Busted a couple exhaust studs trying to get the stock mid pipe off in an attempt to get the new H pipe on. Figured, heck with it and trying to get the bolts out now....I'll just get new shorties. Just ticks me off cuz I wanted them.....just hadn't planned on it right now, so......I need some advice on which to get please.

So far I'm leaning towards the BBK tuned length ceramic shorties.

 

Unless you plan on upgrading to LT headers? All shorty headers are good for on a stock 4.6 3v is sound. The stock manifolds are far less restrictive and flow very well when compared to the older 4.6 2v motors on the 96-04 SN-95 cars.

Perhaps an equal length shorty may get up to maybe 5-10 additional HP/Torque, but I wouldn't count on it. Anyhow, just my honest opinion

 

Well I had initially planned on long tubes but I don't have the budget for them right now and I've read a few install threads where dudes said they had to mash up the tubes to get enough clearance for the steering shaft amongst other things. Not to mention I would then need a tuner as well. I snapped off the one bolt on the passenger side, so that side is gonna need drilled and tapped and the driver's side is proving even more resilient to moving so they'll probably snap too. I know it would be cheaper to drill and tap the stockers but I dunno what to do honestly.

 

I run the stock manifolds with a Saleen VI blower, off-road pro chamber, and Borla S-type mufflers and really don't feel the need to upgrade to LT headers, as I have plenty of airflow from the stockers. Plus I also read the horror stories concerning the fitment issues with long tubes as well.

For your particular application, if it's cheaper to drill and tap out the stockers? That's exactly what I would do, but if your preference is going the shorty header route, I'd make certain not to get anything other than equal length tuned shorties and I would also look into getting CMCV delete plates as well. Just keep in mind that once you upgrade to delete plates, you'll also be required to have your car re-tuned in order to run them and you may also lose some low-end torque in the process

 

I've only found bbk to have tuned length shorties, and I'm shy about them now after further reading. Bad reports of the coating getting dull and rust bleeding through.

 

Consider JBA equal length shorty headers as a possible alternative instead. The link is included below.

https://www.cjponyparts.com/jba-shor...2010/p/HDJ1-V/

 

Those were the others I was looking at but found it odd that they didn't weld the exterior seams of tubes/flange

 

You can always contact their customer support dept by phone with any questions/concerns that you may have regarding the exterior welds/seams

 

Autoanything had the cheapest price on the JBA's, Summit beat em by a dollar so I ordered em from Summit. Got the silver ceramic.

 

Glad to know you found the right shorty headers that you were searching for