Exhaust Qustion

[Nailbender]

Saved all winter. Going to get a new exhaust for my 95gt 5.0. BBK shortie equal lenght headers, h pipe with high flow cats and flowmaster 40's S.S system. a couple of qustions.
1. My car olny has 40,000 miles keep in garage. Are the headers easy to do? Do i need to remove alot to get to them?
2. How much time should i allow to do this system on my friends lift. He is a mech?
3. Where do you guys get the best deal on these parts?

THanks for any help you guys give me.
Nailbender

 

[SoddyRebel]

me and a friend installed Mac equal lengths, its not easy, we had to jack up the passenger side of the engine to get the passenger side header in, disconnect the steering shaft on the drivers side also. Id give yourself a good full day to do it and take your time. Be sure to take all ur spark plugs out b/c they will get in the way and might as well put a new set in.

 

[95cvgt]

if i were you, i would save myself the hassle and just get the unequal. thankfully thats what i did. ive just heard horror stories about installing the equal lengths. mine just fit right in after removing the old headers. and i didnt have to remove anything else. took about 2 hours for complete instal, mainly cuz some of the header bolts can be a PITA to get too. plus the HP difference between the two are MINIMAL. only on or two HP. good luck

 

[MustangChris]

it took us days to do shorty headers on a 94 5.0. we were all greenies, mind you, but we had to take off some of the brake lines... thats about all i remember.

if your friend is a mechanic with a lift... i see it taking 1 day.

americanmuscle.com has some awesome prices on exhaust.

 

[Nailbender]

Newb here. What does un equal mean

 

[MustangChris]

Newb here. What does un equal mean

equal length means that each "pipe" on the header unit is the same length of tubing. The theory behind this is that the exhaust gases wont all hit the collector (the "exit hole" of the headers) at the same time, thus increasing flow, velocity, and "scavaging" (scavaging meaning that the forces basically "suck" the exhaust through the pipe, and not just rely on the engine to "push" them out. less stress on the engine means more freed power.)

there is lots of technical data out there on headers and exhausts... for the most part, it comes down to personal preferance, because some of the claims are simply "theories" that work out in a text book, but are difficult to test in real world applications.

a prime example is shorty headers vs. OEM exhaust manifolds... companies will show you dyno sheets with crazy horsepower bumps, while real-world tests show little to no gain at all.

 

[Nailbender]

I am looking for the sound. If the unequal are easier than thats what i am going with. Did you do BBK?

 

[MustangChris]

I am looking for the sound. If the unequal are easier than thats what i am going with. Did you do BBK?

Im not a 5.0 expert by any means, as my experience with them consists of an upper manifold swap, headers swap, and an oil sending unit for a gauge...

Both equal length and "un-equal" length will work fine. I suggest going with whatevers cheapest. if you have any questions, simply call the dealer "will these headers work with an OEM H-pipe? are they 50 state legal?"

equal length and un-qual length should have the same "dimensions" and when i say that, i mean they should bolt up to the same x-pipe fine, as it is the plumbing that is a different length, not the final dimension... if that makes sence...

basically, they will route the plumbing in a different way to obtain the "equal length" while maintaining the same "final dimension" to ensure it fits properly.


does tha makes sence?

 

[Nailbender]

Makes sence. But if the same size then why does one fit better than the other?

 

[MustangChris]

because to obtain "equal length" they require using longer peices of tubing. that tubing has to go somewhere, and its usually pushed "out" (horizontally) thus, making them wider.

THis may cause problems installing, and maybe even functuality.

drivers side: throttle cable, clutch cable, master cylinder, brake lines, valve cover, steering shaft.
passenger side: valve cover, intake plumbing, starter, upper intake.
generalized items: a/c, smog equipment, spark plug wires.

all these things *may* need to be removed to fit in "equal" length headers, as they are "bulkier" - they require more clearance to fit under the hood for proper install. as i said, i only *helped* with one set of headers on a sn95 5.0. they were un-equal, generic type headers. so i am no expert.

if you are a visual learner (like me) :

unequal length: see how "slim" they are... slide right in next to the motor.
<img src="http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/mustangtuning_2099_999110225">

equal length: see how "bulky" they are... they may require alot of effort to instal, for minimal horsepower gains.
<img src="http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/mustangtuning_2099_1312355568">

 

[MustangChris]

also, i suggest avoiding BBK headers. they weld their headers on the inside of the plumbing for cosmetic reasons. This restricts flow. if you like the price and are unconcerned about performance, only sound, than go for it. But if you are looking for every horsepower for your money, i suggest a different brand.

 

[sn95gtvert]

they fit, but its tight. i did the bbk equal lengths. start to finish just for headers it took about 14 hours. ( including breaks and what not) the drivers side goes in from under the car the passenger side will fit with the smog crap outa the way. and jacking up the motor is 100% needed.

 

[MustangChris]

they fit, but its tight. i did the bbk equal lengths. start to finish just for headers it took about 14 hours. ( including breaks and what not) the drivers side goes in from under the car the passenger side will fit with the smog crap outa the way. and jacking up the motor is 100% needed.

i had to jack my motor up and down as well.

 

[Nailbender]

We be going unequeal!!!!!!!!! I want easy. How long should i figure with these. 4 hours?

 

[sn95gtvert]

if you know what your doing then 4 hours should be plenty of time. support the hpipe before you disconnect it other wise your catback can get all missaligned

 

[MustangChris]

We be going unequeal!!!!!!!!! I want easy. How long should i figure with these. 4 hours?

id say 8 hours if its your first go at a set of headers.

thats good advice gtvert.

i also suggest un-bolting the motor mounts from the k-member to give you the ability to lift and lower the engine as needed.

 

[CC'S95GT]

when I installed my unequal bbk's I did not need to jack the motor. not saying you won't need to.
What mustangchris said is correct about the welds being on the inside. If you have time and a dremel or die grinder then you can grind some of the excess weld material out of the exhaust tubing..
If your a super noob at working on cars and using tools, I'd say the time would be closer to 10-12. just for the headers alone.