BBK shorty on 5.0 question.

frank336

New Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2023
Messages
30
Reaction score
21
Hey guys, i'm in the process of changing my exhaust on my 1995 gt ! Last weekend i removed everything from the header to the catback and re-install the headers. But today i was going to install the stock H pipe back when i saw that the back of the driver side header is touching the back of the engine where the transmission is bolted. See picture.

20231123_160931.jpg
I mean....there is enough meat on the engine to grind off a little, but am i the only one that had to do this? I know that bbk qc can be a little funky sometime. Just want to be sure.
 
OP
OP
F

frank336

New Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2023
Messages
30
Reaction score
21
Update.

I loosen the header bolt and manage to wedge a small wrench between the engine and header, i have like 1/4 inch of space and i was able to bolt the H-pipe, but still, the angle is a little off where the 2 pipes connect each other. I wrote about it to bbk, will see what they say about it.

What amazed me is that the 302 is out there since decades, and nothing has changed since like 30 years for the 302/T5 combo, why the heck are they still building some headers with that much measurment error?

20231123_173132.jpg
 

lwarrior1016

Mr. Secondary Timing Chain
Staff member
Staff
Joined
Sep 22, 2014
Messages
9,306
Reaction score
5,722
Location
South Mississippi
Update.

I loosen the header bolt and manage to wedge a small wrench between the engine and header, i have like 1/4 inch of space and i was able to bolt the H-pipe, but still, the angle is a little off where the 2 pipes connect each other. I wrote about it to bbk, will see what they say about it.

What amazed me is that the 302 is out there since decades, and nothing has changed since like 30 years for the 302/T5 combo, why the heck are they still building some headers with that much measurment error?

View attachment 30310
You think these are bad, try installing a set of pacesetter long tube headers around an automatic transmission in these cars. It's miserable.
 

Mustang5L5

Active Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2023
Messages
909
Reaction score
1,026
This is somewhere common with BBK headers. They had a QC slip-up somewhere and they were bent wrong. Apparently a batch of these were made sometime earlier this year. I saw a bunch of Fox guys complaining about the 1515 headers being bent incorrectly and having one too close to the head.

I had this SAME issue 20 YEARS AGO with BBK 1515 headers. One side was pointing into the engine.

Had to call BBK with pics and got a new set sent out to me. The guys who had issues recently did the same and got new headers. I think the excuse was the wrong bend program (351 maybe) was used on the 302 headers.
 
OP
OP
F

frank336

New Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2023
Messages
30
Reaction score
21
This is somewhere common with BBK headers. They had a QC slip-up somewhere and they were bent wrong. Apparently a batch of these were made sometime earlier this year. I saw a bunch of Fox guys complaining about the 1515 headers being bent incorrectly and having one too close to the head.

I had this SAME issue 20 YEARS AGO with BBK 1515 headers. One side was pointing into the engine.

Had to call BBK with pics and got a new set sent out to me. The guys who had issues recently did the same and got new headers. I think the excuse was the wrong bend program (351 maybe) was used on the 302 headers.
I have another set of headers coming next week! Can't wait to see if i'll have the same problem!
 

Tac1

New Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2024
Messages
73
Reaction score
92
Yikes, I'd either try adjusting them then tighten them down to see if it would get any better, if not I'd reach out to BBK and req a different set. Most likely those were not bent to spec.
 

LK5.0

New Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2025
Messages
4
Reaction score
12
Location
Lewes Delaware
Hey guys, i'm in the process of changing my exhaust on my 1995 gt ! Last weekend i removed everything from the header to the catback and re-install the headers. But today i was going to install the stock H pipe back when i saw that the back of the driver side header is touching the back of the engine where the transmission is bolted. See picture.

View attachment 30305
I mean....there is enough meat on the engine to grind off a little, but am i the only one that had to do this? I know that bbk qc can be a little funky sometime. Just want to be sure.
Oooooh nooooo. I’m about to install mine. 95 cobra/gt.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2902.jpeg
    IMG_2902.jpeg
    141.1 KB · Views: 5
  • IMG_2889.jpeg
    IMG_2889.jpeg
    167.5 KB · Views: 5

RossA81

Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2008
Messages
154
Reaction score
146
Location
Monkton, MD
I recently installed a new set off BBK Shorties on my 94GT and the flange was touching the block on the driver side. Couple minutes with the grinder and problem solved. Nowadays I assume that nothing is going to fit and I assume every part will take a little fiddling/cussing!

Ross
 

RAU03MACH

Legend
Joined
Apr 23, 2019
Messages
9,246
Reaction score
9,693
Location
NEW MEXICO
everything needs to be modified or fitted in some way
the specs are not perfect like back in the old days
all this new garbage is made in other countries
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
78,527
Messages
1,535,649
Members
16,185
Latest member
dmen76

Members online

No members online now.
Top