After a long search, I found headers for my 4.2L V6 (JBA's).

Is this a good deal?

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

Or would this be pointless for a smaller engine such as the 4.2L?

Just asking, cuz this is what I have to work with....

On a similar note, I'm having the Flowmaster 40 series w/ dual outs installed this weekend, was thinking about some headers as well, but would like some opinions on whether or not it's even worth it to install headers on a 4.2....

Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

headers are never a bad thing they help any engine flow better. Mustang guy with the V6 (3.9) do it all the time. You are not gonna see MONSTER gains because of them but they are always worth it IMO.

 

you can find mustang 3.8 headers on e bay cheaper just have to do a custom y pipe or duals

 

Save the money and buy gas with it.

 

Ya basically, unless you want to dress it up a bit. If you were saving or something, I wouldn't bother. Hurricanes are coming and you know what that does to gas $$$ anyways. If you still want them, do it, those are the ones to go with and probably easier to install than mod v-8's.

 

I would expect you might see like ~5hp and ~8tq, its up to you to figure if thats worth $450 or not....

 

Excellent! Thanks for the feedback guys! I think I may hold off for a bit and see what the seasons bring...

(BTW - Gas prices in N. Texas really suck right now...)

 

So the 3.8* headers fit on our blocks, but not up to the Y pipe?

 

Right, the heads are identical for the 3.8/ 4.2 Mustang/ truck & van/ and Windstar & Freestar. When I worked in the cylinder head dept. there, no differences were noted. Blocks are the difference, beit front wheel or rear wheel and 3.8 vs. 4.2. The Mustang had stainless headers factory, but won't bolt up to the rest of the exhaust a truck has. All you'd have to do is bridge the gap with some custom modified piping and your set. The Mustang headers looked like headers for a 32 Ford with a small block chev, in that the came straight out turned towards the rear, didn't block hug. After I saw them, I thaught "where's the cap at the collector, and the small pipe going to a reg. exhaust?" Think of John Milner's car in "American Graffiti".

 

So, they come out more from the block and don't connect to the stock system. That's ok with me. BUT!!! Does that extra "Length" from the block run into any problems?

 

what year of mustang for the 3.8 headers?

 

A couple of things:

If your looking for a big power gain, this won't do it. True, it is good for a couple hp (realistically about 3 rwhp), and it looks nice under the hood.

A CAI/cat-back/tune is the best way to get bolt-on power you can feel.

The stock headers on 3.8L / 4.2L engines are not very restrictive, unless you are running a forced induction engine.

If you have your heart set on a pair of headers, buy a pair of used v6 Mustang headers, and have a muffler shop correct the rest of your exhaust.

 

Well I am not looking for huge hp gain but a few would be nice. The only reason I thought of looking inot headers was because I just serviced my truck and found out that both my exhaust manifolds were cracked. So I need to replace them and right would be a good time for an upgrade. 400+ $$$ just seemed a bitto much. So the headers from a V6 Mustang from about the same year will fit at the head?! Muffler shop will need to mod the rest?!

 

Yeah, if you need to replace them anyways, by all means replace them with a nicer flowing peice.

A muffler shop may be needed to fab the connection between the headers and existing flow tubes w/the cats, for a perfect fit. It should be cheap and easy for a muffler shop. I mean, the cost of 3.8L mustang headers + the help of the muffler shop should cost you half the price of those JBA's.