Several longtube header questions

[Sn8kebitten]

So I've only had my new s197 for two weeks now and the mod bug has already bit me into selling some of my gun collection for new parts lol. Im looking at longtube headers and just had a shop estimate anywhere from $300-$700 to install headers on my 2007 GT. Does that seem reasonable? I've never had work done like this before but I really want a full bolt on car for once so i have a couple questions about it all. Im looking at Mac longtubes and matching prochamber midpipe (if anyone has a complaint about these please let me know).

Will I need to have the car tuned in order to drive it safely with longtubes? And what are the best header gaskets to get for these to ensure I won't have any leaks down the road?

Lastly, I'm really enjoying how quiet the car is currently with just Thrush mufflers coming from my 1996 Cobra that had an o/r X pipe and SLP Loudmouths. While I love wake-the-dead loudness, it got old after 3 years of daily driving lol. So what would be a nice toned set of mufflers to run that will keep this car from being "that" loud? The reason Id like to go with something quiet is because sometime in the future I would like to install FRPP Hotrod cams and then have cutouts installed on my exhaust so I can open them up whenever I want to be loud but keep it reasonable with mufflers when I go to work in the morning.

Any advice would be awesome. Thanks for reading

 

[irishpwr46]

So I've only had my new s197 for two weeks now and the mod bug has already bit me into selling some of my gun collection for new parts lol. Im looking at longtube headers and just had a shop estimate anywhere from $300-$700 to install headers on my 2007 GT. Does that seem reasonable? I've never had work done like this before but I really want a full bolt on car for once so i have a couple questions about it all. Im looking at Mac longtubes and matching prochamber midpipe (if anyone has a complaint about these please let me know).

Will I need to have the car tuned in order to drive it safely with longtubes? And what are the best header gaskets to get for these to ensure I won't have any leaks down the road?

Lastly, I'm really enjoying how quiet the car is currently with just Thrush mufflers coming from my 1996 Cobra that had an o/r X pipe and SLP Loudmouths. While I love wake-the-dead loudness, it got old after 3 years of daily driving lol. So what would be a nice toned set of mufflers to run that will keep this car from being "that" loud? The reason Id like to go with something quiet is because sometime in the future I would like to install FRPP Hotrod cams and then have cutouts installed on my exhaust so I can open them up whenever I want to be loud but keep it reasonable with mufflers when I go to work in the morning.

Any advice would be awesome. Thanks for reading

if you can get the installed for $300, jump on it. typical install runs up to eight hours and costs between 6 and 9 hundred. Macs are good, but there are better choices available. you will need a tune for maximum benefit, and the stock gaskets are the best choice. look for a chambered style muffler with an off road midpipe, or a bullet style with resonators installed on the over axle pipes.

 

[AbdullaGT500]

Mac Longtubes are my personal favorite. IIRC, pypes midpipes for LT headers will bolt up to the Mac's no problem. As for a quiet muffler, your best bet is stock mufflers. I would use stock gaskets.

 

[Department Of Boost]

If you're ever considering a blower skip the $$$$$$ exhaust and go right to the blower. My $.02.

 

[Kylar]

If you're ever considering a blower skip the $$$$$$ exhaust and go right to the blower. My $.02.

I was going to post the same thing. Use the $1500ish you would spend on headers and install, and save it for a D.O.B setup

 

[07 Boss]

Or you can go with some inexpensive non stainless headers and put them in yourself. My headers and mid pipe cost me $500 and a weekend to get them in. It's kinda a bitch because it's tight and time consuming, but not that difficult.

 

[05gtowner]

Never sell guns to fund car parts. Guns almost always go up in value car parts generally don't.

 

[Department Of Boost]

Never sell guns to fund car parts. Guns almost always go up in value car parts generally don't.

TRUTH!!!!!!!

 

[Wes06]

If you can get headers installed for 300, fucking do it.

I hated myself after installing mine. lol

Also DOB sc, do it

 

[obsrt86]

Or you can go with some inexpensive non stainless headers and put them in yourself. My headers and mid pipe cost me $500 and a weekend to get them in. It's kinda a bitch because it's tight and time consuming, but not that difficult.

x2

Pacesetter LT with there H-pipe is what I got. Paid under 500 bucks for both. Can't beat that.

The install is pretty straight forward. Took all day on my first try. On my second install it took me half the time. Reuse the stock gaskets. Makes the install much easier.

 

[Department Of Boost]

If you can get headers installed for 300, fucking do it.

I hated myself after installing mine. lol

Also DOB sc, do it

I'd rather put on two blowers than one set of headers!!!!!

