97 Cobra Long Tube Headers?

[itsastangthang]

I was thinking about installing long tube headers on my 97 cobra but, I notice I have Air Injection lines on either side of my stock exhaust manifolds, Is it worth the effort to try and pull out the stock ones and install the long tube or am I not gonna get much more Horsepower out of them. I do love the sound of them though...

[OldSVTGuy]

Check out the corral forums or SVT performance forums. This is a PITA job. Yes, you'll get a few hp from it but it is a lousy, time-consuming job. And, some of the more reasonably priced LT's, such as BBK, do not allow the tranny to be removed without removing the passenger side header if you have to replace the clutch. It usually takes about 15 hours or so and most remove the k-member to do it. Do you have the tools and facilities to do this? I have an '01 Cobra and would only go to LT's if I had the engine out and I'd probably do Kooks or another top brand that allow the tranny to be removed without removing one side. These are expensive.

And, when you go to LT's, you also need a new mid-pipe to match - more bucks, especially if you want to stay with cats. And, in some States, like California, it is illegal to modify the exhaust in any manner.

Good luck with your decision.....

[itsastangthang]

I actually went ahead and installed them and omg what a nightmare, I had everything but, my engine apart. I ordered Pace Setters and they are actually not as loud as I thought they would be. If I did it over again I would not have worried about them. I definatley had to drop my K member, Tranny, oil filter, lower brace, strut tower brace, cold air intake, throttle cables etc....I haven't dropped it off the jacks yet I am almost done, I have started it though, its kinda quiet until I rev it up. its taken about a month in my spare time with my father n law to help me.

[OldSVTGuy]

I don't think you can drop the tranny with those. Hopefully, your clutch is good for many more miles. Or, did you replace it while you were doing the job?

And, your experience is the exact reason I would not do this job - it just isn't worth it.

But, you're a better person for it, right??

[itsastangthang]

Actually the transmission wasn't very hard to pull out. I put in a new king cobra clutch and when I reinstalled my long tubes I had to turn the transmission on its side cause of the bellhousing and move it up past the headers and then straighten it back out but, it was just alone trying to find ways to tighten my header bolts was crazy, I would not reccomend long tubes for my year unless your just gonna pull out the engine, even then maybe short tubes would be fine. Your definatley right about pulling the engine out. It's a must.