long tube header choices

Topic: long tube header choices (Read 1947 times) previous topic - next topic

long tube header choices

January 24, 2009, 06:30:09 PM

so before i drop the engine in, i want to have headers so i can at least lay them to the side while the engine goes in. but im trying to decide between two very different headers

one http://www.jegs.com/i/Hedman/500/88390/10002/-1#

and two http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=HOK%2D6227HKR&N=700+4294908331+4294925005+4294908282+4294923429+4294839039+4294840126+4294889096+4294918680+4294799365+4294776434+115&autoview=sku

one is much cheaper, which is good lol. but its also only 1-5/8 primaries. idk if that will be enough or not. i mean 1-5/8 shorties werent too much for my SO 5.0, so idk if itll choke my 347.

but the second has its own troubles, for one, its like 400 dollars more. ive tried not to cheap out for most of this project, but idk if 1-3/4 would be worth the extra money. also, not many companies make 1-3/4 for what i assume are alot of clearance issues, so would i have many issues with these headers? or does hooker headers make good ones and is honestly worth it and i wont have to beat them into place?

thier almost complete opposites of eachother. im leaning towards going all the way and getting the expensive ones, but if i pay that much money and run into serious fitment issues, or found out later 1-5/8 would have been just as good, ill be pisssed. thanks guys,

Keith

long tube header choices

Reply #1 – January 24, 2009, 07:34:00 PM

If you're gonna go 5 speed....and money isn't a huge issue.

Quote

79-93 5.0L Mustang -- 1 5/8" Headers w/Offroad X-Pipe
[MU7993STX] $989.69
79-93 5.0L Mustang Headers w/Offroad X-Pipe - 1 5/8" primaries, 2 1/2" OD collector, 3/8" CNC laser cut s. Complete 304 S/S construction ensures that your headers will outlast your vehicle and the long tube design makes great mid range and top end power

FWIW they can be tweaked to work with an AOD....I contacted the company and they told me of the clearance issues with an AOD. I have the e-mails saved....I'll see if I can find them

*EDIT*

The driver's side collector interferes with the hit the transmission pan rail....
I've wondered what would need to be done to remedy this....I wonder if this was tested on a car where the motor wasn't centered correctly as well.....

long tube header choices

Reply #2 – January 24, 2009, 07:39:47 PM

Just FYI, Summit sells a pair of 1-5/8 long tubes similar to those ones at Jegs but for $99 instead of $160. They're the ones I'm likely going to get

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM-G9030&N=700+4294923429+4294839039+4294908331+4294908282+4294840126+4294925008+115&autoview=sku

long tube header choices

Reply #3 – January 24, 2009, 07:43:34 PM

Those apparently are 5 speed only...

long tube header choices

Reply #4 – January 24, 2009, 07:49:11 PM

I bought a pair from Jegs that were supposed to fit an automatic and they didn't. The drivers side hit the tranny pan. It wasn't even close to fitting properly and it would have taken alot of modifying to make it work.

long tube header choices

Reply #5 – January 24, 2009, 08:09:56 PM

i forgot to mention it was with an AOD. so that limits me alot.

im learning more and more that bigger is always better with exhaust, that its tough to have "too much". and its just a 1/8'' more, so idk how much more interference thatd cause. but it troubles me how most companies wont make 1-3/4 for an auto. im thinking that these cost more because alot more development went into making these fit correctly, but i could just be trying to fool myself too.

long tube header choices

Reply #6 – January 24, 2009, 08:18:42 PM

Quote

but it troubles me how most companies wont make 1-3/4 for an auto

It's more clearance issues than anything else due to the fact an 1 3/4" primary will call for a 3" (or even bigger in some cases) collector.
I believe Kooks makes something that'll fit. Probably $800 for the headers alone though....

long tube header choices

Reply #7 – January 24, 2009, 08:42:01 PM

Yeah, auto can cause problems. Hard to believe how much room the AOD takes up under there compared to the T5. I had a set of Mac long-tubes on my '88 Cougar for about 15 minutes. They fit, but the first test drive revealed a problem: Every time I floored it they'd bump the shifter linkage and knock the car into neutral. The engine mount may have been sloppy, too, but I only ever had a problem with the long tubes. When I installed shorties nothing banged or thumped. Thankfully the store took 'em back and gave me a refund even though I scratched 'em up during the install, mainly because I showed 'em where in their own catalogue it said "Thunderbird/Cougar 83-88 w/AOD".

The 1/8" doesn't seem like much, but the extra width of the pipe means bends can't be quite as tight. Also, it's an extra 1/8" per pipe, so you'd be looking at at least 1/4" extra width at the collector...

long tube header choices

Reply #8 – January 24, 2009, 11:18:51 PM

MAC has Auto LT 1-3/4" headers. It's just that.... they're MACs. I'm not recommending them, just providing info.
http://www.macperformance.com/store/category.cfm?SID=3&Category_ID=791

long tube header choices

Reply #9 – January 24, 2009, 11:28:00 PM

People give MAC a bad rap because the s aren't one piece. Nothing more, nothing less.

long tube header choices

Reply #10 – January 24, 2009, 11:32:51 PM

339.50 for chrome and 459.50 for ceramic, thats alot better price. the question is, does anyone know if they actually fit an auto? i'd probably go coated for that price if someone used them and they fit ok.

thanks ether.

id rather have one piece s, but i guess its not a nessesity

long tube header choices

Reply #11 – January 24, 2009, 11:40:57 PM

They fit my buddy's 306/C-4 equipped drag car before he went to Kooks. They sponsor him now...

long tube header choices

Reply #12 – January 24, 2009, 11:43:09 PM

Quote from: V8Demon;253475

People give MAC a bad rap because the s aren't one piece.

Yes sir! Don't get me wrong, they sound great when attached to the engine, just don't ever take them off too many times. Oh and they also hit everything in the engine compartment! Those were equal shorties though, hopefully the LTs are much better.

long tube header choices

Reply #13 – January 24, 2009, 11:47:29 PM

Quote

Oh and they also hit everything in the engine compartment! Those were equal shorties though

LOL, I had to clip the tab off the passenger motor mount for mine when I put them on 15 months ago. They wouldn't clear the right side frame rail at first either That turned out to be the motor being off center. I loosened the mounts and repositioned it. Problem solved. No other clearance issues.

Quote

just don't ever take them off too many times

Bundle of snakes where the heads don't line up

long tube header choices

Reply #14 – January 24, 2009, 11:52:52 PM

so from the sound of things, macs and kooks fit about the same, just kooks have a one piece ? i understand i might have to tweek somethings no matter what a get, but some sound worse the others. so either one of those you think i should be ok? no go on the hookers? (lol)