Headers, Cat Removal and Weight


w. mitty

w. mitty

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 1, 2005
704
A couple of questions for those who have removed the exhaust manifolds and cats and replaced them with the Ford headers:

1. Can you estimate how much weight you saved? How heavy are the cats? The manifolds?

2. Can I expect to see any horsepower gain? (I have already installed an Accufab exhuast)

Thanks!
 
I would also like to get an idea on how much time it would take to install headers as well.

BlackICE
 
This is the text from my post in June '06.

Ford Racing Rear Exit Headers Weight Savings:

Note: All weights were obtained using a better-quality digital bathroom scale. I assume that accuracy is probably within 1.0- 1.5lbs.

Stock Muffler: 55 lbs.
Stock Cats(Both): 29 lbs.
Stock Cast Manifolds (Both): 25 lbs.

Total stock exhaust weight: 109 lbs.


Ford Racing Rear Exit Headers/mufflers: 39 lbs. (complete)

Total weight savings: 70 lbs.


Also, note that the heaviest stock component is the muffler. In addition to its massive weight (stike one), is that it sits very high in the car (strike two), and, finally, as has been noted here, it blocks a substantial amount of airflow (strike three).

The Rear Exit Header System, by contrast, is not only much lighter, but the weight is also lower. The header tubes pass UNDER the halfshafts and then the collector mufflers are almost at the same height. There is now literally nothing behind the airbox. No more heat soak. Good-bye 70 lbs!
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And the link to the entire thread is here.
 
nota4re said:
This is the text from my post in June '06.QUOTE]
Sounds great but please speak to issues involving the check engine light, passing an emission test and db level.
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NOTA4RE,

Thanks for your reply -- great detailed information. I shoulda used the search key :bored

Any guidance on the hp gain?
 
Further on this - has anyone dyno'd the car before and after the FFRP headers mod? Because I'm getting conflicting info. My dealer tech says I should gain 60 -80 HP but techs who have actually made the change say the gain is only 10 HP.
 
nota4re said:
This is the text from my post in June '06.



And the link to the entire thread is here.
Click to expand...

I am wondering if the weight savings with or with out hp gains will help the car be quicker due loss of traction? These cars have a hard enough time keeping the tires from letting loose, and to take weight from the back of the car seems like it would be a net zero gain for performance off the line.
 
FLYGT40 and I are tentatively going to try to get our cars dyno's back to back next Friday. His car is stock. I have the rear exit headers.

Regarding the difference of opinion regarding HP gains, I think that the headers alone will add maybe 20+ HP. Just my opinion from experience. However, I think that the headers in conjunction with a tune that really accounts for them, 50 HP+ is possible. Hopefully we'll be able to get FLYGT40, Muscle Motors, and I together next week.
 
I am wondering if the weight savings with or with out hp gains will help the car be quicker due loss of traction? These cars have a hard enough time keeping the tires from letting loose, and to take weight from the back of the car seems like it would be a net zero gain for performance off the line.
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Less 70lbs, the tires have that much less mass to get moving. Additionally, once you're hooked up, you've got 70lbs less weight you're carrying down the track. I also think the GT's ability to transmit power to the ground is amazing for the HP/TQ levels present. This has even been commented on by some of the car rags who have a lot of experience in abusing cars and tires.
 
I picked my car today, I had the Ford Racing Header installed into my Borla, and had a SS installed. WOW WOW, What a sound, incrediblely nasty, and bad ass. Real american muscle, deep, and crackling. I LOVE it. The shifter is awesome too. Very percise, it's the best shifting I have ever done, well worth every penny. You can hear my car coming 4 block away when half throttle. Wide open, forget about it, it screams. But if you drive gentle 1/4 throttle, nice soft rumble, nothing too terrifing. Car seems lighter, but it's probably in my head. Now it sounds like a real race car.

