I own a 93 F-150 4x4 with a 5.8L 351W. I was wondering if a set of shorty headers with ceramic coating would increase performance in any way. I use my truck mostly for driving to and from school. The thing is I go mudding to and from school. So about everyday. Any info would be appreciated.
-Jason-

 

My opinion is that unless you go with full length header's there not worth it. Unless you the factory manifolds are crack, in which case aftermarket shorty's are cheaper than factory manifolds.

Do you have an cat-back exhuast allready? If you do, you might like a aftermarket ignition better.

 

Hi all, I have been thinking the same.... Are the shorty headres worth the $$$$ ? I have a 1990 4x4 E4OD 351 3:55 and was thinking about the headers upgrade too, but my truck has air tubes plumbed to the manifolds. So I guess I would need the headers plumbed also??? This sounds like a bigger task than it is worth, for the gain!?
Thanks for any input on this!

Larry

 

I puirchased a set of the Shorty headers that summit racing has. And except for the gaskets cooking, to a rock hard consistency, and a few leaks I've had no problems. Now I have noticed an increase in performance, but that was primarily because I rebuilt the entire exhaust system. When I say rebuilt, this is what it entails: Shorty headers, flowmaster y-collector in place of the front cat, high flow catalytic convertor in factory location, flowmaster 2 chamber single inlet/dual outlet muffler w/ dual 3.5" diamter 24" long exhaust tips.

That's why mine has a better performance feel to it. THe exhaust is entirely free flowing, with no restrictions.

It would have been fine with the factory manifolds, but one of them cracked, and one of the mounting ears broke off. And a local wrecking yard wanted close to $100 for one manifold! Plus I would have had to drive for close to 45 miutes to get there, and when you consider the cost of gas? (note: this was all last year) I figured it would be just as easy and cheaper to buy a set of headers!

It all boils down to personal preference on things like this.


1988 F-150, SWB, 5.0 EFI (formerly 4.9 EFI), M5OD 5 speed, 3.08 gears, Summit shorty truck headers, Custom built Flowmaster exhaust system. Force 4 LP6000 lightbar, Federal signal PA-300 100 watt siren, Icom IC-V100 50 watt mobile radio.
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1965 F-100 (just purchased 1/18/01), SWB, 390, C-6 auto. Dual exhaust, Not much else to do to it.

Can see both below.

[link:www.geocities.com/hotrodford_88/|Hotrodford_88's Webpage]

 

Do the headers I have an 88 f150 302 stick did the headers JBA and 3" flowmaster out the back HUGE improvement for the money I pull my jet sled over the mountains evey weekend and that was the best thing I have ever done.

Kind of spendy but best thing I ever did for the truck

Paul

 

Well i did similar to a 460, I put the Doug Thorley Tri Y's on huge difference but the are long headers, supposedly the give you more low end. the difference was huge over factory. but you also need to do the rest of the add ons with it. Muffler/s pipes and cat otherwise you may not get all the power that the system is capible of. Spend the money but consider Long headers in your decision, the shorty's from what i understand are a higher end performance thing, the longer headers have a broader power spectrum..... Now anybody who disagrees correct me because i may be mis-informed and i would hate to mis-lead him down the wrong path.

Dusty

 

Technically you see shorty headers on more street vehicles.

Long tube headers you see more on race cars. From what I was told last week, the shorties give you the low end, and the long tubes give you the high end.

So I don't know which one is right. I do know that when I put on the shorties, and after I did the rest of my exhaust I did notice a difference over the stock exhaust system.

1988 F-150, SWB, 5.0 EFI (formerly 4.9 EFI), M5OD 5 speed, 3.08 gears, Summit shorty truck headers, Custom built Flowmaster exhaust system. Force 4 LP6000 lightbar, Federal signal PA-300 100 watt siren, Icom IC-V100 50 watt mobile radio.
=======================================
1965 F-100 (just purchased 1/18/01), SWB, 390, C-6 auto. Dual exhaust, Not much else to do to it.

Can see both below.

[link:www.geocities.com/hotrodford_88/|Hotrodford_88's Webpage]

 

no, dusty was right, the long tube headers supposedly help low end better than shorties (ive never tested it but thats what ive read in many magazines). also though, dont forget that header tubing size has a lot to do with high\low end power. at lower rpm's, the narrower tubes scavenge better and have more throttle response because of the higher velocity air flow. on the other hand, larger free flowing pipes will really open things up at the top end but in most cases it will actually take away from low end power. either way, it's always a good idea do use some sort of a crossover between the two pipes to aid in scavenging. ive heard of up to 30 more hp just off adding a quality x-pipe. hey though, if its something other than stock, its pretty hard to go wrong

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 08-May-01 AT 01:25 PM (EST)[/font][p]You should be okay with a cat back and headers. Ford uses the honeycomb style of cat which is a lot more freeflowing then any thing chevy or dodge uses. It jams up a little at entrance and exit but other than that the stock cat won't kill you. However, an aftermarket cat will do still better and no cat at all will do best.

Daywalker
92' F-250HD 351 4x4 xlt 4.10 ZF 5speed supercab longbed

 

I don't know, but the Ford cat is really restrictive. Ever heard any Ford motor from our era with straight pipes behind the convertor? Really quiet.

 

Thanks all for your input! I am getting a set this weekend too put on! I am going true duals with free flow cats! That's all! IT should be loud as crap! hehe
-Jason-

 

FYI,

I attempted to put on full length hedders on my rig but was unable to find a set that would fit right. Either they were too close to the starter, fuel pump, or transfer case. Therefore I decided to stick with the shorty hedders. Like the above poster said Summit makes some that are a swap out!.

1988 Ford F250 4x4, 5.0 liter (soon to be Roller 5.0), Mass Air Conversion, Rebuilt AOD tranny, 2.5 Dual exhaust, Headman Shortyheaders, 33" BFG's Mud Terrain, 4.11 gears.

1980 Ford F100, with 1988 5.0L Roller (carburated), T-5 five speed Borg Warner World Class Transmission, 31 spline 9" 3.73 posi , and a bunch more!! 13.78 quarter mile.