a cam and long tubes now not only for the added power but for the huge smile that will be planted on my mug from the thumping idle of the beast at stoplights!
I bought the mac CAI for $150, and a predator tuner for $300.00 you dont have to go with the big package deals. charge motion delete plates can be done at the house by removing the butterflies from the current ones for free!
A set of 410 gears will wake her up a whole lot, especially with a tuner to rid you of the throttle lag.
I am thinking of going with a cam and long tubes now not only for the added power but for the huge smile that will be planted on my mug from the thumping idle of the beast at stoplights!
4/30/07, 10:35 PM
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Whoa...that was the PLAN. I haven't fully executed yet. So far I'm here:
CAI/tuner ($600) + CMDP's ($140) + UDP ($200) + LT's/H-pipe (just ordered) ($1,400) + mufflers ($250) = $2590 and 330rwhp.
Another part of the plan is nitrous, so for another $500 or so, I'll be REAL close to 425 hp, i.e. boost territory and for a little over $3,000. And with that the power is only when needed. Engine isn't under constant boost pressures.
CAI/tuner ($600) + CMDP's ($140) + UDP ($200) + LT's/H-pipe (just ordered) ($1,400) + mufflers ($250) = $2590 and 330rwhp.
Another part of the plan is nitrous, so for another $500 or so, I'll be REAL close to 425 hp, i.e. boost territory and for a little over $3,000. And with that the power is only when needed. Engine isn't under constant boost pressures.
5/1/07, 06:34 AM
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Matt, when I get them installed, I'll be sure to stop in front of your house and rev it up a few times. Although you may be able to hear them across the neighborhood, if your outside.
5/1/07, 09:40 PM
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I still wish you'd go with a set of Stingers, Bassani Race or possibly even the new pypes system instead of the typical boring flows, because I think that would completely set the system apart from everything! But hey money doesn't grow on trees right!
5/19/07, 03:57 PM
#18
Team Mustang Source
After lots of discussion about shorty headers I come to the conclusion that they are a cosmetic mod!
My friend has American Racing long tubes and they are awesome!
My friend has American Racing long tubes and they are awesome!
5/19/07, 04:06 PM
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Not many people have flows with headers, so Lowe posting sound clips of headers,h-pipe and flows would be very interesting so people could see if flows do sound good with headers or not.
5/19/07, 04:07 PM
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I have shorties but if I could go back in time i would go with longtubes. I got shorties right before I installed the rest of my exhaust, which was setup for either stock manifolds or shorties. I was going to put everything on in one shot and figured I might as well swap out my stock manifolds while Im at it.