Help with installing Short Tubes

[ROBSGT]

Hey guys I'm ready to put short tubes on my 98 but first does anyone have any experience on installing them and how hard is it to do with the engine in the car? any pic and ideas or suggestions?

 

[rz5.0]

Shorties should not be that hard...

 

[ROBSGT]

Thats what i figured but I'm so use to working on custom hotrods and moving into the engine bay of my stang i had trouble trying to reach the bolts on my valve covers i feel like a newb once i got under the hood of it.

 

[SN95_302]

I did equal length shorties on my 95 and had to undo the motor mounts and jack the engine up a bit, then unbolted the steering wheel shaft thing on the drivers side in order to get that header in. in any case though, use self locking bolts, otherwise youll be tightning your bolts just about every week. took me about 4-5 hours in my garage...

 

[ROBSGT]

Thanks for the info, how much of a difference did you notice in power and sound, hopefully i won't have to unbolt the motor any considering the 95 gt had larger heads i believe,

 

[rz5.0]

Equal lenght shorties are a lil harder than unequal...

 

[vermilion]

ok, ive done long tubes and shorties. the best way is to still drop the k-member. hands down. if you use any style shorty header they have wide arrayed tubing which makes wrenching almost impossible unless you have baby hands.

*put ride on jackstands.
*loosen motor mounts
*carefully jack engine
*support engine with a fender bridge, 4x4 under crank pulley or hoist. just enough to remove front suspension and exhaust.
* remove front suspension. leave struts on their respected camber plates. dont forget about ABS sensors!

once everything is clear you should have clearance of all the bolts and even the starter bolts. its tedious. if you have access to a lift its much easier.

when you're done put everything back the way you got it. if you need take pictures for reference.

 

[rz5.0]

Fuck that.. On my 5.0 I just removed starter and jacked the engine up. The first time, second time in with engine. I know 4.6 is diffrent so im not saying your way is not ezr...

 

[Musturd]

Easiest way is to drop k member .. So put it on 4 jack stands as high as they go ... In hook calipers from brackets and shocks from sprinkles ... Hand calipers out of the way this way you don't have to Bleed the brakes later dissconnect fuel injection and all that crap heater hoses fuel lines etc rad hoses all that junk and unbolt the k member I lowered it with a engine hoist like when you drop a motor in... That's how I used to do it as a kid when I didn't have my own shop ... Once ur good at it , it doesn't take to long .. Expect to be there all day if your a first timer ... It's physically impossible to do in the engine bay .. You'd have to lift the motor 85% of the way out to try and do it in the bay... 5.0 cars are a cake walk compared to a 4.6 and to tell you the truth shorty headers don't really do anything on 4.6 cars ..

 

[Musturd]

Power wise

 

[vermilion]

Exactly as i said. I just said it shorter. Lol

 

[vermilion]

On a lift i can drop the kmember in 45 minutes. Its the bolts from there. With tubed kmember longtubes are easiest. I just take the wheels off.

 

[rz5.0]

Glad I dont have a 4.6 or that b#@&$ still would be rocking stock manifolds.... Hate droping k member... I dont have a lift..

 

[ROBSGT]

Well I'm seeing the point is to drop the k if i ever get a newer model stang i hope they change up the layout in the engine bay for better access to main components us guys change but thanks guys i appreciate it

 

[Musturd]

2005 up are still a pain in the ass as well I do header installs on them all the time .even long tubes on 5.0's is a cake walk