Short tube headers worth any power on stock 302?

RossA81 · Dec 18, 2024

I have a bone stock 95 GT Automatic I picked up to work on over the winter and take on HRPT next year. I was fumbling around under the hood doing some cleaning and I realized I have a header gasket leak on the passenger side(Of course its the side with all the crap in the way) Anyway I hate to do all the work just to put the stock headers back on. Are shorties worth any power? Last time I put a set on one of these in the late 00's they were only $199... now they are $350-400 which seems absurd. I do have an x-pipe ready to go on(no cats) and I will put a 2.5 cat back of sorts on the car. If the shorties are worth 10hp I will probably do it but if the difference is negligible I will leave the stock junk.

Thanks!
Ross

Mustang5L5 · Dec 18, 2024

It's one of those things where if the car was stock, and that was the only mod you were doing, i'd say save your $$$

But combined with a full exhaust, it will cumulatively add power, plus be more beneficial if you start doing things like Aluminum heads and higher flowing intake and performance cams. If you don't have plans for that in the future, i would probably reconsider the headers.

In your case. Stock automatic GT, i wouldn't bother. Toss the X-pipe and cat-back on and enjoy.

ttocs · Dec 18, 2024

you will hear a difference and that will convince you it is faster.

duh09 · Dec 18, 2024

Have fun on the HRPT, we've long hauled the last few years and unless someone radically changes my mind, I don't think I'll be hitting it up again. It is an experience I'm glad I partook in but man they're getting pricey to be getting worse.

Anyways, full exhaust is probably good for a few ponies, but cost to benefit ratio is out there a bit with the price of things now-a-days. I liked the factory headers for ease of maintenance. Just depends on your goals. If you're not going to do any other more serious mods, the stock headers are fine.

RAU03MACH · Dec 18, 2024

Had both could not tell a difference
But long tube is a pain in the ass to work with

ttocs · Dec 18, 2024

that is my thought. They do not add a huge amount of power but they can still be easily slid in/out when you need to remove them.

RossA81 · Dec 19, 2024

Thanks for the replies. I am actively looking for a set of used short tube headers. If I am in there doing the work I just hate to put the stockers back on. If I cant find a set for $100-150 then stockers it is. This car doesn't need to be fast I have the Cobra for that.

Ross