Are JBA # 1679S for our Lightnings good? Are they worth the price of headers? I think they are Shorty headers.. wood it be worth just going with long tubes? They are called JBA Cat4ward 1 1/2" Headers.

Mods to date are
6# lower
Chip
Cold air intake
Traction Bars
Slicks

and I plan on porting the eaton


Here is a pic.



Thanks

 

I hear d shorties don't do crap go with the long tubes

 

That's true and I've also heard that they are harder to install than the long tubes

 

Thanks for the info guys.

 

Yeah, if you have the ability to go with long tubes, there are some definite advantages to going that route.
However, if you live in California and you need to actually pass a SMOG inspection, then you'll wanna run these. They are carb legal and despite what some people have been saying they do increase hp, just not as much as the long tubes.

 

Yup my problem is I do have to pass emissions testing

I am sure you do get some gains even with shorty headers but is it worth the $600 plus 4-5 hours labour? Thats what I have to decide.

 

The gains from shorties are marginal at best. You may also want to look at this thread:

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...&highlight=JBA

Do a search on "JBA" and you'll get a mixed bag of experiences. I think I'd have the Eaton ported first, then you might actually gain some hp when you put the shorties on.

 

so what brand name of long tubes are top of the food chain?

 

I know 2 people that tried JBA shorties-1 a regular 5.4, the other a L. Both had terrible experiences and now use other components. Kooks/JDM and Dynatech make the best LT's-Ive heard the Dynatechs are a bit easier to install.

 

Why can't long tubes pass smog? I was considering this also...i live in cali.

 

Besides opinions saying shorties suck, does anybody have any ET gains/Losses or Dyno numbers to show this. I just installed a set of Bassani headers and high flow catback and it wasnt a easy task. Had I not taken my time and done things to perfection, I might have been able to do it in 8 hours. It took me between 10-12 hours to complete the job and I was using a lift. Things that added to the install time were things like chasing the threads in the heads and usuing stage 8 locking headbolts. Overall impression is the headers prolly caused a slight loss in lowend power but I can feel a difference in the upper rpm range. I will dyno in a few weeks to see what dyno gains were but prolly wont go to drag strip for at least 1 month.

 

I have the new LFP coated LT's and high flow cat pipes. The quality is top notch and the sound is awesome too. Check them out on LFP's website. Great price too!