Ordering long tube headers...what to buy..please help
 

Im ordrering long tube headers and a shorty x-pipe for my car but and undecided about who to go with. I want a good looking header so i was thinking about the bbk chrome and there matching shorty x-pipe.

Will these fit with my C-4? Right now i have equal length shorties and an x-pipe on it.

Would I be better off with a 1 5/8 header or a 1 3/4 header, with the set up in my sig. I will be swapping out the unported cobra with the new RPM 2 asap. My car is very torquey right now with the c-4 3500 stall and the 373's and have lots of traction issues on the street because of it. I ran a 12.57 on slicks but only at 105 mph.

I want to make the right decision the first time......

thanks for your help.

The 1 5/8" will be ample for your setup, you dont wanna get crazy and lose low end with the 1 3/4". I also woulodnt worry about looks too much, unless you are gonna be real careful on the install. I have macs, and Ive heard bbk's are easier to install, but Im sure they are still a PITA. Mine got scratched up a bit now are rusting.

did you have to loosen the motor mounts and jack up the engine to get them in there? I have a flaming river rack and steering shaft which gives more clearance so im hoping that will make things easier. I have also dont have any AC lines or anything to fool with because the ac and air pump are long gone. Any tips?

thanks for the help

I have the BBK 1 5/8 chrome longtubes on my '85. They've been on for a couple of years now and still look good, although I have to admit that I polish 'em whenever I do the rest of the car. :p I had the trans and bell housing out when I put them on, so I just stuck 'em in from the bottom. You will have to jack the motor up to put 'em on, but that's no big deal. I've done it on a couple of other cars. I would recomend the BBK's, as I picked up a couple of tenths with them over the JBA shorties I had on the car before.

thanks for the info... I will actually have the trans out that same day because im putting on a new flywheel (couple messed up teeth make starting noisy) and replacing the tailshaft seal. So will putting them in with the trans out make this a fairly easy job?

thanks for the help

Yep. With the tranny and bell housing out they'll go in without having to take the motor mounts loose. If I remember right, I think I pulled the starter off on the pass side too. It's tight, but it'll go back on with the headers in place, and I'm still running the bigger starter.

Yup, having the tranny out will make life ALOT easier for you. The started needed to be pulled on my car too, its was just in the way enough to tick me off. I also had to lift the hell out of the motor, until it touched the firewall. I have heard, like I said before, that the bbks are easier to install. I have a feeling it wil all go well for you and you should have any probs.

Chrome is nice but it tends to discolor when it gets real hot, like when it's on headers... I think that may have something to do with the qualilty of the chrome job too... if you go with ceramics, they'll look almost chrome and will keep the heat level down alot better.. might wanna look into that
-as

I have had the BBK LT Ceramics for about year and they look as great as they did when I took them out of the box. Driver side was cake (from underneath) - passenger side was much more fun (from above).

I had to fab brackets to reposition my smog lines and dipstick from the tubes.

Also, if your O2 sensors are old, get the Bosch replacements with the longer wires - then you won't have to splice/move the stock clips too much.

And, if your motor mounts are old, you may want to replace them - the LT's sit lower under the car and may scrape some driveways.

Im gonna order them now....thanks for all the replies...hopefully ill even see a gain at the track over my equal length shorties

MAKE SURE YOU GET MATCHING HEADER/H-PIPE. They do make different ones for different companies (dont mix/match).

I went with Jet Hot coated 1-5/8".
http://www.dariusrudis.com/engine.jpg

http://www.dariusrudis.com/stuff/2002_012.jpg

TO MY KNOWLEDGE:

BBK's nor MAC's will fit a C4 of an AOD.

THe only ones that fit to my knowlege are the FLowtech longtubes, Bassani longtubes, and of course, shorties. I found this out the hard way, just trying to save you some BS.

Oh, and dont buy the flowtech, the quality is dismal.

damn.....i just ordered the bbk's with the matching x-pipe last night so they were shipped today and i just read your post about them not fitting c-4's or aod's. damn damn


thanks for the help

well i'd say contact bbk to find out for sure before you send them back.


dino

They didnt ask you about the transmmission when you ordered it? I know when it comes ot H pipes it matters.. though shorties I dont think do, I would imagine long tubes would be slightly different as well... yeah worst case, call BBK and then return them to who you bought them from and tell them to ask next time and not assume.
-as

Eastwood makes a product that takes the blue/yellow off of chrome headers.

Uhhhh....... I have macs on my car, and its AOD, and they fit;)

The headers arent just gonna pop in nicely, you atre gonna need to do some work to get them in. Dont try to slide them in one time, not be able to do it, and just assume they dont fit.

I run BBK 1 5/8's Chrome LT's with a smallbell C-4. It fits fine

When I ordered longtubes from summit, they told me BBK's AND Mac's LTs will not fit an AOD or C4. Summit has never steered me wrong so i trust them.

Well the very knowledgeable summit emploiyee whom you spoke to is full of sh1t my friend.