Shorty Headers
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 2
From: Cottage Grove, WI
Yes and no. Yes, 302 shorties are 302 shorties, and headers are always good. BUT on these pickups the Y pipe is extremely restrictive, and will negate anything good that comes from the aftermarket headers. You will need to get a new y pipe to really see any decient improvements
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,789
Likes: 1,753
From: Kentucky
Mustang headers have a slightly different angle on the collector. You will most likely need to have a custom y-pipe made. It would be cheaper in the long run to use headers designed for the F-series/Bronco then use an off the shelf performance y-pipe such as Bassani. The factory y-pipe is very restrictive.
Several members have used long tube headers on their trucks with good results. If you have a 4x4 they may not work as well due to the extra bends to snake around the transfer case. I recently replaced the entire exhaust on my '92 4x4 F350 w/5.8L. I stuck with factory manifolds due to the extra cash$$ for good quality stainless steel headers. My motor is bone stock. If I ever add better heads or intake I will swap in shorties. I used a Bassani SS y-pipe designed for a Bronco. Very nice piece. From there I used a single 3" converter, muffler and tailpipe. All the pipes are mandrel bent. It flows very well, the sound is a nice rumble at idle, no in-cab drone and a nice deep tone at WOT. Much quieter than the full Magnaflow exhaust on our '97 Mustang GT, but it still does turns a few heads when I fire it up. As I have stated before get a good quality 3" exhaust, control the sound level/tone with your muffler of choice.
Several members have used long tube headers on their trucks with good results. If you have a 4x4 they may not work as well due to the extra bends to snake around the transfer case. I recently replaced the entire exhaust on my '92 4x4 F350 w/5.8L. I stuck with factory manifolds due to the extra cash$$ for good quality stainless steel headers. My motor is bone stock. If I ever add better heads or intake I will swap in shorties. I used a Bassani SS y-pipe designed for a Bronco. Very nice piece. From there I used a single 3" converter, muffler and tailpipe. All the pipes are mandrel bent. It flows very well, the sound is a nice rumble at idle, no in-cab drone and a nice deep tone at WOT. Much quieter than the full Magnaflow exhaust on our '97 Mustang GT, but it still does turns a few heads when I fire it up. As I have stated before get a good quality 3" exhaust, control the sound level/tone with your muffler of choice.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis
ty for all the info, reason im askin is Im gettin a set of shorty's and an E7 lower intake for 10 bucks.... figured the price is right. Is the E7 the H.O. intake? would i benefit from it? or maybe just the injectors?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,789
Likes: 1,753
From: Kentucky
Not sure about your intake being an HO version. My Mustang is a mod motor. My old Lightnings already had GT40 pieces. There is not going to much if any difference in the injectors from the Mustang to your truck. Both are 19 lbs. injectors, they flow the same. If your injectors need replacing then it might be worth a swap, otherwise no big gain.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis
Cool, thanks alot.... might be useful to media blast it and paint it then just swap it out with an unpainted one 
Trending Topics
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
You can't bolt a truck upper on a HO lower, the port shape and size and bolt locations are totally different. That's the HO lower on the left and the 5.0 truck in the middle. The one on the right is the 5.8 truck.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Bolting a 5.8 truck upper on a 5.0 truck lower can be done but there's no point, it creates a bad port mismatch that hurts airflow more than it helps. The 5.0 truck intake is really too big for the motor, if you want a TQ boost swap on a complete 5.0HO intake(upper and lower), the TB and EGR electrical connections will have to be moved and the intake tubing changed to a single tube setup, but that's not a hugh deal.
