Whos headers?
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,540
Likes: 2,032
From: North Texas
Well you got three kinds:
Stock replacment (least power gains). Easiest to install. Usually have small primaries and stock 2" collectors. Better than new manifolds.
Mustang shorty (more power gains). Need a custom y-pipe to run. Mustang shorty headers are a dime/dozen around here. Bigger primary tubes than stock replacments. Bigger collectors around 2.5".
Long Tubes (largest gains). Needs custom y-pipe. A tad harder to install. Big collectors 2.5"-3". Bigger primary tubes than stock replacments too. Make considerably more low end grunt.
I started with just a Flowmaster. Then to high flow cat and Flowmaster. Then switched from stock maifolds with high flow cat and Flowmaster to Mustang shorty headers with high flow cat and Flowmaster. Then to Hooker Longtubes with high flow cat and Flowmaster. Then hacked the Flowmaster out for a Mangaflow. Each with increasing power.
How much are you looking to shell out?
Stock replacment (least power gains). Easiest to install. Usually have small primaries and stock 2" collectors. Better than new manifolds.
Mustang shorty (more power gains). Need a custom y-pipe to run. Mustang shorty headers are a dime/dozen around here. Bigger primary tubes than stock replacments. Bigger collectors around 2.5".
Long Tubes (largest gains). Needs custom y-pipe. A tad harder to install. Big collectors 2.5"-3". Bigger primary tubes than stock replacments too. Make considerably more low end grunt.
I started with just a Flowmaster. Then to high flow cat and Flowmaster. Then switched from stock maifolds with high flow cat and Flowmaster to Mustang shorty headers with high flow cat and Flowmaster. Then to Hooker Longtubes with high flow cat and Flowmaster. Then hacked the Flowmaster out for a Mangaflow. Each with increasing power.
How much are you looking to shell out?
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 47
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From: Lookin @ Posts
I've got a flowmaster Muff. Just lookin to get new headers. Tryin to figure whats gonna give me the gains for my buck.
Want to go with Shortys but which ones. Ceramic? Wrapped?
Which ones?
Want to go with Shortys but which ones. Ceramic? Wrapped?
Which ones?
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,540
Likes: 2,032
From: North Texas
fordtruckinsml...I gained a bit of power, along the 6-9rwhp area, but the sound gain was incredible! Was it worth the $40 for the cat and $20 to install...YES. Once you get a bigger cat you will want headers too. 
dkaska77...long tubes set me back $200 or $250, I can't (and don't care to) seem to remember the cost. They were worth it for sure. I spent ~$125 hooking up the LT's to the rest of the exhaust system I had.
Stock replacments aren't worth the money in my opinion. Close to $200 for 6-8rwhp sucks in the cost per hp area.
If you have to have shorty headers I'd get a set of unequal length Mustang shortys. They have 2.5" collectors (usually) and will make more power. You'd still need a custom exhaust made.
What do you have set aside to spend?
dkaska77...long tubes set me back $200 or $250, I can't (and don't care to) seem to remember the cost. They were worth it for sure. I spent ~$125 hooking up the LT's to the rest of the exhaust system I had.
Stock replacments aren't worth the money in my opinion. Close to $200 for 6-8rwhp sucks in the cost per hp area.
If you have to have shorty headers I'd get a set of unequal length Mustang shortys. They have 2.5" collectors (usually) and will make more power. You'd still need a custom exhaust made.
What do you have set aside to spend?
Elder User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 794
Likes: 0
From: American by birth, TEXAN
i was under the impression that you can get headers from lets say, bassani, that will bolt up to the original y pipe, and are equal length...thats one of the reasons i got the direct bolt in bassani y pipe and high flow cat
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,540
Likes: 2,032
From: North Texas
Originally posted by Vanhecht
i was under the impression that you can get headers from lets say, bassani, that will bolt up to the original y pipe, and are equal length...thats one of the reasons i got the direct bolt in bassani y pipe and high flow cat
i was under the impression that you can get headers from lets say, bassani, that will bolt up to the original y pipe, and are equal length...thats one of the reasons i got the direct bolt in bassani y pipe and high flow cat
Equals don't make too much more power than unequals either.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,540
Likes: 2,032
From: North Texas
Originally posted by 84-250
Hit Man X
how are the hooker longtubes holding up?
how far do the headers extend from the back of the engine, measure from the beginning of the trans to the end of the headers?
Hit Man X
how are the hooker longtubes holding up?
how far do the headers extend from the back of the engine, measure from the beginning of the trans to the end of the headers?
I'd say they come back 6-8" from the back of the motor to where the collectors end. I can't measure them today as I am not with the truck currently...
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,540
Likes: 2,032
From: North Texas
Originally posted by 84-250
how are the gaskets and bolts that come with the headers?
did you get the coated or the black painted ones?
how are the gaskets and bolts that come with the headers?
did you get the coated or the black painted ones?
Mine were black. I stripped them and painted them with VHT 1500*F paint. I forgot to let the vehicle idle for 20-30min to cure the headers so some of my paint is peeling off.
If you paint them...just install as normal and start the vehicle then allow it to idle for a while to cure the paint.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,540
Likes: 2,032
From: North Texas
Originally posted by 84-250
what about the o2 sensor, is there a bung or is yours a custom install
what about the o2 sensor, is there a bung or is yours a custom install
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=17949&width=0
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=17950&width=0
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=17939&width=0
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=17937&width=0