Short Vs long??,,not a Viagra question.

[Dave B.]

Ok, so I have a whole lot of bolt ons as well as a Magnaflow cat back and X-pipe, but no headers,

I must be able to keep the cat back and X-pipe, but I want some type of headers, I guess a direct replacment short set,

But what kind??
will it be worth it?
what kind of gains?

anyone been down this road before ?? can you give me lift?

[Travis]

you dont really need headers. the stock ones are just fine and it isnt worth the money.. save your money for some better mods :thumbsup:

[kilroy]

http://www.svtcobraclub.com/forums/showthread.php?p=134262#post134262

Read Jim D'Amore's reply. Should help your decision.:spimpin:

[casey99COBRA]

Only reason i would buy new headers (which i plan on doing) is for long tubes *drool*:baby:

you dont really need headers. the stock ones are just fine and it isnt worth the money.. save your money for some better mods :thumbsup:

[Dave B.]

So are most of you not putting headers on at all? I heard it was not much power, has anyone done a before and after on a dyno,? can you give us any real number at all?

[Butcher]

So are most of you not putting headers on at all? I heard it was not much power, has anyone done a before and after on a dyno,? can you give us any real number at all?
I dont as of yet. Cost prohibitive unless your just wringing everything out of the motor and everypowergain is important. It's also relative to what you have done/what you plan to do. Again, what are your plans for the car/motor?
Depending on what your ultimate goals are, finer tuning your suspension may be your best alternative. The very best aftermarket part I have added to this point, from the beginning was a Boost-a-Spark.(After the cats, KIPN, blower pulley, Plenum, TBI, etc..etc...) Helped with everything through this path for me. 200.00 bux, gave me 15 more horse through the entire range thus far.

Jimmie

[Silver03Snake]

I installed BBK LT's on a buddies 03 and I put 99/01 JBA 1 5/8 headers on mine and we are neck and neck on power. I made about 16 peak HP and maybe 8-10 rwt. I was kind of sick until the dyno owner did an overlay of my previous pull. You don't always look at peak. Net gains can be even a better indicator. I had net gains of close to 30 HP and torque down low especially where you want it.

There are other things to take into account when you are trying to be competitive. When you get around 500 rwhp on these things with the Eaton, it's hell to get anymore power. When you line up with another 03 with the same mods with the exception that you have headers, you are going to beat that 03. If you step up to a lower pulley or a twin screw blower, you are going to want headers. If you race, you are going to want headers. I wouldn't have a four valve without headers.

I also think 99/01 headers will get just as good of results as 03 specific like Kook's headers. I ran some of the fastest 03's at FFW in Richmond last year and I had the fastest pass for the weekend carrying a full tank of pump gas running two less psi of boost against several Kook's cars. I was going to switch to Kooks but I have been reading more about the torque values on shorties so I'm going to stay with my JBA's.

Catbacks will bolt up to any midpipe. But, midpipes will only fit a specific type of header and are usually brand specific if you go LT's. Shorties will fit any midpipe made for the stock manifolds. If you are going to keep your midpipe you will have to go with shorties. JBA are the best shorties on the market.

[Butcher]

There are other things to take into account when you are trying to be competitive. When you get around 500 rwhp on these things with the Eaton, it's hell to get anymore power.
Boy Howdy...heh.

When you line up with another 03 with the same mods with the exception that you have headers, you are going to beat that 03. If you step up to a lower pulley or a twin screw blower, you are going to want headers. If you race, you are going to want headers. I wouldn't have a four valve without headers.

I also think 99/01 headers will get just as good of results as 03 specific like Kook's headers.
I ran some of the fastest 03's at FFW in Richmond last year and I had the fastest pass for the weekend carrying a full tank of pump gas running two less psi of boost against several Kook's cars. I was going to switch to Kooks but I have been reading more about the torque values on shorties so I'm going to stay with my JBA's.

Catbacks will bolt up to any midpipe. But, midpipes will only fit a specific type of header and are usually brand specific if you go LT's. Shorties will fit any midpipe made for the stock manifolds. If you are going to keep your midpipe you will have to go with shorties. JBA are the best shorties on the market.
All true. But ask yourself, how will you drive the car? Are you going to daily drive it, or semi daily drive it? My Cobra is set up for it. I have 589.9 RWHP on a Mustang dyno. I drove it 220 miles roundtrip to Houston for the Tuesday nite thingie. I have tuned mine with the cast iron headers. As ausie stated in a previous thread, they flow quite well with a minimum of hassel. No tightning bolts, plus, again depending on exactly what you plan for the car, you'll get a 25 horse gain. Is it worth the cost and the maintenance? Are you intending to play with it, or play with it, go to work, take mom out to dinner? :) I play with mine, hard actually, and I still run the stock manifolds. I'll toss headers on it on my next upgrade, but thats flowed heads and cams, then it'll make the difference. :thumbsup:

Jimmie

[Silver03Snake]

Mine made 615 rwt STD and 530 rwt at 15 psi on a Dynojet. The car just rolled over 41K miles and it will make it's 8th trip to my parents home in Fla from my home in NC next week for Thanksgiving, a trip of 500 miles one way. My car has 150 passes down a track on ET Streets. It has a six point roll cage and rear seat delete so it aint a show car by no means. It's been beat on harshly. I received the car on June 5, 02 so it's already 2.5 years old and was no. 21 of all coupes built. I have owned three Cobras all with headers and have never had any maintenance issues. I ran 4.10 gears for awhile until my power exceeded them and I was crossing the line at well over 7k rpm and my 03 headers have never been a problem. 25 HP is two and a half tenths at the line on a 1/4. When you start reacing the potential of the engine, them 25 are hard to come by.

[johnbasf]

So are most of you not putting headers on at all? I heard it was not much power, has anyone done a before and after on a dyno,? can you give us any real number at all?

+18 RWHP BBK longtubes

EDIT*** '96 Cobra