Question concerning headers...

lukerat

Founding Member
Oct 5, 2002
161
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columbus, oh
After much brooding over the question, i have decided that my next modification will be... (drumroll).... HEADERS! Before I ask let me give out some info on my plans for the stang's future. I plan on purchasing the 5.0 stroker kit (with balancing) from d.s.s. racing, along with a highly aggressive cam (still trying to determine the exact specs and maker, however will go with one that is good sc applications), and a kenne bell blower will be (for sure) the last thing to go on. Knowing this, here is my question. I am trying to decide A: exactly what type of header would best suit my plans? I have heard in the past that shorties are best for forced ind. applications, while LTs work best N/A. LT's would require a custom fab of my x pipe (which i love and do not plan on getting rid of, i want to keep what i have and not waste money on anything that wont help me) but it would be possible to do, and with the shorties or mid length i would really have the problem, i would be fine with a little smaller gains in that dept. B: What brand is reliable and makes good quality parts? I have been looking at hooker and heddman, I try and steer away from bbk (had bad experience) and dont know much about MAC, but i figured that hooker has been around long enough and many pros trust the quality. Thanks in advance for any opinions, and for any help anyone could give! :nice:
 
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lukerat said:
After much brooding over the question, i have decided that my next modification will be... (drumroll).... HEADERS! Before I ask let me give out some info on my plans for the stang's future. I plan on purchasing the 5.0 stroker kit (with balancing) from d.s.s. racing, along with a highly aggressive cam (still trying to determine the exact specs and maker, however will go with one that is good sc applications), and a kenne bell blower will be (for sure) the last thing to go on. Knowing this, here is my question. I am trying to decide A: exactly what type of header would best suit my plans? I have heard in the past that shorties are best for forced ind. applications, while LTs work best N/A. LT's would require a custom fab of my x pipe (which i love and do not plan on getting rid of, i want to keep what i have and not waste money on anything that wont help me) but it would be possible to do, and with the shorties or mid length i would really have the problem, i would be fine with a little smaller gains in that dept. B: What brand is reliable and makes good quality parts? I have been looking at hooker and heddman, I try and steer away from bbk (had bad experience) and dont know much about MAC, but i figured that hooker has been around long enough and many pros trust the quality. Thanks in advance for any opinions, and for any help anyone could give! :nice:
I have the new BBK Tuned length headers on mine, they are sweet, but were a pita to install (as with any header on a 4.6) but have heard awesome things about JBA's shorties. They are kind of the king of the road as far as shorties go. If you plan on going shorties, then BBK or JBA would be what i recommend. If you want long tubes though, hookers are awesome, macs are cheap, have heard good and bad about them, BBK's seem to be the middle child, good and cheap, but not as good as the hookers, IMO. I went with shorties for the ease of install (yah right) and the fact that i didn't want to cut my $340 X-pipe either. Either would be fine for a P/A, long tubes are better than shorties in the power department either way though. If you plan on installing these yourself, find someone who has done 4.6 headers before to help, or I hope you can get access to a lift. In the garage it took me about 10-12 hours with just 2 jack stands and a floor jack and a TON of tools. :bang: Good luck either way :flag:
 
Go with the LT's. I have a set of MAC LT's, they were recommended to me by a friend who has a supercharged '02 stang. The install is a PITA. Took about 9 hours with a lift, but still it was alot cheaper than spending $550-$650 for a shop to install. You will have to get O2 Sensor Extenders or make your own like I did because the bung on the collectors is further back on the car with LT's. I noticed an immediate gain in performance when I installed the headers.
 
first of all, buy longtubes, the install is a huge PITA either way, so you might as well get the better sound/preformance since you have to go through the headache either way...

and... howd you like me to save you money on the hooker longtubes...













































buy flowtech, they are way way cheaper, and the exact same as the hooker longtubes.. same company, same part number, same exact part.... just 1/2 the price :)
 
hey guys, thanks for the input! Hey green, thanks for the info man, im gonna be checking those flowtechs out. I really dont want to cut but i guess its just one of those things. Looks like its gonna be the lts! now i just have to buy em...any suggestions on cutting/ rewelding my x pipe for fit?
 
Green4.6GT said:
buy flowtech, they are way way cheaper, and the exact same as the hooker longtubes.. same company, same part number, same exact part.... just 1/2 the price :)
I've heard that this is not true at all.
Though Flowtech and Hooker are both owned by Holley, I'd never consider Hookers and Flowtech the same - they simply aren't.
If you really want the best LTs, look at Kooks.
http://www.kookscustomheaders.com/
 
too add to what i said before, i ordered a set of flowtech longtubes when i got the rest of my exaust, they ended up sending me them for a 4v, so i just sold them and didnt bother installing longtubes yet, however they are a REALLY nice peice, granted i didnt try and fit them on the car, but they looked damn near perfect, and i have no doubt they are the same piece as the hooker, they look exactly the same quality as my buddies hooker headers.