GT Mustangs

StgRsh · 07-30-2009, 12:45 PM

I found some long tube headers for a decent price on Stage2Motorsports.com. Are these legit or just a waste?

Stage 3 Motorsports 2001-2004 Mustang V6 Pacesetter Long Tube Headers - Ceramic - EGR Fitting Only

19Delta · 07-30-2009, 12:49 PM

I'd go with MAC's if I were you, that's what I have on my car, and they're 100 dollars cheaper.

Stage 3 Motorsports 1994-97 & 2001-04 3.8 Mustang MAC Long Tube Headers

PureVenom · 07-30-2009, 12:51 PM

That's what we put on tigerfan's car as well. He had some bad exhaust leaks but we fixed those with some remflex gaskets and all was good. He originally bought the cheapo gaskets from vatozone...didn't work. lol

StgRsh · 07-30-2009, 12:54 PM

So he bought these exact ones and had exhaust leak?

PureVenom · 07-30-2009, 12:59 PM

Sorry, no, he bought the MACs and had the leak. However, it wasn't because of the headers. It was because of the cheap ass gaskets he bought to install them. They were very thing and had little to no crush. Once he ordered a set of the remflex gaskets which are almost a 1/4" think and crush 60% with just 15 ft lbs of torque, he has no issues at all.

Moral of the story....either set you get, don't skimp on the gaskets. Get good ones.

These look to be fine...but the MACs looked plenty good as well. The big difference is that the MACs didn't appear to be ceramic coated. They looked just chromed and the chrome did flake a little in a couple spots.

You will get longer life out of the ceramic ones and it does account for that $100 different. It will also help under hood temps be a little cooler.

So, either way...the macs or the ones you linked to would be fine.

19Delta · 07-30-2009, 01:04 PM

Mine didn't flake at all, but it's only been about 3 weeks since I've had them put on so yeah. Either way, your exhaust will have a deeper sound since they're longtubes.

PureVenom · 07-30-2009, 01:06 PM

Flaking isn't really a big deal when you really think about it. You don't typically go showing off your headers to people...you put them on for sound and/or performance.

My mid lengths look pretty as can be, however, unless you get under my car you will not be able to see them.

19Delta · 07-30-2009, 01:09 PM

That's the only drawback to the longtubes is that they hang down like 2" under your car. Which for me isn't really a problem, I don't go over that many speedbumps.

PureVenom · 07-30-2009, 01:19 PM

That's why I went with mids on my car...it's low enough without LT's hanging down further. lol

19Delta · 07-30-2009, 01:20 PM

Lol, well we can't all drive cobras

RyansQuick6 · 08-01-2009, 06:04 PM

The Ford gaskets are only $7 a piece

StgRsh · 08-01-2009, 11:08 PM

What i'm gonna do is buy the long tubes and have the midpipes custom cut and welded to fit them.

:banana2:

RyansQuick6 · 08-02-2009, 06:17 AM

Your best bet would be to get the MAC LT's and O/R H-pipe, and have 2 magnaflow cats welded in.

On the MAC LT's I highly recommend having the O2 bungs moved inboard, unless you have an auto.

runvsofthisbull · 08-03-2009, 05:52 AM

Your car isn't convertible is it? These headers will not fit the stock K member on convertibles without some modification/work to maneuver around the K member. I had to go with shorties for the time being and ordered chrome, because MAC had a nasty backorder with the ceramic coated shorties at the time. The have discolored, but yea I don't really show them off. Gaskets are solid and work was great, but a nightmare to order. Also what are the diminsions of the Pacesetters? MAC's I believe are 1 5/8 inch primaries with a 2.5 inch collector (atleast my shorties were).

RyansQuick6 · 08-03-2009, 08:31 AM

If you bought shorties, you wasted your money. If you don't run long tubes, you might as well stay stock.

You can have the cross member modified to work, and a few guys haven't had any issues.

PureVenom · 08-03-2009, 08:36 AM

The only difference in cross members is an extra 4 point brace on the verts. Take the brace off and there is no more interference. My K-member is no different than Kyle's or Robert's v6 coupe k-member. Mine just had an extra brace that left my car a looooong time ago.

StgRsh · 08-10-2009, 02:29 PM

Stage3Motorsports e-mailed me the dimensions of the pacesetters. The primary is 1 5/8" and the collector 2 1/2". Exactly the same as the MAC LT's but at a lower price and free shipping.