Are Headers Worth It?
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 30
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Are Headers Worth It?
I have a 96 F150 with a 302. The plan is to install Shorty Headers, New Y-Pipe, Lose the Cats (Yes there are two Cat direct from Ford) and a Cat Back Dual System (From the Y-Pipe). But the questin is are Headers worth the cost and bother. I have heard a lot of comments about leaking and worping. Has anyone had a good experience by adding Headers or removing the Cats for that matter?
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 12,281
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From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
I dont think removing the cats is an issue maybe i know there is something about the o2 sensor if you remove the cats so beware maybe ask the muffler shop or someone else wiil chime in headers not too sure i dont see why not
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 88
Likes: 2
From: St. Pete, Fl.
'89 F150 5.0 2 WD 5spd. I replaced my cracked stock units with headers from Summit. I bought their shorty-house brand headers. Noticeable change from off idle to 3,000. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Good Luck to you !!
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,555
Likes: 40
From: Concord, NC
Besides the fact that removing the cats is illegal (Federal law, applies everywhere), you'll set off the check engine light on that 96 without them. You can get an O2 sensor simulator if you are really dead-set on removing them that will tell the computer that the cats are still functioning correctly even though they are not there physically, so that the light stays off.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
I have seen substantial gains with headers on both of my trucks, a stock '89 302 and the 351 in my '90. If you are replacing the cats and Y pipe go with longtubes... expecially on a 302, it needs all the low rpm help it can get. Shorties will get you a midrange boost, but longtubes will outperform them at lower and upper rpm ranges. There's also no reason to not put an aftermarket cat in the exhaust system, they offer no flow restriction and do clean up the emissions.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: SE of Bennett Colorado
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
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From: Bend,OR
get some shorties and bassani Y pipe with hi flow cats and you wont have to worry about a thing and get great gains. 96 must have the cats in place, gotta love obd-II
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Joined: Jun 2006
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I'd go wth the Bassani Y pipe and magnaflow cat back setup.
We have promos running on Bassani right now with our on site "HDRIVE" promo
http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/exhausts-mufflers/10A50209.aspx?kc=MOTORH
We have promos running on Bassani right now with our on site "HDRIVE" promo
http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/exhausts-mufflers/10A50209.aspx?kc=MOTORH
New User
Joined: Sep 2006
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I guess everyone has different opinions. I woud say that unless you had headwork that headers are going to be more work than they are worth. I think a lot of people after spending all the time and money, maybe think they notice a difference when in fact there has been no change. I am self-employed, and build traditional hot rods for a living. I will run old-style GM Ram's Horn exhaust manifold whenever I can. I also make some bitchin' zoomies! Headers tend to leak, warp, blow gaskets and rot out. They are mass-produced and not all vehicles are exactly the same, so they will fight you during the install a lot of times. If you are going to get them, get a good quality set with ceramic coating.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,955
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From: Greater Austin, Texas
Long-tube headers are for high-end power, not low-end torque. Tri-Y is the best for torque but they do cost. Shorties are supposed to be a good compromise but I have not tried them myself.
I put long-tubes on my 302 and it would scream over 3000 but down low it couldn't get out of it's own way. I yanked them after about 20K miles and went back to manifolds. I had some shorties I bought to put on but never got around to it.
DRAC has a good point, the stock Ford heads are pretty restrictive and greatly reduce the gains you could get with headers. If you really want to get the most for your trouble, replace your stock heads with the GT40 heads from a late-model Explorer.
I put long-tubes on my 302 and it would scream over 3000 but down low it couldn't get out of it's own way. I yanked them after about 20K miles and went back to manifolds. I had some shorties I bought to put on but never got around to it.
DRAC has a good point, the stock Ford heads are pretty restrictive and greatly reduce the gains you could get with headers. If you really want to get the most for your trouble, replace your stock heads with the GT40 heads from a late-model Explorer.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Originally Posted by jas88
Long-tube headers are for high-end power, not low-end torque. Tri-Y is the best for torque but they do cost. Shorties are supposed to be a good compromise but I have not tried them myself.
http://www.mustang50magazine.com/techarticles/29618/
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,791
Likes: 99
From: Ashland City, TN
Both of my 302's have had lots of low end power.
Though my 95 is a little doggy compared to my 91 NITE.
Both do very nice burnouts if i want too. But its a stick, it's in the drivers hand.
Though, I will say 302's are pretty nice once you get the RPMs up.
Sometimes I wish for a 351, but my 302 does its job. Specially the one that was in my nite, which is now in somebodies bogger kicking ***.
I plan on headers, and I'm running a dual exhaust with a flow master knock off combo pipe. I got lots more power from a good flowing exhast, and a great sound.
Can't wait for headers.
Though my 95 is a little doggy compared to my 91 NITE.
Both do very nice burnouts if i want too. But its a stick, it's in the drivers hand.
Though, I will say 302's are pretty nice once you get the RPMs up.
Sometimes I wish for a 351, but my 302 does its job. Specially the one that was in my nite, which is now in somebodies bogger kicking ***.
I plan on headers, and I'm running a dual exhaust with a flow master knock off combo pipe. I got lots more power from a good flowing exhast, and a great sound.
Can't wait for headers.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 291
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Another thing to consider if you open your exhaust is you should do something to open your intake too.
My 302 works noticably better with the FlowTech shorties I installed to replaced the cracked cast manifolds. They did leak until I had the supplied gaskets replaced.
I'd always heard opening the exhaust too much on a stockish 302 will kill your low end and that you should try to keep some back pressure. For that reason I stayed with the stock Y-pipe single cat and a SpinTech muffler. Works good for my purposes and it's very quiet which is important to me.
I would say they were definately worth it.
My 302 works noticably better with the FlowTech shorties I installed to replaced the cracked cast manifolds. They did leak until I had the supplied gaskets replaced.
I'd always heard opening the exhaust too much on a stockish 302 will kill your low end and that you should try to keep some back pressure. For that reason I stayed with the stock Y-pipe single cat and a SpinTech muffler. Works good for my purposes and it's very quiet which is important to me.
I would say they were definately worth it.
Last edited by Lumpy87; Dec 1, 2006 at 04:51 PM.