MG
 
nota4re said:
Less 70lbs, the tires have that much less mass to get moving. Additionally, once you're hooked up, you've got 70lbs less weight you're carrying down the track. I also think the GT's ability to transmit power to the ground is amazing for the HP/TQ levels present. This has even been commented on by some of the car rags who have a lot of experience in abusing cars and tires.
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Thanks for your reply :confused I know about the weight savings but out of the "hole" does it "more than compensate the difference in the 1/4?

There are of lot of statistics guys on SVTPERFORMANCE.com that can do the math on this one but most of them are 14 year's old and can't drive. :lol

Any mathimaticians here?
 
In effect, your argument is that you can add weight to the rear of a fast car in hopes that you can improve your 1/4mi times??

The lighter car will be faster with all other factors being equal.
 
MG0427 said:
I picked my car today, I had the Ford Racing Header installed into my Borla, and had a SS installed. WOW WOW, What a sound, incrediblely nasty, and bad ass. Real american muscle, deep, and crackling. I LOVE it. The shifter is awesome too. Very percise, it's the best shifting I have ever done, well worth every penny. You can hear my car coming 4 block away when half throttle. Wide open, forget about it, it screams. But if you drive gentle 1/4 throttle, nice soft rumble, nothing too terrifing. Car seems lighter, but it's probably in my head. Now it sounds like a real race car.

MG
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Excellent. Did you have the headers Jet Hot Coated first? Maybe guys with experience can pipe in as to whether that's a good idea or unnecessary with the FFRP Headers.
 
Yes I had them jet coated so the color won't fade.
 
nota4re said:
In effect, your argument is that you can add weight to the rear of a fast car in hopes that you can improve your 1/4mi times??

The lighter car will be faster with all other factors being equal.
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You are correct. Obviously the lighter car will be faster, I just thought the launch would have more wheel spin and not equal the gain.
 
Red Rocket said:
Further on this - has anyone dyno'd the car before and after the FFRP headers mod? Because I'm getting conflicting info. My dealer tech says I should gain 60 -80 HP but techs who have actually made the change say the gain is only 10 HP.
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Rocket,

typical case of dealer talk vs tech talk. You can sefely assume the tech is usually right(er).

Whatever the dealer says, I apply the following 'correction factor': divide it by 10 and multiply by 0.3 to get to the truth. :lol

You need/should however slightly adjust A/F to optimize, as you have less backpressure in case of cat removal.
Haven't dynoed before and after, but it's not a huge difference in power, but very noticeable in sound and somewhat in enginebay temps. That leads to additional power in longer time driving conditions or hot air with traffic jams and so forth, eventually.
 
MG0427 said:
I picked my car today, I had the Ford Racing Header installed into my Borla, and had a SS installed. WOW WOW, What a sound, incrediblely nasty, and bad ass. Real american muscle, deep, and crackling. I LOVE it. The shifter is awesome too. Very percise, it's the best shifting I have ever done, well worth every penny. You can hear my car coming 4 block away when half throttle. Wide open, forget about it, it screams. But if you drive gentle 1/4 throttle, nice soft rumble, nothing too terrifing. Car seems lighter, but it's probably in my head. Now it sounds like a real race car.

MG
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Stop...Confirmation from Italy...Stop :Got the same setup, and I completely agree. Well said !


Stefan
 
Stefan,

Was that YOU yesterday?.... about 9:00 a.m. PT (~5PM Italy)? .... I thought I heard a distant roar.... just wondered if that was you get'n on it. Probably took some time for the sound to get to SoCal.... so it could have been earlier Italian time.
 
Red Rocket said:
Excellent. Did you have the headers Jet Hot Coated first? Maybe guys with experience can pipe in as to whether that's a good idea or unnecessary with the FFRP Headers.
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Yes, helps keep the heat inside the engine bay down. Looks much, much better than stock also. Some say it lowers the pinging/rattling internal engine sounds that is normally associated with thinner stainless headers also.
 
Gulf GT said:
Yes, helps keep the heat inside the engine bay down. Looks much, much better than stock also. Some say it lowers the pinging/rattling internal engine sounds that is normally associated with thinner stainless headers also.
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Dave, when are you gonna bring that thing by?
 
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