Long Tube Headers or Just O/R X Pipe?

cmiller94

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Hi all, so I've got a 2011 Mustang GT that I picked up last spring. It was all stock when I got it, but around September of last year, I got a Cobra Jet intake manifold, FRPP cold air, GT500 twin 60 mm throttle body, and a VMP tune.

I'd like to do something exhaust related next and have been trying to decide if long tube headers are worth it. If I got long tube headers, I'd probably get Stainless Power. I live in Canada, so with install, Stainless Power headers would be around $3,000. I could install O/R X pipe in my garage so that would save me on install and would mean I'd only be about $600 for an X pipe.

So my question is, what's the expected power gain from long tube headers and what's the expected power gain from an O/R X pipe? Obviously with either choice I'd have VMP update the tune. Are the headers really worth 5x the money over an O/R X pipe?

Btw, I did try searching this, but couldn't really find anything that specifically addressed the power differences between an O/R X pipe and long tube headers.
 

96gt02

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The LTs will probably give you around 10-15ish more HP over the stock manifolds with O/R Pipe being your going with a CJ mani, otherwise it would be even less of a difference but LTs shine up high. Its up to what makes more sense cost wise, its kinda like the CJ vs 18 mani debate, sure the CJ is better but is the cost worth it? To some yes to some no.
 

cmiller94

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The LTs will probably give you around 10-15ish more HP over the stock manifolds with O/R Pipe being your going with a CJ mani, otherwise it would be even less of a difference but LTs shine up high. Its up to what makes more sense cost wise, its kinda like the CJ vs 18 mani debate, sure the CJ is better but is the cost worth it? To some yes to some no.

So would you say it's probably reasonable to figure there'd be a 10-15 hp gain with an O/R X and a 25 - 30 hp gain with headers?
 

cmiller94

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Not worth it. Get the o/r x, tune touched up, and save the money for something else.

Yeah, I'm thinking that will make the most sense. It looks like the $/hp goes up significantly when comparing an O/R X to long tube headers.

Any recommendations as to which X-Pipe to get? I was originally looking at Pypes, but came across Lethal Performance and their X pipe seemed to have really good reviews.
 

Tyrod

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On3 has a stainless orx and ota for 245 each. Great quality on both of them.
 

LethalBlake

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Hi all, so I've got a 2011 Mustang GT that I picked up last spring. It was all stock when I got it, but around September of last year, I got a Cobra Jet intake manifold, FRPP cold air, GT500 twin 60 mm throttle body, and a VMP tune.

I'd like to do something exhaust related next and have been trying to decide if long tube headers are worth it. If I got long tube headers, I'd probably get Stainless Power. I live in Canada, so with install, Stainless Power headers would be around $3,000. I could install O/R X pipe in my garage so that would save me on install and would mean I'd only be about $600 for an X pipe.

So my question is, what's the expected power gain from long tube headers and what's the expected power gain from an O/R X pipe? Obviously with either choice I'd have VMP update the tune. Are the headers really worth 5x the money over an O/R X pipe?

Btw, I did try searching this, but couldn't really find anything that specifically addressed the power differences between an O/R X pipe and long tube headers.


We have a few different options for our very own Lethal Performance exhaust line that is currently 10% off through 04/08:Lethal Performance
 

clinton2003

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really depends on your goals for the car. do you ever see yourself going forced induction?

if you see yourself going turbo, stick with o/r x/h pipe.
if you see yourself going supercharger/blower get the headers
if you see yourself spraying nitrous get the headers
if you see yourself going full n/a build get the headers
if you see yourself keeping mods basic and have a great reliable car..... stick with o/r x/h pipe (not that headers wouldnt be reliable, but easier to switch back to stock for emissions and or if/when you sell the car.
 

FJohnny

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Hey, fellow Edmonton guy.

It's not too late for you to reconsider the path you are going down. You are doing a nice bunch of mods bit by bit and considering gains from each part so I'm guessing performance and cost are important to you. Maybe a certain look is more so?

Forced induction would probably cost less than full bolt ons but give a whole lot more power. Without needing high rpm to make this power. In Edmonton we can only hit it hard from one pothole to the next so instant torque is a really useful thing.

Definitely worth considering. See you on the streets.
 

cmiller94

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Forgot to turn on the e-mail notifications for this thread and just realized I'd missed a bunch of replies!

really depends on your goals for the car. do you ever see yourself going forced induction?

if you see yourself going turbo, stick with o/r x/h pipe.
if you see yourself going supercharger/blower get the headers
if you see yourself spraying nitrous get the headers
if you see yourself going full n/a build get the headers
if you see yourself keeping mods basic and have a great reliable car..... stick with o/r x/h pipe (not that headers wouldnt be reliable, but easier to switch back to stock for emissions and or if/when you sell the car.

Definitely don't see turbo or nitrous in my future. There's a very very small possibility of a supercharger at some point. Currently, basic mods and a reliable car probably best describe what I'm going for. :)

Hey, fellow Edmonton guy.

It's not too late for you to reconsider the path you are going down. You are doing a nice bunch of mods bit by bit and considering gains from each part so I'm guessing performance and cost are important to you. Maybe a certain look is more so?

Forced induction would probably cost less than full bolt ons but give a whole lot more power. Without needing high rpm to make this power. In Edmonton we can only hit it hard from one pothole to the next so instant torque is a really useful thing.

Definitely worth considering. See you on the streets.

The "certain look" isn't really important to me. Pretty much everything I look at doing I just look at $/hp lol.

I'd love to do forced induction, but that's not going to be a real possibility anytime soon. Even if I did the install myself, I think I'd be looking at $10k + (in Canadian dollars) to do a supercharger. Especially as I wouldn't do a supercharger without doing oil pump gears. The instant torque would sure be nice from one pot hole to the next though. Edmonton does not have a lot of places to run it out to the 7500 rpm that the intake manifold likes lol.

I think at this point the X pipe makes the most sense. I think it's currently got the best $/hp value! :)

We have a few different options for our very own Lethal Performance exhaust line that is currently 10% off through 04/08:Lethal Performance

Damn, missed the sale! Oh well, thinking the Lethal one still looks like it is the best option, so I'll still likely end up going with it.
 

LethalBlake

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Forgot to turn on the e-mail notifications for this thread and just realized I'd missed a bunch of replies!



Definitely don't see turbo or nitrous in my future. There's a very very small possibility of a supercharger at some point. Currently, basic mods and a reliable car probably best describe what I'm going for. :)



The "certain look" isn't really important to me. Pretty much everything I look at doing I just look at $/hp lol.

I'd love to do forced induction, but that's not going to be a real possibility anytime soon. Even if I did the install myself, I think I'd be looking at $10k + (in Canadian dollars) to do a supercharger. Especially as I wouldn't do a supercharger without doing oil pump gears. The instant torque would sure be nice from one pot hole to the next though. Edmonton does not have a lot of places to run it out to the 7500 rpm that the intake manifold likes lol.

I think at this point the X pipe makes the most sense. I think it's currently got the best $/hp value! :)



Damn, missed the sale! Oh well, thinking the Lethal one still looks like it is the best option, so I'll still likely end up going with it.


Send me a PM when your ready ill do my best to take care of you ;)
 

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