Header help

[Toxic Colt]

Hey guys/gals, my Pony is experiencing a new issue it has an exhaust manifold leak (a rather bad one at that), i cant even drive it unless the windows are down because the fumes come right through the vents, but if i was going to replace the manifolds with hedders first off i think i would want to go with a set of shorties, but if i change the hedders will i have to change the exhaust setup as well or will the shorties allow the stock catted H-pipe to bolt right up to them? Second, what is a good brand of shorty hedders to go with? Third, is this something that i should have a shop install or should i have a ford dealer install them and if so how much will i be looking at in price for install? All help is much appreciated!

[mustang51js]

If you use shorties then you can use your exhaust that you have now, i would look o ebay and the forums for a good price on them but you dont really need shorties if you dont have alot of add ons,i was told stock headers are good up to 500 hp.You can install them yourself but it will be a pain, best bet is to drop the k-member and then it would be cake.I dont know how much it would cost but figure around 3-4 hours for a shop to do.

[PWRBY4D]

this might help you...

http://www.musclemustangfastfords.co...ade/index.html

[mblack]

i installed BBK shorties when i had my engine out of my 99 gt. it was a direct fit to stock h-pipe.

[Toxic Colt]

thanks guys for all the info.

[Dazzzy]

shorty headers are a waste of time.if your going to do it do it right the first time and get longtubes.it is a pain in the butt either way so you might as well just find a header x pipe/h pipe combo.

[truebluegt]

I agree with Dazzzy, If you are going to spend the money no matter what might as well spend a little more and get longtube with x/h pipe combo to complete your exhaust system.

[TBDOPEY22]

BBK is one of the best fitment brands that I've seen for your body style. I would go with long-tubes, but for cost the shorties are the best. This is something that a shop should do, depending on the equipment you have and knowledge. Most shops will not quote you a price or hours to do this job, if they do it will be around 9hr or more. Just a FYI the book states that to replace a starter(which you will have to remove,and I would recommend replacing) is 4hr after the exhaust is removed.

There are only a couple of way's to install your header on your car. One is by lifting up motor, so you can have to room need. Yes the direction do say you can do it in your own garage. But Trust me it's not that easy. The other way is to drop your front suspension(most common way to doing it at home) and which I would get an alignment done afterward.

Which every way you go try and keep the same brand's together for better fitment,which will reduce the chance of exhaust leaks.

How do I known this, I helped install long-tube headers on a 03 GT. We had a lift, and all the shop tools you need(you will need some special tools,or modify some cheap tools.) It took 18hr,which included the replacement of the starter and we took our time. We wanted to make sure there was not leak and would not thou a check engine light.(In which it still has not).You'll need at lot of PB blaster to help with losing the steering column and bolts. We also keep the old starter(core was only $20) for a back up,because the new one has a lifetime warranty. This is all IMO based on the install that I went thou.

The stang sound's awesome, it was well worth the work and install.

Just a FYI, I know of someone doing the same thing that took him a week and a half at home doing,without a lift.

[my08stang]

Ok, Now I know why I have not seen ya around lately .. keep us updated

[Toxic Colt]

yea sorry guys with school and work life has been in a total mess - but unfortunetly i still have not found the time to do any of this and BTW thank you very much TBDOPEY22 for all the info, i actually went to a local shop near me that works on alot of muscle cars and older cars and the Master Mechanic did give me a quote on time and his quote was going to be about 4hr of work which i thought sounded kind of low to begin with, and as much as i want to go with a set of BBK Shorties this issue may end up turning into a mod but due to financial issues it is seeming more and more to turn into just a replacement bases and just replacing the manifolds and gaskets and if i did end up going with the BBK Shorties from what i found on both thier site and from summit they should just fit directly to the stock H-pipe correct? But otherwise my08stang i have been driving up to Rowan Monday - Thursday - this may explain the out-of-the-blue dissappearance. I have to admit though thank you all very much on the input and the recomendations with what to do and the best way of doing it!