Shorty or Long Tube Headers

[302pony]

Back in 2014 I ordered a new Mustang GT. She's an automatic and I'm looking to get more power out of her without having to open up the motor since she only has 18,000+ miles. I don't want to supercharge it either nor do i want to put on the BOSS 302 intake since I show the car a lot and I have a beautiful race red and black engine cover from JLT. The car has Kooks side exhaust similar to the 2013 Boss 302, Ford Racing quad tip axelbacks by Borla, Air raid cold air carbon fiber Parnelli Jones intake, a Bama tune and 3:73 rear end gears by Ford Racing. I recently dynoed the car and was very disappointed. Her best pull was 361 Rear Wheel Horsepower. The guy said to go with American racing long tube headers with high Flo cats and I'd hit the 400 rear wheel hp I'm looking to get. Now a friend of mine says that the long tubes are great for top end but he read where at low end I may lose engine torque. Now I don't race my car, although I would like to take it to the track just to see what she can do in the qtr mile. The car is primarily a street and show car. I do like to drive fast and have had the car at 135 but I want more power at the low end and throughout the power bands not just at top end in the high rev band...the cars an automatic and I'm not revving it at high revs like a stick. Would shorty headers be a better way to go in your opinion for the street? Are JBA shortys headers better than BBK?

 

[spectreman]

Your '14's OEM exhaust is already basically a set of shorty headers. You won't see much if any gain by switiching to an aftermarket set up. And the cost (parts & install labor) per horsepower certainly ain't worth it. High flow cats might yield 5-10 HP and again, pretty expensive bang for the buck. Your $$ though.

The HP is just a number. If you're satidifed w/the car's overall performance, why don't you just enjoy it and forget about the numbers?

 

[Wes06]

Not teck
Couldn't this have just been added to your previous post that was also moved out of tech.

 

[Heaten m90]

Your DOHC engine has variable cam timing, this will allow you to adjust the cam angle at different engine speeds, if done correctly this can yeild significantly improved low end tourqe. Further advancing timing and adjusting transmission parameter setpoints will improve kw/ overall performance. You should also strongly consider boss valve springs, although this may reduce some low end power from the added parastatic load of the valve train.
Further a lightweight drive shaft would bring some life into the car as well.
Shorty headers are a complete wast of money IMO
Long tubes with off road x-pipes would greatly improve your peak HP but you may slightly loose a tiny bit of low end tourqe from the reduced back pressure.

Money best spent would be valve springs, ditch the cats and get custom email tune from VMP performance.

 

[Heaten m90]

Nevermind your intake manifold might be a limiting factor at high RPMs so maybe forget about the springs i guess. Still get a tune

 

[skaarlaj]

I've always had good gains with long-tubes.

 

[redfirepearlgt]

Am I having deja vu or was there not a thread just posted about a 14 GT making 361RWHP?

 

[Wes06]

same dude