I'm thinking after some engine work later this year I could get a slight boost in performance with new exhaust headers. I've currently got stock ones on there, and last year I had 2 1/2" full dual exhaust with an H pipe installed. I really don't want to have to modify that exhaust setup if I don't have to, so are there better exhaust headers available that will essentially replace the current ones and hook right up to the current exhaust which is setup for the stock headers? I'm not certain if this is what shorty headers are specifically for, which is why I figured I could get a good set of answers here. It's a 302, with a 4 barrel carb, edel. single plane intake and some mystery aftermarket cam (it was great uncle who installed these back when my mom had the car, and we're not sure of the cam) if those matter.

Who recommends what?

 

well idk if any headers are a bolt in for the stock hpipe? honestly id go with long tubes if i was gonna go through the trouble to swap them., a good shop will make quick work of hooking the old h pipe to your new headers


whatever you decide make sure to buy some alum header gaskets and some type of locking bolt setup, header leaks will drive you nutz :P

 

On my first Mustang (66 fastback GT), I made this swap and then drove the car basically with open headers to the local Midas and they reconnected the pipes in about 30 minutes. Of course I passed several LEOs on my way going into coast mode as I passed them (man did it sound good). I measured where the long tubes would end and cut the exhaust about 3" behind that point with a hack saw (today I recommend a sawzall). This way Midas connected my 2 1/2" system back up without any restrictive bends (they don't have a mandral bender).

 

Whatever you decide to go with, don't cheese out on the headers. Crappy headers are a bigger pain in butt than they're worth.