I'm thinking about putting headers on for my next mod I already have xpipe and flowmasters on. And I'm not going to do s/c want to stay n/a. I would like more mid to high end. power would shortie headers do or should i do long tube and change out my xpipe. and what kind of power gains should I get. or should I dou plenium and throttle body.

 

well most people will say go with LT's and really I should have done that, although they are a pain to install. And with shorty headers you may get like 10-13 rwhp, with LT's you will get like 20-30 rwhp closer to 20 though. the t/b and plenum won't gain much power though just a few.

 

more than anything you need to with what you can afford.....long tubes are all around better but cost more,install prices are normalymoreand you will have to buy a x or h pipe for the l/t's. shorty's are cheaper and you can use the stock h pipe, install is a little cheaper.

 

You already have an x-pipe and the horsepower estimates mentioned are somewhat high. Naturally aspirated gains are normally 8-20 rwhpwith LTs, mid-pipe and tune. You already have the mid-pipe. My guess is that you will get maybe 4-5 rwhp with LTs over your current set up and you will have to buy both the LTs and the mid-pipe.

 

going from your manifolds to longtubes will get you more power than eagle200gt says. There is so much down talk on bolt ons and how they do not add real power to these 4.6's and I remember a previous thread where someone posted a link from 5.0magazine where they dyno tested the parts they did. Granted they didn't do LT's but look and see the numbers:
http://www.mustang50magazine.com/fea...t_results.html

 

So how much of a pain in the **** are the long tube header install? Can it be done in the garage with jackstands, or is it a speed-shop install for sure? Just for near future reference.

 

You can do it yourself if you have all of the tools. It will be an all day job though. It will also require shimming the motor mounts from what I have heard to keep the steering shaft from rubbing the left side. You will also have to lengthen your o2 sensor wires. You can look at this for detailed install info:
http://www.mustanghowto.com/exhaust/PSLT/PSLT.htm

 

Uggh... I can feel the broken, bloody, greasy knuckles already. They didn't even mention disconnecting the steering shaft that will run through the header. And you know you're in trouble when they say "Patience, needle nose pliers and flexible fingers are inevitably going to come in handy on the lower flange bolt near the firewall. The way the last tube comes down makes this bolt particularly difficult to work with."

That might be a shop item, Mechanics need work too. Nice writeup though.

 

Having just completed my header install myself I do have this to offer you.
If you decide to go with LT's do yourself a favor and get ceramic coated headers. Also something to consider if you decide to purchase MAC Lt's...,
Mac designed their headers in such a way that you haveto run the steering shaft through the headers. What they don't want you to know is the ragjointon the shaftrubs againstone of the header tubes. You will either have to buy an aftermarket steering shaft such as MM, or Flaming River to clear that tube OR you will have to hammer a dent into the tube in order for the shaft to clear it.

I had to heat the pipe with MAAP gas and hammer a dent in one of the tubes. Because of clearance issues from the other tubes being in the way, I had to use a long ratchet extension and hammer to pound a dent in it.

Other than that, installing headers is really no big deal. It's pretty simple and straight forward once you get into it. Alot of people make it sound harder than it is.

Good luck!