I think the JBA results are a bit exaggerated, no way shorties give you those kinds of gains! Here is a magazine test of the BBK.

http://www.mustangmonthly.com/techar...ers/index.html

Here's a dyno from Andersen Ford Motorsports for the JBA's.

http://www.andersonfordmotorsport.co...ck-headers.jpg

 

the bbk's aren't designed nearly as well as the jbas and therefore the jbas should flow much better up top where the bbks seem to fall short. the jba post you showed looks like its just the jba catback since it says "jba stock headers." if it really only gained 1-2 hp across the board, people wouldnt get better drag times or feel it sotp.

 

So can anyone fill me on on the difference between these
http://www.americanmuscle.com/jba-sh...rs-0509gt.html

and these
http://www.steeda.com/products/jba_shorty_headers.php

besides the obvious price...

 

Nothing. The JBA's are made from either in 409 stainless steel, ceramic coated, or titanium coated. I generally like Steeda's products, but sometimes they have a heavy mark up on parts from other vendors.

 

They get better drag times because of increased low and mid-range torque. The horsepower gains are insignificant at peak, maybe 5 hp, that's why some say they aren't worth the cost and to purchase long tubes instead.

The JBAs are theoretically better, but from the dyno results I've seen on this board and others, the real world difference between them and the BBK headers seem minute. There is a real difference in materials 409 steel vs. mild steel.

What we can all agree on is that equal length (JBA and BBK) > unequal length (Ford Racing, Steeda, etc.).

Still, even the Ford Racing headers pick up something...

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/tec...t_results.html

Finally, here's a confusing dyo result, note that they are testing the shorty headers with a Bassani x-pipe. Seems like that combo looses some low end torque to me...

http://www.andersonfordmotorsport.co.../exhshoot3.htm

 

I always thought that shorties gave a little more power than a few measly hp from what these charts show. Heck I was going to get shorties but I think im going to spend my money somewhere else.

 

You've got a valid point and I won't disagree. Exhaust seems like one of the last things to do. I'm going with shorties as my final power mod because:

- Decent low to mid torque gains. (Not sure if I'll feel it much, we'll see. Maybe some extra gains when I'm spraying?)
- H-pipe sounds better to me than an x-pipe, some claim to loose low end torque with an X, so I won't be changing that.
- Long tubes are too expensive (in my opinion) and are loud enough to be annoying (to me...had them before on another car).
- I've already done the basic mods (intake, tune, gears, some suspension) as well as a power adder (nitrous). I'm starting to run low on effective power mods.

I just ordered equal length shorties for $270 + shipping. I'll be getting some Stage 8 bolts soon, as well.