 

[BruceH]

I've had Mac Ceramic, they fit and they work well. Stock gaskets, you can't get better unless your headers aren't flat where they mate up to the head. If your headers have unevenness then you need the thick aluminum percy gaskets. If your headers are made on modern machinery and the flanges are ground flush like stock manifolds are then go with the stock mls gaskets.

You aren't going to get much out of the headers without a tune. If going full bolt on get a set of Hot Rod cams to go with headers and tune.

I've been where you are right now. Do like the others suggested and get a blower first. The bolt ons pale in comparison. Headers and cams along with a tune might get you 50rwhp or so. A blower will get you 150-200rhwp and the motor will still be safe. There just isn't much of a comparison.

 

[Sn8kebitten]

Thanks for the answers guys. I really can't afford a blower though. I just got this car so I still owe $6300 on it and need it to be a reliable daily driver. Im not sure if I would treat it nicely anymore if it had a blower lol. I just want a car that will run mid 8's at the local 1/8th track for now. But also the guy said anywhere from $300 to $700 right after he said that installing headers on these cars is a pain in the ass so im sure their shop would charge on the higher end of that scale.

I dunno I still haven't made my mind up yet. But do you guys really think stock gaskets with 151,000 miles would be good for new headers?

 

[Department Of Boost]

Yes, re-use the stock/OEM gaskets. Just hit them with this first.

 

[oooo2stang]

I've ran the ceramic coated mac long tubes with the off road prochamber for over 50,000 miles. That's driving the thing all year around, through rain, sleet, snow, and salt. The coating on the headers underneath has seen better days. It's all surface rust, but they look brand new when looking from the top of the engine bay. The midpipe is stainless I'm pretty sure (someone will correct me if not) and I have no complaints with it.

You get what you pay for with headers. You spend $1,000 on a set of quality stainless steel headers and they will last as long as the car. You spend $1,000 on a header/midpipe combo and you may be just fine, but the chances that things start rusting and related issues will be greater. Like the others said, if the stock gaskets look fine, clean them up and hit them with the copper gasket sealant. I was also able to get by without having to buy o2 extensions with the Macs by undoing a couple fastners behind the motor to free up some slack. I also did buy a set of Pypes stainless lap joint and butt joint clamps to help better seal the exhaust and keeping everything snug.

As far as $300 for an install, that would be worth it unless you like to turn wrenches or do all the work yourself on your car. Just be prepared if the price to increase once they actually tear into and see how much if a pain in the ass it is.

Having said all of that, I would probably go with Mac again if I did it. I just love the sound of the Mac LT/ off road prochamber/bassani axlebacks. But sound is subjective to each person and no video will sound the same.

Depending on your ending goal of the car, saving for a blower may be wise. Its better bang for your buck. If you're wanting to stay N/A, go for it.

 

[JCCNY]

So your car is a stock DD, money is tight and you're staying N/A. I'd just start with a basic tune, intake and axle backs. Then consider suspension/tires and maybe an o/r or high flow mid-pipe + gears.

 

[05gtowner]

Maybe nobody has asked this but why are you modding a car you still just bought and still owe on? I mean have you even made your first payment yet? Wouldn't it be smarter to pay off the car asap. Just playing devils advocate here.

 

[yellowjacket]

Macs are great! Can you do them yourself? Where in ky are you

 

[Sn8kebitten]

I don't see an issue with doing basic N/A mods to a car that I'm paying on. It's been stock all of its life so I don't think a few basic bolt ons would hurt anything, just make my daily commute more fun. I traded my 1996 Cobra in on it so that took a good chunk of change off the price and my monthly payments are pretty cheap so cash isn't tight per se.

But still even if I wasn't making payments, like with my Cobra before, I'm not sure I would have been financially comfortable with dropping $3000-$4000 on a new s/c kit though I would love to do that. And I'm sure I could with ease if I saved up a few months but im just not that patient and I sink a lot of money into my gun hobbies lol.

Another main reason I bought the car is because I've never made payments on anything or owned a credit card before. So I have no credit and now that I've been with my job for 3 years and received some nice raises, I thought it was time to build up my credit. I've always been told that just paying something off fast doesn't really help build it as well as making monthly payments on time would so I just figure I'll do that for awhile then pay it off next year

 

[Sn8kebitten]

Macs are great! Can you do them yourself? Where in ky are you

Unfortunately I wouldn't be able to do them myself. I've done all the basic work by myself before but all I have is a gravel driveway so I can't really lift any of my cars safely and I've never installed or helped any friends install headers on a car before. But I live in Mayfield just south of Paducah