i am in the market for a shorty headers and what was wondering what will go best with my off road x and SLP catback


BBK short tuned length headers or JBA shorties?

 

I have no concrete data to back this up but if I were going that route I would choose the new BBK equal lengths.

 

if you don't mind spending a little more money I've heard many people say that the JBA shorties are about the closest you can get to a F/L header, but again I've seen no numbers to back it up.

 

I've seen numbers on the JBA headers from other sources than JBA that showed a 9hp increase...I haven't seen anything on the BBk tuned length headers but am watching to see some dyno numbers because the price for JBA is too much for me.

That 9 hp increase is close to what you will see with longtubes. The difference between the two is the area under the hp and tq curves.

 

The only negatives I have heard about the JBA's is they have a tendency to crack and the high price. I have also heard they make good power.

 

blue02GT what do you have done to your car?

 

Bolt on's
X pipe w/cats, catback
plenum & 75mm TB
SCT tune
4.30's
3500 stall speed converter
upper & lower control arms, drag struts
nitto's on Weld draglites

 

I gained 14rwhp with the new bbk shorties, definatley better than the jba my buddy installed the jba shorties and is having leaking issues and also the one runner has cracked just like someone else said in the forum, alot of money for the jba and the headaches. just my oppinion. :black_kni

 

What's the purpose for having headers. Like what are they for and where are they located and what kind of difference can you expect. Do they add any sound quality?

 

Headers are the part of the exhaust that comes directly off of the engine block. This is the first place exhaust gases go. Supposedly they make the sound deeper. You can get shorty headers or longtube headers. Obviously, the longtube headers make a lot more power for example, about 15-20 rwhp when combined with an off road midpipe. The short tubes like the BBK tuned length and JBA make about 10-15 as stated above. Id go longtubes as I cant see spending the same or more for the shorties. Oh, but on our cars, they are a pain in the nuts to install. Almost worth it to find someone who will put them in or help you out.

 

Long tubes will give you bigger gains but equal length shorties will also give a gain of around 8 -1 10 total and more than that in the upper rpms where you live at the track. The advantage of shorties are you can run them without replacing your mid pipe. Either ones are a pain to install. I am getting ready to put on a set of Hooker Jet hot coated long tubes with a non catted X pipe on mine later this month. I am going to dyno before and after and will let you guys know what kind of real world gains I see. I doubt that I'll see an overall gain of any more than 20 rwhp since I already have a X pipe and catback. But it should be good for 2 tenth's at the track.

 

Great man, cant wait to see the results of that. Good luck.

 

I talked to my mechanic about installing headers and he said for our cars, for the price of buying it and installing it compared to the performance he says that it is a waste of time and money. He has an '02 Cobra and he put on headers and said that they don't really benefit. Also to service the transmission you would have to take them out too. He also recommended that my next mod would be change to a Bassani o/r X pipe or 2 cats and keep my mufflers and catback.

 

I don't know if I'd listen to him, the new bbk shorty headers are only 285 bucks, and if you do it yourself(and they're not the hardest thing in the world) the install is free, 14 rwhp is worth 285 bucks to me. That's the first I've heard of having to remove a header to service your transmission, is that for long tubes, or shorties???

 

I looked on the BBK website and I didn't see any mention of these new headers. Anyone have any links they could post?

 

On the 2v the headers do help. 1 tenth for shorties, 2 tenths with longtubes.

 

Tell your mechanic he is high...and also to keep the mileage low on that 02 Cobra since it's the only one in existence. Headers benefit ANY motor..especially a high revving 4V. I would find a new mechanic.

Adam