Longtubes worth it for 96-98 Cobra?

[cheesySLOBRA]

Hey guys, i was just wondering if Longtubes for my 98 cobra is worth it? Are the gains high or what?...If so what brand do you recommend, i have heard things about MAC sucking something back up into the motor messing it up so i dont really want those haha. Also i would have a performance shop do it for me at a rate of $80 per hour, what should labor cost me???

THANKS

 

[98$vt]

Worth it but a big pain in the ass

 

[bumsoil]

I want long tubes, but it is too much money for something g that will be more of a hassle then anything.

 

[gq916]

i prolly wouldnt do it over again..cant even smog that damn car.

 

[howie8124]

I'm replacing the engine in my 98 so I'm putting long tubes on it.

 

[Kiohtee]

Longtubes are a mod that if you don't have the knowledge, tools, or space to do it yourself, you'll probably find it a bigger headache than payoff. Now if money isn't all that big of a concern to you, by all means snatch up a pair of 1-3/4" longtubes and pay a shop for about five hours worth of labor (even if it truly does take them less). Bottom line: They're gonna be a pain for anybody to install, unless the engine is out, so expect to really pay five or so hours worth of labor even if they complete it in 30 minutes (which is unlikely, next to impossible).

And since I don't feel like the 10-20rwhp they'll provide is monumental enough, I'm buying the 1-5/8" longtubes for a stout $500 less new (and will still probably gain 10-15rwhp). But the only reason I'm getting them at all is because I have a bottom end knock and am having to pull the engine out anyway, otherwise I'd probably never get them.

 

[wvragtop]

well what is a good price for some good long tube headers i have much more time than money .so if i can aford them then why not ,but on the other hand if they are prone to leak then mabey not

 

[Kiohtee]

I've never heard anything like that, provided they're installed correctly.

Usually NEW 1-3/4" longtubes go for $900-1,000+. The insignificantly smaller 1-5/8" longtubes go for $350-500 NEW. Shop labor varies by shop and reputation.

 

[Sn8kebitten]

I'd really like to start saving for a set too. I'll definitely have a shop install them but with all the stories ive read about the process, i would've thought it would take alot more than 5 hours. But I've read that you have to unbolt the passenger side longtube to work on or remove the transmission. That's a hassle I don't need and the only long tubes I've read that don't require that are the ~$900 Hooker Super Competition long tubes.

 

[scottg]

not worth it to me and I have a supercharger.

 

[Expurple]

FYI, the problem with MAC headers was that the inner coating was peeling off and being sucked back in the engine via the EGR tubing.

 

[JJ1997PGSVT]

Its really not that hard to do as long as you have the tools and some time. FYI, with bbk headers, you have to unbolt the passenger side header to remove trans. Bit of advice....if you go with headers, you might want to think about a clutch,PP,TO bearing replacement while you're there. I put my headers on and about a year later, my TO bearing failed and had to pull everything apart again.

 

[cheesySLOBRA]

Well i was thinking if i do them they would be bassani mid-length headers so you dont have to worry about taking it all apart to change a clutch or something

 

[epracmetcon]

It is worth it for the exhaust note alone. It's not really hard, just time consuming. If you have basic hand tools and some common sense. It's do able in a weekend.

 

[wvragtop]

how do mids compare to long tubes ? what do the blown cobras come with stock?the same maifoilds as 96-up

 

[Kiohtee]

Shorties IMO, aren't worth the money or hassle. And the Terminators have manifolds stock too.

 

[97cobra...]

I had my installed I love the sound and the proformance gain is noticable, but its one of those thing I ever want to do it looked like a pita

 

[na svt]

If anything, long tubes quiet the exhaust. I say this because everyone I've intalled them on got quieter.

 

[ZD302GT]

^^^^^^^^^ My car go noticeably quieter. I probably would not do them again. Had them on there a 1000 miles (all i drove it this summer) and the clutch started slipping so I am in the process of putting a new clutch in right now and it has made it considerably more difficult.

Although I was able to get the clutch and flywheel out without pulling the k member or the passenger side header. The trans is still trapped under the car by the headers but it is back far enough to get the clutch out thankfully. (I have the BBKs)

downsides are ...
quieter
more heat through the floor
harder to work on
couldnt really feel a difference by seat of pants

Positives are...
local people think you are something special having longtubes and you are a badass wizard for doing the work yourself

 

[Doug]

I'd like to reiterate ZD302GT's comment about the heat. I have BBK headers and they really do produce a lot of heat. Especially during the summer.

But, I could tell a difference before and after with the long tubes. Both seat of the pants and confirmed via timeslips and "private test tracks"