Header recommendations??

scale · 10-12-2001, 10:11 PM

I am looking to put some headers on my 91 lx this winter and am not sure which are the best. (bbk? MAC? hooker? Headman? Krooks? FMS?) I am looking for something affordable but something durable. Mainly for street use. I am running my stock H with Mac flowpath cat back system exaust. I am not sure if i should get chrome or which finish is the best. I want it to look good but i want it to be durable. Also, i would like some thing that will bolt up to my stock H without cutting or changing anything with that. (i plan to change that out later for a off road pipe). I am assuming that 1 and 5/8 is the most common size.....and finally....if you buy new headers, is it a safe bet that gaskets come with your new pipes or should i plan on picking them up from ford? What about using the old stock bolts? Is this ok or should i get new header bolts with my new headers?

Will i have to pull my motor mounts and or tilt the engine to get my new pipes on? Sorry for all the questions but i want to do this right the first time and avoid problems if possible. Anyone have any tips or suggestions please let me know.

Thanks in advance....

J.Coffin

Stang Runner · 10-12-2001, 10:53 PM

I would go with MAC I like their price And not the headers are not to bad to do if you get Unequal Length Headers.
They come with gaskests and new bolts my MAC ones.

------------------
14.28@103.0 on a G-Tech Engine: Steal Mounts, Under drive pulleys, K&N, Home ported Lower Intake, No power steering, No A/C
Drive Train: 3.55, T-5z,

Real power STUFF I Have and will put some time: Mac cold intake, 70MM TB, Valve covers (COOL ONES)255 Fuel pump NOS Dry 75HP, AFR 165 58cc, GT-40 Intake.
Next to get: Rocker Arms,Cam,Injectors 24, What might I need???See It at www.computerconquest.com

1BAD89 · 10-13-2001, 02:24 AM

I would recommend the BBK equal length's. And of course get them Jet-Hot coated, that is the ONLY way to go in my book. By the way my friend got the BBK Chrome ones about 2 weeks ago, and they looked good at first, but they look like total crap right now. And I have the BBK ceramic coated and they look brand new, and it's been over a year. I picked my up from summit, they'll set you back $299. Also my friend has the mac headers, and the flanges are all seperate, and the quality is low, and he's pretty dissappointed. BBK has a one piece flange that is very thick 3/8 inch I believe. Whatever headers you choose, get them Jet-hot coated(ceramic coated), it's worth the extra money, believe me.

------------------
1989 GT, not stock.

2000 Camaro SS-A4, 13.4's bone stock.

1989 Chevy S-10, EX. Cab-383(500+hp on motor), tubbed, trick flow heads, trick flow pistons, etc... autometer phantom gauges, "built" 700R4, roll cage, lexan back window, corbeau seats, R.H.S. 5 harnesses, Fuel cell, convo pro wheels, 15x14's with 29x18.5 M/T'S on back, 15x4's on front, nitrous, and so much more!

LX5liter · 10-13-2001, 09:46 AM

I had real good luck with the Hedman unequal length headers. They came with new bolts for the 1 piece flange as well as the h-pipe hook-up, and they fit quite well. I did not have them coated or anything because the car never sees rain, and they still look like new.

------------------
Good luck!

B.R.
L.X. 5.0 coupe
Cruise control,power mirrors,...and Thats it!
( except for the supercharger )

Mach 1 · 10-13-2001, 03:18 PM

I recommend the BBK chrome shortys, unequal length. Easy to install, excellent quality and price. Mine are chrome, have been on for 4 years, and still look great, with absolutely no corrosion at all.

------------------
1993 GT/AOD
'93 Mustang GT

1BAD89 · 10-14-2001, 01:08 AM

Sorry guys not dissing your headers, but JET-HOT coated(ceramic coated) IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO.

------------------
1989 GT, not stock.

2000 Camaro SS-A4, 13.4's bone stock.

1989 Chevy S-10, EX. Cab-383(500+hp on motor), tubbed, trick flow heads, trick flow pistons, etc... autometer phantom gauges, "built" 700R4, roll cage, lexan back window, corbeau seats, R.H.S. 5 harnesses, Fuel cell, convo pro wheels, 15x14's with 29x18.5 M/T'S on back, 15x4's on front, nitrous, and so much more!

Phantom5oh · 10-15-2001, 11:44 AM

do NOT get the Hooker headers... they are way too expensive for what you get... they will rust as soon as moisture gets on them... plus you can't even get the bolts they supply you with in the holes, let alone trying to tighten them up... flowtech aren't that bad, especially for the price... wicked cheap... if your gonna replace the H-Pipe then why not just wait and buy long tube MAC with their Pro Chamber pipe... this is one of the best sysetms out there and then you'll have a full mac kit... thats what i would do

Phantom

------------------
Project Bird Turd

Loose Cannon Racing
Scarzi Machine Works

Mustang_289 · 10-17-2001, 05:34 AM

My son and I are building up an 88GT, going all MAC with long-tubes(need to jack engine up to install, which we need to do anyway to work on oilpan). We were looking for a performance setup without breaking the bank and found MAC is the way to go.

I agree with other posts - JET-HOT coating is the way to go if you want headers to look great over time. If you go with shortys figure somewhere about $179 and $279 for long-tubes to Jet-Hot coating. I would also suggest getting a set of Stage-8 locking header bolts. This would eliminate you having to go back in from time to time and re-tighten your headers.

