Hey...so I just picked up an 04 mach 1 last week and am ready to start modding it. Im pretty sure Im going with a bassani cat back but wasnt sure on the headers. I dont want to skimp on this car and go the BBK route where they will start rotting out in two weeks. I was looking at SLP and Kooks but have heard that there are clearance issues with the steering shaft (that BBK takes care of by creasing one of the collecting tubes). Does anyone know which has the better clearance/performace package?

 

I have SLP they hang low especially with cats.

 

SLP is nice and fits tight, but man do they make their long tubes hang low. Hard to beat ceramic coated MAC long tubes and matching shorty H-pipe.

 

I just ordered them for my S197...

You can probably find some good youtube videos showing clearance and how they look all bolted up

 

Kooks is some good stuff. I never personally ran them but the build quality looks great, and not kinks or two-part headers to solve the steering problem.

 

Your getting all the smart bolt's on done before that blower aren't you

 

FWIW, A buddy of mine put bassani midlength headers on his 03 Mach and made 21hp/10tq. They fit easily and well and don't interfere with future clutch jobs. Kinda spendy but they do make power on the 4v's.

 

I'm trying man... I've learned a lot from you guys over the year or so that I've been a member... Can't wait for it all to come together

 

After working for a MAC dealer for years, I like their exhaust products. Good product for the cost, especially the ceramic coated ones that Spike mentioned. Bassani stuff is nice too. Worth looking at.

We became a Kooks dealer as well, but rarely sold any since their headers started at $600 a set (9 years ago, now over a grand) and were custom built to order. Fine product, but better suited for a hard to find application which almost any Mustang application is not.

Intake products? BBK is fine.
Exhaust? ANYTHING other than BBK! (Broken, Bent, or Kinked)

 

thanks for the imput guys. I still have another few weeks before I pull the trigger on it but I cant wait to hear how my car sounds after the job gets done

 

I went with hooker on mine. No need for removal on future tranny work, dont hang as low as others, and made a nice 314/347 on dyno with only intake and exhaust mods.

 

Hookers are great headers. However, don't use their gaskets, use locking hardware (I like Percy's), get the SS or Ceramic version, and grab some Flowmaster 3" to 2.5" ball-and-socket reducers. The thin 18 gauge tubing will rust quickly, especially if driven in damp/salty environments. In addition, to eliminate any leak sources, the ball and socket collectors, along w/ locking hardware and better gaskets make a huge difference. Personally though, I would grab something that's designed with fit and not power as priority number 1, for the street. I've been down the road with Hookers and while the power was great, it wasn't a glove fit. If I did it again, I'd go w/ Kooks. Shame that Hooker doesn't make Comp versions for our cars...

 

+1 on the gaskets

 

I would use hooker, but I am not a fan of slip fit connectors.