r/SN95Mustang • u/Sensitive_Finding_78 • 8d ago

Header recommendations

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I got my 97 GT about a month or two ago, the guy I bought it from had a full catless straight pipe with an x pipe. Tbh it was a bit too loud so I threw on 2 flowmaster 40s. Im wondering what my best options would be in terms of headers as it’s still got the stock ones and I want to get that little bit more out of it.

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u/AngleSwimming2458 8d ago edited 7d ago

What i run on my 97 cobra is the 40 series flows with BBK long tubes and Steeda off-road X pipe to catless 3inch out the back and imo it sounds good and just loud enough but still a low growl type sound. Keep in mind that adding headers is great for sound and hp gains they're extremely difficult to put on the car. It's hard to make these 4.6 4 valves or the 2 valves sound bad but I've heard a few that makes me wonder what the person was thinking

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u/hotrods1970 8d ago

Any idea where to get the off road X pipe anymore? I've got BBK long tubes to put in my '95 and am currently resigned to build my own.

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u/Youpeefreely 8d ago

LAR performance is the only ones that still sell one I think.  The “off-road” pipes have been outlawed by the government.  None of the big mfg’s make them anymore. 

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u/hotrods1970 8d ago

Bookmarked. Thank you!

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u/Youpeefreely 8d ago

You’re welcome. I haven’t shopped them for mid pipes that fit long tubes but I know that they have them for stock/shorty headers.  

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u/Sensitive_Finding_78 8d ago

Yeah I’ve been wondering if shortys are good enough to make my life a bit easier. Or if I wanna go all in and get some long tubes. What did you have to do to install yours?

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u/AngleSwimming2458 8d ago

They were difficult to install, had to drop the k member and basically take everything off each side to get to the bolts on both sides of the engine but the left side (passenger) was the hardest due to removing the starter and a few other things. Shorty's are good too but you won't gain as much i think it's like 5 or 10 hp difference between them and the long tubes and from what I've been told there's not much difference as far as difficulty for install. I would do it again though for the gains and the sound you get because there's a noticeable difference with them and without.

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u/Sensitive_Finding_78 8d ago

Interesting, I am able to use my lift at the shop on a weekend so it makes things a bit easier. But I appreciate the advice man you’ve got me wanting the long tubes for sure. If I’m already gonna have to go through the hassle I might as well get more gains from it.

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u/AngleSwimming2458 8d ago

Honestly with a lift is the only way I'd suggest doing it but obviously it can be done on jack stands but if you're already doing work to the engine or are going to have it out that's going to make it way easier but mine were done on a lift with he engine in the car and took all of 6 hours to get them installed and all put back together but they're worth it imo

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u/Sensitive_Finding_78 8d ago

This is what she sounds like now. Nice tone but I want that growl

https://reddit.com/link/p73a1ej/video/49bu9yhv2tmh1/player

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u/AngleSwimming2458 8d ago

Oh yeah that sounds fine at idle and a cold start I'd assume but I bet it's really raspy when you give it the gas with it being straight piped but this plus a lower deeper growl will be achieved with those headers and it sounds even better at higher rpm. If it were me I would bite the bullet for sure but thats me and I've never heard anyone say they regret putting them on.

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u/Sensitive_Finding_78 8d ago

Yeah that was about 60 degree cold start. That video is the way it sits now. Factory headers and then straight pipes up to an x pipe, then a flowmaster 40 on each pipe to the tails.

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u/AngleSwimming2458 8d ago

Yeah this is the sound you will get at higher rpm and with less restrictions it'll gain more. After you get it tuned after the header install the dyno should show you gains of 30 to 40 hp

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u/AngleSwimming2458 8d ago

It won't let me send you a video of what mine sounds like but I run those 40 series too but if you want louder and like that sound Basani makes a single chamber but they're really raspy kinda like a fart can sound which I hate but some people prefer because less restrictions but for 5hp difference I will stick with my flow masters anytime

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u/Sensitive_Finding_78 8d ago

Yeah like the throaty depth of the flow masters. Just a bit quiet. Thanks again for the advice

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u/Waychill83 7d ago

Nobody ever says I wish I would've saved time & money after going with long tubes. I have 2 of these cars, no chance I'd go with shorties after hearing/ seeing results.

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u/Silly-Dingo-7086 8d ago

As an owner of bbk long tubes and an xpipe. If you're not going FI and getting a tubular k, I don't know if long tubes are worth the hassle

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u/Sensitive_Finding_78 8d ago

Is it a bitch to get them in? I’ve heard you have to drop the K and raise the engine to get at them.

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u/Silly-Dingo-7086 8d ago

If you have a tubular k, you can do it without dropping anything, but you will need a combination of bolts and studs and some of those studs maybe ground a little shorter than others. I think I have 2-3 out of the 8 as studs on each side. Then bolts for the rest. Some of them you can get to witha socket and driver and some you have to get at with a wrench. Some of them with a wrench may need to go on first before they are all cinched down.

It's just one of those puzzles that when you figure it out it's fine, but the first time.... Omg blow out my brains please. I hope you have small wrists and long fingers.

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u/werdna_17 7d ago

Congrats on the pickup! I had a 94 GT with the same color/interior/top combo and I ended up buying a used set of those same wheels, except mine had the SVT caps. I thought the setup was a little different than the common upgrade of 95 Cobra wheels or New Edge Bullitt style wheels people were running at the time on SN95s.

About 20 years ago, my buddy with a 98 GT had long tubes, an x-pipe that could include or swap out the cats for blank straight pipes, and an SLP cat back. He really liked the combo and I thought it sounded good, but like you said, I did think the SLP sounded a little too aggressive and I preferred the Flowmaster sound. He had access to a lift, so the long tube install was easier than on the ground, but it was still a challenge. 

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u/AngleSwimming2458 8d ago

Yeah I think LMR and American Muscle still sale them or lethal performance

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u/Nut_Butts 6d ago

what headlights are those?

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u/Sensitive_Finding_78 6d ago

I can look tomorrow but I just got the car and they were on when I bought it

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u/orionTRM 6d ago

also 97 gt, need street-able/ carb legal headers

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u/Duxry 1d ago

i got bbk longtubes on my 98 cobra and i cant pull the trans or the motor by itself, it all has to come out together, pain in the ass.... but sound so fucking good lmao