10-12-2001, 10:11 PM	#1
scale Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: minneapolis, mn Posts: 158	Header recommendations?? I am looking to put some headers on my 91 lx this winter and am not sure which are the best. (bbk? MAC? hooker? Headman? Krooks? FMS?) I am looking for something affordable but something durable. Mainly for street use. I am running my stock H with Mac flowpath cat back system exaust. I am not sure if i should get chrome or which finish is the best. I want it to look good but i want it to be durable. Also, i would like some thing that will bolt up to my stock H without cutting or changing anything with that. (i plan to change that out later for a off road pipe). I am assuming that 1 and 5/8 is the most common size.....and finally....if you buy new headers, is it a safe bet that gaskets come with your new pipes or should i plan on picking them up from ford? What about using the old stock bolts? Is this ok or should i get new header bolts with my new headers? Will i have to pull my motor mounts and or tilt the engine to get my new pipes on? Sorry for all the questions but i want to do this right the first time and avoid problems if possible. Anyone have any tips or suggestions please let me know. Thanks in advance.... J.Coffin

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10-12-2001, 10:53 PM	#2
Stang Runner Registered Member Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: Walker, MI, USA Posts: 1,202	I would go with MAC I like their price And not the headers are not to bad to do if you get Unequal Length Headers. They come with gaskests and new bolts my MAC ones. ------------------ 14.28@103.0 on a G-Tech Engine: Steal Mounts, Under drive pulleys, K&N, Home ported Lower Intake, No power steering, No A/C Drive Train: 3.55, T-5z, Real power STUFF I Have and will put some time: Mac cold intake, 70MM TB, Valve covers (COOL ONES)255 Fuel pump NOS Dry 75HP, AFR 165 58cc, GT-40 Intake. Next to get: Rocker Arms,Cam,Injectors 24, What might I need???See It at www.computerconquest.com

10-13-2001, 02:24 AM	#3
1BAD89 Tubbed and Juiced Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,861	I would recommend the BBK equal length's. And of course get them Jet-Hot coated, that is the ONLY way to go in my book. By the way my friend got the BBK Chrome ones about 2 weeks ago, and they looked good at first, but they look like total crap right now. And I have the BBK ceramic coated and they look brand new, and it's been over a year. I picked my up from summit, they'll set you back $299. Also my friend has the mac headers, and the flanges are all seperate, and the quality is low, and he's pretty dissappointed. BBK has a one piece flange that is very thick 3/8 inch I believe. Whatever headers you choose, get them Jet-hot coated(ceramic coated), it's worth the extra money, believe me. ------------------ 1989 GT, not stock. 2000 Camaro SS-A4, 13.4's bone stock. 1989 Chevy S-10, EX. Cab-383(500+hp on motor), tubbed, trick flow heads, trick flow pistons, etc... autometer phantom gauges, "built" 700R4, roll cage, lexan back window, corbeau seats, R.H.S. 5 harnesses, Fuel cell, convo pro wheels, 15x14's with 29x18.5 M/T'S on back, 15x4's on front, nitrous, and so much more!

10-13-2001, 09:46 AM	#4
LX5liter dude5l Join Date: May 2001 Location: Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada Posts: 603	I had real good luck with the Hedman unequal length headers. They came with new bolts for the 1 piece flange as well as the h-pipe hook-up, and they fit quite well. I did not have them coated or anything because the car never sees rain, and they still look like new. ------------------ Good luck! B.R. L.X. 5.0 coupe Cruise control,power mirrors,...and Thats it! ( except for the supercharger )

10-13-2001, 03:18 PM	#5
Mach 1 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,866	I recommend the BBK chrome shortys, unequal length. Easy to install, excellent quality and price. Mine are chrome, have been on for 4 years, and still look great, with absolutely no corrosion at all. ------------------ 1993 GT/AOD '93 Mustang GT

10-14-2001, 01:08 AM	#6
1BAD89 Tubbed and Juiced Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,861	Sorry guys not dissing your headers, but JET-HOT coated(ceramic coated) IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO. ------------------ 1989 GT, not stock. 2000 Camaro SS-A4, 13.4's bone stock. 1989 Chevy S-10, EX. Cab-383(500+hp on motor), tubbed, trick flow heads, trick flow pistons, etc... autometer phantom gauges, "built" 700R4, roll cage, lexan back window, corbeau seats, R.H.S. 5 harnesses, Fuel cell, convo pro wheels, 15x14's with 29x18.5 M/T'S on back, 15x4's on front, nitrous, and so much more!

10-15-2001, 11:44 AM	#7
Phantom5oh Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 334	do NOT get the Hooker headers... they are way too expensive for what you get... they will rust as soon as moisture gets on them... plus you can't even get the bolts they supply you with in the holes, let alone trying to tighten them up... flowtech aren't that bad, especially for the price... wicked cheap... if your gonna replace the H-Pipe then why not just wait and buy long tube MAC with their Pro Chamber pipe... this is one of the best sysetms out there and then you'll have a full mac kit... thats what i would do Phantom ------------------ Project Bird Turd Loose Cannon Racing Scarzi Machine Works

10-17-2001, 05:34 AM	#8
Mustang_289 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 512	My son and I are building up an 88GT, going all MAC with long-tubes(need to jack engine up to install, which we need to do anyway to work on oilpan). We were looking for a performance setup without breaking the bank and found MAC is the way to go. I agree with other posts - JET-HOT coating is the way to go if you want headers to look great over time. If you go with shortys figure somewhere about $179 and $279 for long-tubes to Jet-Hot coating. I would also suggest getting a set of Stage-8 locking header bolts. This would eliminate you having to go back in from time to time and re-tighten your headers.