Hi all - my 96 f150 with a 302 4x4 has a cracked manifold so I'm thinking if I haQve to replace the manifolds I may as well put some headers in. I have done some reading, and research here and on other sites and still am not sure what to do. Living up here in Mass. I have to pass emissions and Mass is just as bad as California. My thoughts are to go with a set of shorty's either the Pace or the JBA's. Now what do I do with the y pipe, I understand that keeping the stock pipe is not a good choice but what are my options without replacing the complete exhaust system? My understanding is that if I replace the y pipe I will need to also replace the cats, that may be more money than I can afford at the moment. Is it worth it to go with a set of headers and keep the stock y pipe for now? Also are there other headers I should be looking at and if I was to keep the stock y pipe and cats will the Pace or the JBA's bolt right up without modification?

Thanks for reading and any help is greatly appreciated.

 

The stock cats are one of the big choke points in the exhaust so replacing manifolds with shorty headers won't produce much if any gains. Summit has several direct replacement Y pipes with cats that flow better and Bassini also has one, check it out to see if it's within budget.

 

Thanks Conanski - I see they have the Magnaflow looks pretty reasonable just under 300 for the pipe and cats. ow to choose the headers spend the big bucks on the JBA or go with the Pacesetters...

 

I have a 96 a well (302) i got the magnaflow cat kit, a few years ago, no problems, also using Hedman shortys !

 

Jason - Do your headers have the hookups for the Oxygen sensors and did they bolt right up to the Magnaflow?

Thanks!
-Dave

 

Whatever you get do not get BBK, they do not fit.

I was going use some Hedmans like his, but noticed a pinhole in one of the welds. I don't think they have provisions for O2s.

After my 2 failed attempts with headers, the F150 still has manifolds on it.

I have JBA on my Mustang and think they are great.

 

Thanks for the heads up - thinking of going with the JBA's.

 

My hedmans , didint have a o2 bung on the drivers side, i had to drill and wield a bung in, the JBA's might have bungs on both side, also the summit brand have bungs on them, however dont know the qualty of the summit brands. and yes i have a pin hole someware i can hear, and it was a strait bolt in, if it were me i would try the JBA's

 

Just ordered the JBA's and the Magnaflow y pipe
Now comes the fun!

Thanks again everyone!

 

Awesome, post pics when you get them also ware did you order the JBA's , incase i need to swap latter down the road.

 

Will do - I got them from autoanything.com I think 440 with free shipping and 50.00 coupon.

 

Yeah, post pics when you get the parts.

 

Will do I wont have the Magnaflow till the week of the 18th - just got a call that they are back ordered a week. Headers should be here next week though. Thinking I will chuck in new O2 sensors while I'm at don't want to go back and have to do it later. Have some other work to do to it while I wait for the parts so that should keep me plenty busy.

I will post that in another thread....