Headers for 4.6L 3V
09-19-2017, 01:55 PM
#1
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Headers for 4.6L 3V
Hi Guys
Looking for any info/discussion/recommendations/tips on your experience with pre/post performance/sound/feel with respect to your header install. My GT has been detuned to accept less than 94 Octane (which is hard to get around here) but I use esso high test exclusively.
My experience with headers is singular as I put a set of blackjacks on an old GMC Sierra short box truck which had a 350Z28 engine in it. There was a ton of room to accommodate the pipes which were powder coated (back when pc was in its infancy), had a local speed shop do the work in less than 3 hours, and whoa, did it ever come to life. Not to mention they looked and sounded sick.
I am not saying that my '05 is a dog, but the existing exhaust is corroding and oxidizing, and am leaning towards putting on a set of headers (?long?shorty) to port that energy through the GT500 mufflers.
Looking for any info/discussion/recommendations/tips on your experience with pre/post performance/sound/feel with respect to your header install. My GT has been detuned to accept less than 94 Octane (which is hard to get around here) but I use esso high test exclusively.
My experience with headers is singular as I put a set of blackjacks on an old GMC Sierra short box truck which had a 350Z28 engine in it. There was a ton of room to accommodate the pipes which were powder coated (back when pc was in its infancy), had a local speed shop do the work in less than 3 hours, and whoa, did it ever come to life. Not to mention they looked and sounded sick.
I am not saying that my '05 is a dog, but the existing exhaust is corroding and oxidizing, and am leaning towards putting on a set of headers (?long?shorty) to port that energy through the GT500 mufflers.
09-19-2017, 03:43 PM
#2
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In my opinion if you are going to do headers the shorties are a waste of time. If you are going to do it, at least do a set of long tubes. The job can be quite labor intensive though and a good set of headers isn't cheap.
09-19-2017, 07:48 PM
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I keep hearing that, but wonder why the shorties wouldn't make that engine breathe exhaust better than OEM. I just love the 24V engine!! Agree with the "not cheap" comment brother!
Realworld experience always gets my attention, and you sound like you have lived it. Theres not much room in that engine bay and I am thinking the labour will be 5-6 minimum?
The engine probably has to be rocked as well??
Have a stockcar mechanic who I will chat with. But anyone with any tidbits, pls, respond as Chadstang has done..
cheers!!
Realworld experience always gets my attention, and you sound like you have lived it. Theres not much room in that engine bay and I am thinking the labour will be 5-6 minimum?
The engine probably has to be rocked as well??
Have a stockcar mechanic who I will chat with. But anyone with any tidbits, pls, respond as Chadstang has done..
cheers!!
09-19-2017, 08:47 PM
#5
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Location: Slave Lake, AB
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I keep hearing that, but wonder why the shorties wouldn't make that engine breathe exhaust better than OEM. I just love the 24V engine!! Agree with the "not cheap" comment brother!
Realworld experience always gets my attention, and you sound like you have lived it. Theres not much room in that engine bay and I am thinking the labour will be 5-6 minimum?
The engine probably has to be rocked as well??
Have a stockcar mechanic who I will chat with. But anyone with any tidbits, pls, respond as Chadstang has done..
cheers!!
Realworld experience always gets my attention, and you sound like you have lived it. Theres not much room in that engine bay and I am thinking the labour will be 5-6 minimum?
The engine probably has to be rocked as well??
Have a stockcar mechanic who I will chat with. But anyone with any tidbits, pls, respond as Chadstang has done..
cheers!!
09-19-2017, 08:47 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Slave Lake, AB
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09-20-2017, 04:43 PM
#7
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Do your research, a buddy of mine with an '06 GT did Kooks long tubes, ceramic coated with high flow cats, x-pipe and Ford Racing (Borla) mufflers and hated it.
Told me the first time he fired it up he knew he made a mistake with that configuration.
The change in exhaust sounded not too bad at the lower end, but as the revs got higher, it sounded terrible, cringe-worthy, a loud blatting noise is the best I can describe it.
Plus it was pricey, the shop that did the install took longer than budgeted, but were great on excuses, and told him they had to get a front alignment done because they had to drop the suspension to get them in.
Won't be cheap, but it looked good when it was done, sound was something else altogether.
Exhaust sound is pretty subjective, so be sure of what you're getting, because in this case, the cost of changing or going back pretty much was money down the drain.
My $.02.
Told me the first time he fired it up he knew he made a mistake with that configuration.
The change in exhaust sounded not too bad at the lower end, but as the revs got higher, it sounded terrible, cringe-worthy, a loud blatting noise is the best I can describe it.
Plus it was pricey, the shop that did the install took longer than budgeted, but were great on excuses, and told him they had to get a front alignment done because they had to drop the suspension to get them in.
Won't be cheap, but it looked good when it was done, sound was something else altogether.
Exhaust sound is pretty subjective, so be sure of what you're getting, because in this case, the cost of changing or going back pretty much was money down the drain.
My $.02.
09-22-2017, 03:07 PM
#8
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Do your research, a buddy of mine with an '06 GT did Kooks long tubes, ceramic coated with high flow cats, x-pipe and Ford Racing (Borla) mufflers and hated it.
Told me the first time he fired it up he knew he made a mistake with that configuration.
The change in exhaust sounded not too bad at the lower end, but as the revs got higher, it sounded terrible, cringe-worthy, a loud blatting noise is the best I can describe it.
Plus it was pricey, the shop that did the install took longer than budgeted, but were great on excuses, and told him they had to get a front alignment done because they had to drop the suspension to get them in.
Won't be cheap, but it looked good when it was done, sound was something else altogether.
Exhaust sound is pretty subjective, so be sure of what you're getting, because in this case, the cost of changing or going back pretty much was money down the drain.
My $.02.
Told me the first time he fired it up he knew he made a mistake with that configuration.
The change in exhaust sounded not too bad at the lower end, but as the revs got higher, it sounded terrible, cringe-worthy, a loud blatting noise is the best I can describe it.
Plus it was pricey, the shop that did the install took longer than budgeted, but were great on excuses, and told him they had to get a front alignment done because they had to drop the suspension to get them in.
Won't be cheap, but it looked good when it was done, sound was something else altogether.
Exhaust sound is pretty subjective, so be sure of what you're getting, because in this case, the cost of changing or going back pretty much was money down the drain.
My $.02.
Thanks AP!! That is exactly the type of feedback I was looking for. And totally agree with the subjective nature of exhaust. I can see that a change is needed soon, there is too much corrosion for my taste.....Am leaning towards ceramic coated headers, but, don't want the car too loud to be obtrusive...
cheers, Mate!
Frankie
09-22-2017, 05:43 PM
#9
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I think the product itself, the Kooks headers, were top notch and the ceramic coating looked sweet, and I think is supposed to help keep underhood temperatures down, but its extra $$$.
Glad I could help, thanks.
Glad I could help, thanks.
09-23-2017, 03:54 PM
#10
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Shoppn for headers with plan to install next spring.
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