[rich96cobra]

So, you have just purchased a new 4.6 liter mustang. Now you want to upgrade! You put a k&N filter, wow now that was easy! You put a set of gears in, now was not that bad....You say to yourself, I want to put some long tube headers.....STOP!

This is for some of you internet mechanics....you know the ones that never work on cars, but work on internet cars...


Long tube headers, never again. It took us around 5-6 hours to install. Not that bad, well today it was clutch time. Took the exhaust off, removed the tranny, hmm..... what is holding the tranny up. THE STUPID HEADERS!

In order now to change the clutch out. We had to use a hydraulic jack to spit the headers out, then was still could not drop the tranny out to insert the clutch. We really did not want to drop the k member out. So we thought we could move the tranny around, wiggled it around. Then we found out that the clutch is ok, but the flywheel had not been turned. Found 13, 14, 15 inch bolts (should be same size), bolts missing. Some 4 hour clutch installer, left bolts out, did not turn the flywheel. the previous speedy mechanic was a moron....


6 hours later installed the clutch. Bottom line, no long tube header installs for me. This is my last. For some here that say, oh I installed in 4 hours, 3 hours. Yeah right, we rushed all day. After waiting for them to get to my flywheel, 2 hours later I got the flywheel turned. Clutch installs with headers take longer than 4 hours , so stop talking crap people! I could have done it in 4 hours with no headers.

My last car with long tube headers. Talk the crap people, but I have yet to see any dealership or mechanic who will do the clutch install, with the headers on grinning ear to ear. I would rather pulled the damn engine and rebuild it!

Rich

[EagleAutosports]

Tell em dude, tell em. That goes for all years, not just the 4.6. It took me 2 days to put mine in. 2 days! I had to pull the engine out to put in the drivers side and then the tranny to put in the riders side.

[rich96cobra]

Originally Posted by EagleAutosports

Tell em dude, tell em. That goes for all years, not just the 4.6. It took me 2 days to put mine in. 2 days! I had to pull the engine out to put in the drivers side and then the tranny to put in the riders side.

HAHA! I am glad someone is feeling my pain. I usually help my mechanic do my installs. I still paid him $350.00 which is cheap ( still owe him 100 bucks)

We started at 8:30 and got done around 5:30 including long lunch, and waiting on flywheel to be turned.

I tell ya dude, 2 days! WOW! I feel ya bro I do not mind working on cars, but when it takes more than 6 hours to do something, I am PISSED! It was because of me wanting this performance crap!

HEADERS SUCK!

never again! You and I know the pain!!!!
Rich

[stlwagon]

LT headers is one of the worst DIY mods. I still have a scar on my hand a year and a half later.

[Snake Pliskin]

This is why I have always referred to them as F**king headers. Oh and by the way, they tend to cook clutch cables.

[bat-stang]

I heard that long tubes were especially a pain on sn95's...Ive heard a few shops recommend mid lengths--being easier to install. My long tubes were only a 2 hr. job-I have a tubular k-member. Still had to unbolt the motor mounts and jack up the engine to get the p-side in. There is a hp and tq advantage with the long tubes; I just don't think we see it where we drive the most. Either that or I'm just getting old.

[acmsheva7]

buy hooker, kooks longtubes or bassani midlength headers and you wont have a problem changing your clutch...
BTW everybody knows that with BBK Headers you must remove the passenger-side header when you wanna drop the tranny

[panhead1]

lmao i agree with everybody on the long tubes that is why i run shortys or mid length. I put 1 set of long tubes on in my life and i believe the only good thing to long tubes are... if you are working on a old school car where you can stand in the engine bay with the motor so i mean really old school 60's and earlier lmao

[wckdsexi]

yeah I agree! I had bought some long tubes for my car, and never put them in becuase of all bad rap I heard about them from everyone. I sold them and plan to buy shorties some day.

[hotcobra03]

i have an 03 cobra..my first install took just as long as everone else,after 3 times changing blown gaskets i have found them to be very simple now...jack up the engine all the way up in the front,take out both motor mounts ,remove the oil filter and 12 of the bolts can be removed with a ratcket...hell i can even change the starter without jacking up the car....and yes i have bbk headers and the right side header has to be completly taking out...maybe some of you guys sould stick to just changing plugs,,lol

[97 svt cobra]

maybe its not "that easy" to install them but it sure is worth it once you get them in