I have a 2001 GT. Who makes a good shorty header with good fit and ease of installation? Thanks, Mark M

 

Dont think they are really worth the money, especially if you arent doing the install yourself. But Im assuming you are since you're asking about ease of install.

 

Bbk

 

BBK is garbage. I have BBK. Get FRPP if you are getting shorties.

 

JBA or ford racing

 

I forgot to add that there is no "ease of installation" when it comes to headers.

 

No one makes good shorty headers as the best one is the one not on your car. Get long tubes or go home .

 

FRPP, it wasn't that bad. i dropped my K memeber to make it alot easier, but i've dropped my front suspension so many times, i can do it in the dark, and i guess that's why i thought it was easy to do.

 

I've heard that some guys have been having problems with FRPP headers cracking.

 

A little bit off topic but still revelent: Take Hooker for example. Looking at their catalog, they make shorties for 64-95 and 05+ Mustangs. What happened to 96-04? I noticed that all the big names do the same, which leaves us with just JBA, BBK, or FRPP. Why are the 4.6 SN95 forgotten? However, long tubes are a different story...

 

because they're worthless to people that want to bolt on hp unless there's a blower involved.

 

I think if they make it, people will buy it. Look at the 05 Mustangs, they have shorties for them. The stock manifolds are horriblely restrictive and a decent shorty design will net you probably 5-10 hp (better than some popular bolt-ons). Look at the 5.7 Hemi. A set of long tubes and Comp Cams (using Ford's Mod engine's ignition system and Comp's milddle cam) gave it an 81 hp boost! Now though the Hemi destroys the SOHC head in flow, it demonstrates how restrictive the manifolds really are. Heck, the 5.0 manifolds flow better than the 4.6 version yet that didn't stop people from swapping them for a set of shorties.

 

Obviously people will buy it if they make it. That doesnt mean its a good investment. Perfect example is the trans go shift kit...

 

My brother has JBA shorties and likes them a bunch =D
Prolly came in handy to already have installed when he went KB

 

yup, this was true a few years ago. I had several sets crack at the welds, so att we stopped selling the Frpp ones. do yourself a favor, for the cost and aggravation factor of the install, go wth L/T's. better money spent for the HP gains vs shorties

oh and make sure whatever you buy has the HTC style coatings inside and out, it will make more power than non-coated headers

 

I have DynoMax jett hot coated shorty's that i have had for almost 10 years but i haven't seen them for sale in over 5 years so i assume they stopped making them.

 

I don't know what kind of HP gains you would get, but shorties would definately flow better than the cast iron exaust manifolds. Manifold are very very restrictive and cheap to make, that's why auto makers use them.

As far as investment goes, most cars,daily drivers, weekend cruisers etc. are not investments. We'll spend any amount of cash within reason to make us happy and in the end get a little more horsepower. Mark M

 

As a lottle people say about the GT's, you're replacing a performance part with another performance part.

If you really wanna shell out some money and only get 6HP, then do it. I'm assuming your installing yourself, for a shop will charge and easy 500+ for labor.

 

You might see 10hp at the wheels if you have the supporting bolt-ons. When I did shorties, i did an slp xpipe with cats at the same time. i lost down low but picked up more power up top.

 

I gained @10 HP was that worth it, att (1996) yes, as there were no L/T's aval for a SOHC and I had a un-catted H pipe and a non-stock exhaust system on the car already. the factory cast iron manifolds are not that bad or restrictive as you can see and if you add shorties to a catted system, gains will be even less that my @10 hp claim. I work at a dealer, the trans was out to put in a new clutch and we were right there and the shorties were cheap at $250.00 back then. for the average "Joe" who is doing this on ther back, in the driveway, no I don't think shorties are cost effective vs L/T's today where you have more HP aval from the factory, a wide aray of aftermarket performance parts
to enhance performance. so that being said, $$$ vs time to install vs HP gain per $$$ spent, L/T's are the way to-go.

 

When you put the balance pipe and shorties on, were those your only modification? Also, what brand of shorties did you use? The important point to remember is that the parts need to work in harmony. The old NPI heads are not the best in flow and therefore, compared to a PI headed engine, will not benefit as much from a less restrictive exhaust. Also, shorties like the FRPP units are a joke (nothing more than manifolds made from tubes). Units like the JBAs will outflow the FRPPs and therefore provide more power. Also, we must remember the law. Most people cannot get long tubes because of emission laws. In addition, long tubes are very pricey since one needs the headers and the matching balance pipe. For most people, the choice between long tubes and shorties comes down to price and legality.

 

I have the FRPP ceramics never had any problems! gained i believe 6hp? iam using a MAC O/R Prochamber so it could differ? ive seen JBAs also very nice header! I think everyone will agree that LTs are the way to go for higher power levels, but ive herd they have there down fall too! Some hang a little low, PIA when doin a clutch, etc; and the difference in power aint that huge in some cases? I
I guess it all depends what your priorities are? if you spend a lot of time at the track then LTs are for you if just a weekend type racer or more time on the street then shorties or even keepin the stock ones!

 

macmakes good stuff

makes sre ya get equal length shortys

 

Mac doesn't make a shorty header for the 4.6.

 

oh... that sux

hooker makes the best headers on the market... pricy tho... hedman headers are perty swell too

 

I think Kooks makes the best long tubes.