Are long tube headers worth it ?

[WildHorse]

The green cats

So 10 headers / 7 from much less restrictive cats would be my guess.
Stock headers with cat delete was worth 2/10ths all day long.

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[K4fxd]

Are they worth it? Depends on your goals. Most will give 15 to 20 HP what they will do is improve any other performance mods you do to the engine.

The stock headers are pretty good.

 

[NGOT8R]

Find a local Mustang car club and attend one of their gatherings. While there, ask to hear and possibly go for a ride in one with headers to see what you think about them. Also, inquire about the pros and cons of having them.

 

[Prodigal]

I have no regrets. Kooks with green cats, steeda H pipe factory active mufflers. Factory intake, E85 tune. Yes, it’s 1 step louder but quiet mode doesn’t raise issues with neighbors or wife. Sport sounds amazing. Track would be too loud for the street but it’s not designed for the street so there’s that.

 

[JetGray_Mach1]

I have no regrets. Kooks with green cats, steeda H pipe factory active mufflers. Factory intake, E85 tune. Yes, it’s 1 step louder but quiet mode doesn’t raise issues with neighbors or wife. Sport sounds amazing. Track would be too loud for the street but it’s not designed for the street so there’s that.

you got a video?

 

[dreamvillian_9]

I just recently purchased some stainless power catted headers, but am yet to put them on. For years (3 since I bought the car) I have longed to modify my car and add power outside of the mostly cosmetic mods I have done (wheels, springs, splitter). But I would constantly go back and forth with myself and talk myself out of modifying for various reasons ie. warranty, financial situation, etc. I knew headers and E85 would be the cheapest and most efficient route once I did open her up, and that’s all I needed. About a week or two ago I said screw it. Car is at 45k miles and has never given an issue, and i’m in a much better financial position now than I was 3 years ago so I bought the headers and I’m about to have them installed in a week or two and get an E85 tune from Wengerd. The car is my daily and it already screams with just a Steeda H pipe and their aggressive tone axle backs. I’m prepared to buy vibrant resonators and weld them in and if it’s still too loud I’ll switch out the axle backs for some Borla s-type mufflers.
Enjoy the car now while you can within your means. Will it be worth it? For me I’m sure, I’ve never added a power mod to any car I’ve owned and have had the itch for years but again would always talk myself out of it. I’m very price conscious, but you gotta live a little as well. If it doesn’t satisfy my urge, I’ll just save for boost or eventually trade it for something else when the time is right. This is just my 2¢

 

[NGOT8R]

OP, here’s my take on what you should do regarding headers.

 

[FUN2RIDEFAST]

So I’m deciding if long tube headers are worth the price N/A ? For the price of headers and having a shop install I can get my car wrapped a different color… I do like how they make the car louder and a little HP. Do you guys think it’s worth the price ? Or spend it elsewhere ?

My question is what's the gain you get for the money?

 

[K4fxd]

My question is what's the gain you get for the money?

At the level of the coyote it's usually 100 per HP for N/A mods. Headers are right in line with that. Although I think we are paying a Ford tax on them.

 

[NGOT8R]

The sound of LTHs cannot be mistaken. It’s a beautiful melody (akin to a saxophone player blowing beautiful notes out of his sax).

 

[4eternity]

So I’m deciding if long tube headers are worth the price N/A ? For the price of headers and having a shop install I can get my car wrapped a different color… I do like how they make the car louder and a little HP. Do you guys think it’s worth the price ? Or spend it elsewhere ?

Everyone's opinion has some merit, however I have an E85 Tune, JLT Air Intake, ARH headers with their cats, with a Borla Crossfire, no resonator, stock PP1 Exhaust and when driving no drone whatsoever, and it only gets loud when I really get on it. I went back one time to the original set up and way to slow...this set up for me is about as perfect as it gets, IMO

 

[Jpump]

I recently bought Stainless Power catted headers. They're getting installed in a little over 2 weeks. I'm not expecting any more than 10-15HP. I mainly bought them for sound and to help with the ESS G3 supercharger I plan to install next year.

If you're buying them to get more power, no, it's probably not worth it. You could get a tune for less than most headers cost and make more power. But if you're doing it for the sound, or future proofing for forced induction, it's worth it to me.

 

[sms2022]

So 10 headers / 7 from much less restrictive cats would be my guess.
Stock headers with cat delete was worth 2/10ths all day long.

Exactly my understanding also. Headers should be the last step in a comprehensive build imo. There’s guys on 700+whp stock headers with cat delete. Now they probably gain 30+ hp going to headers but could do so just as easily running slightly more boost. obviously once you’re at max safe psi then if you want that hp you’ll want the headers.

 

[junits15]

If you have stock headers on your car with functioning stock cats there is very little reason to upgrade to LTH's unless you are boosted or doing some kind of world record NA build.

Good things:

• they sound amazing
• they look very cool under the hood
• they pick up some horsepower, slightly more with a correct tune (like 20hp max)
• they are resistant to catalyst failure caused by boosted applications or pop and bang tunes

Bad things:

• even catted headers are substantially louder than stock, you will need to adjust your AE valves in the tune to have any hope of keeping them normal. All drive modes will be loud, even quiet mode at WOT. If you have a catback it will be obnoxious, you will wish you kept your stock exhaust, I can't stress how loud they get enough. I have a stock catback and catted headers and track mode instantly makes me the loudest car on the road.
• They are a giant pain in the ass to get in, if you do it yourself you're looking at 2-3 days of work, if you pay a shop you're looking at 1500-2500 in labor cost alone. You will need to find a reputable shop who has done this work before.
• They have fitment issues, cheap headers fit like absolute trash, and good headers are expensive. The only brand I've heard that doesn't have some fitment issue is Kooks and they are the most expensive option on the market. Many options hit the air conditioner refrigerant line on the passenger side and cause false knock. Its a giant pain to deal with and it robs power.
• There are zero options available that are emissions compliant in any way at all, even options like Kook's "greencats" are completely non-compliant straight out of the box. They all throw the P0420/0430 code. To make matters worse, because your stock cats are welded and located far up, there is no way to transplant your stock emissions compliant cats onto your headers. You have to deal with aftermarket cats. Non-foulers are a solution with many downsides.
• I've had ground clearance issues on high speed bumps, its taken multiple adjustments but I think I finally got it situated.
• the HP/$ ratio on headers has got to be worst than every other mod you could do, seriously an e85 tune will net you more power for way less money and effort.

I did headers because my stock cats blew, and it was cheaper to get LTH than replace the stock parts. I wish I didn't have to do that but it is what it is.

TL;DR: Get an e85 tune unless you have an urgent need to replace your headers

 

[Dave2013M3]

So I’m deciding if long tube headers are worth the price N/A ? For the price of headers and having a shop install I can get my car wrapped a different color… I do like how they make the car louder and a little HP. Do you guys think it’s worth the price ? Or spend it elsewhere ?

I see you live in Cali. I would forego the headers. You will end up at a referee and have to remove them and pay a huge fine.

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