I was going to get BBK long tube headers installed but a performance shop in Dallas told me not to waste my time untill the engine had to be broke in to. I have no idea why, but I changed my mind quickly when he said that.carguy1985 said:
Long Tube Headers
ok well, just out of curiousity for future knowledge, what are the performance gains you can get with longtubes, on a 02 GT 5 speed with my mods i currently have. Also what does it take to install them, i have heard horror stories about installing and transmission probs?
Anything else you can tell me is good too
thanks
Anything else you can tell me is good too
thanks
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head games
A new exhaust system which includes long tube headers, x or h pipe and after cat exhaust can add about 20-25 hp on cars like yours and mine.
Cost is high, depending upon your choice of quality level. Since the primary downside to headers is heat (and our feet get hot enough in these cars as it is), Ceramic coated headers is the way to go. Figure $400-600+ for the headers, plus $350-450 for the x-pipes with cats, plus $350+ for an aftercat. Maybe $1200 for parts - depending on the quality level you want and supplier. I'd recommend headers with both internal and external coating if you can find them - these are just becoming widely available. Dynamax would be a name to search for in this case. Coating them inside and out keeps the heat inside, makes them last longer, and flows faster and with less inherent restriction.
Installation is a stone-hearted *****. The best advice I've seen is to start the install by removing the k-member. I've helped do it by merely removing the starter, disconnecting the steering, etc, and unbolting the motor mounts, then spending the day jacking the motor up and down trying to clear the headers. At the end, we all agreed it would have been much easier just pulling out the whole k. If the headers hadn't been the MAC design (seperate tubes and seperate flanges for each tube) that allowed some squeezing to clear obstacles, I think we'd still be under that car cussing those things.
If you're not a good mechanic, and have at least 1 knowledgeable helper, don't start the project. Call the shops in your area - the cost quote will not be cheap, regardless.
I'd recommend you consider other ways of making horsepower. You'll get about half the benefit with just the x-pipe and a good aftercat - without driving yourself insane or roasting/crushing wires, hands and feet.
And still have $600+ to spend on other things - a downpayment on a supercharger comes to mind.
tripleblack
A new exhaust system which includes long tube headers, x or h pipe and after cat exhaust can add about 20-25 hp on cars like yours and mine.
Cost is high, depending upon your choice of quality level. Since the primary downside to headers is heat (and our feet get hot enough in these cars as it is), Ceramic coated headers is the way to go. Figure $400-600+ for the headers, plus $350-450 for the x-pipes with cats, plus $350+ for an aftercat. Maybe $1200 for parts - depending on the quality level you want and supplier. I'd recommend headers with both internal and external coating if you can find them - these are just becoming widely available. Dynamax would be a name to search for in this case. Coating them inside and out keeps the heat inside, makes them last longer, and flows faster and with less inherent restriction.
Installation is a stone-hearted *****. The best advice I've seen is to start the install by removing the k-member. I've helped do it by merely removing the starter, disconnecting the steering, etc, and unbolting the motor mounts, then spending the day jacking the motor up and down trying to clear the headers. At the end, we all agreed it would have been much easier just pulling out the whole k. If the headers hadn't been the MAC design (seperate tubes and seperate flanges for each tube) that allowed some squeezing to clear obstacles, I think we'd still be under that car cussing those things.
If you're not a good mechanic, and have at least 1 knowledgeable helper, don't start the project. Call the shops in your area - the cost quote will not be cheap, regardless.
I'd recommend you consider other ways of making horsepower. You'll get about half the benefit with just the x-pipe and a good aftercat - without driving yourself insane or roasting/crushing wires, hands and feet.
And still have $600+ to spend on other things - a downpayment on a supercharger comes to mind.
tripleblack
The power is good but the installation is a *****. It should be one of your last bolt-on mods.
I just had my long tubes installed. The guy pretty much always told me he would rather pull the motors on these cars than install them the normal way. And thats exactly what he did. Plus he saw a tear in one motor mount so he replaced it free with a newer one he had laying around. He said it looked as though the rear seal on the motor was seeping a little. He said it wasnt bad but he figured since it was already up outta the hood and ist not that hard to do anyways and having tons of oem parts laying around he just replaced it also for free. But yeah, I like the sound of them so much better than I did the shorties and UPR x-pipe I replaced.
G
That's the best advice I'd heard :thumbsuptripleblack said:A new exhaust system which includes long tube headers, x or h pipe and after cat exhaust can add about 20-25 hp on cars like yours and mine.
Cost is high, depending upon your choice of quality level. Since the primary downside to headers is heat (and our feet get hot enough in these cars as it is), Ceramic coated headers is the way to go. Figure $400-600+ for the headers, plus $350-450 for the x-pipes with cats, plus $350+ for an aftercat. Maybe $1200 for parts - depending on the quality level you want and supplier. I'd recommend headers with both internal and external coating if you can find them - these are just becoming widely available. Dynamax would be a name to search for in this case. Coating them inside and out keeps the heat inside, makes them last longer, and flows faster and with less inherent restriction.
Installation is a stone-hearted *****. The best advice I've seen is to start the install by removing the k-member. I've helped do it by merely removing the starter, disconnecting the steering, etc, and unbolting the motor mounts, then spending the day jacking the motor up and down trying to clear the headers. At the end, we all agreed it would have been much easier just pulling out the whole k. If the headers hadn't been the MAC design (seperate tubes and seperate flanges for each tube) that allowed some squeezing to clear obstacles, I think we'd still be under that car cussing those things.
If you're not a good mechanic, and have at least 1 knowledgeable helper, don't start the project. Call the shops in your area - the cost quote will not be cheap, regardless.
I'd recommend you consider other ways of making horsepower. You'll get about half the benefit with just the x-pipe and a good aftercat - without driving yourself insane or roasting/crushing wires, hands and feet.
And still have $600+ to spend on other things - a downpayment on a supercharger comes to mind.
tripleblack
I didn't think the install was that bad, however it is time consuming. I pulled my k-member and installed the headers from the bottom, in my garage with the car on jackstands. Total time about 10 hrs, I also switched to a tubelar k while doing it. You need to have some mechincal ability but its not that bad, don't psych yourself out.
Not sure its worth the money with your mods, I agree with those that say save for a supercharger. They made a world of difference on my car but, I have after market heads, cams and higher compression so they should have. Intil you change your heads dont waste the money.
Just my .02
Not sure its worth the money with your mods, I agree with those that say save for a supercharger. They made a world of difference on my car but, I have after market heads, cams and higher compression so they should have. Intil you change your heads dont waste the money.
Just my .02
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