What is the best header & exhaust combination? - S281 3-Valve

[Nifo]

Hello,

I'm planning on installing headers on my SALEEN S281 3V, I love the sound of the stock saleen exhaust but I want it to be more noisy

What's the best way to make it louder without getting the "check engine" light?

and whats the best headers to go for?

Thanks in advance :)

[jaiasmit]

The Kooks headers have always been really good for the 3V Mustang. From what I hear the ARH headers are also very good and similarly priced. Neither one are cheap, but the fit is excellent and you can add your O2 extensions for both to avoid the check engine light. Just be sure that you get a good tune after you add them, or you'll run into problems.

www.brenspeed.com sells the Kooks and I've always had great luck with them. Brent creates fantastic tunes, and they are Saleen Speedlab. In fact, they are racing the 2010 Saleen racecar in the NMRAs this year.

[S281SC Coop]

Headers really do not make much improvement to the power side of our cars , unless you want to run 700 or more. If its sound your looking for,,,get yourself a good set of off road x-pipes.... that baby will rattle your teeth then

[Nifo]

Originally Posted by S281SC Coop

Headers really do not make much improvement to the power side of our cars , unless you want to run 700 or more. If its sound your looking for,,,get yourself a good set of off road x-pipes.... that baby will rattle your teeth then

Ok where can I get one? and will it show me a "check engine" light after installing an X-Pipe?

thanks!

[david01130]

13-17hp is pretty good power IMO. I have JBA LTs and love them. They are pretty well priced too.

[Nifo]

Just saw this on youtube:



what do you guys think? should i go for it?

[S281SC Coop]

Your going to have an option on which X-pipes to get, catted of No cats. We have installed several sets on No cats on both N/A and S/C'ed car..They get loud. As for getting light on the dash... more than likely its going to happen. Its more than likely going to happen with headers also. Its a lot more critical with the S/C cars then it is with the N/A car. I would look around your area and find someone who can do a custom tune on your....or if you have a hand held...see if you can do some datalogging and send that info off to some one like JDM or one of the other reputable tuner to make sure they can get your stuff right. You can find the x-pipes just about anywhere on line
http://www.jbaheaders.com/
http://www.bbkperformance.com/index.php
Im sure there are more also....good luck withyour project
,
QWKENUF
Craig

[07SayleneSC]

Wow, That Magnaflow catted x pipe sounded nice. I like how it was not popping to much..

Im debating between

1. magnaflow w/cats x pipe
2. bassani w/ cats x pipe

bassani is like twice the price but i dont know how it sounds. My buddy had bassani on his 97' and i was always J.

[BERT]

Originally Posted by Nifo

Hello,

I'm planning on installing headers on my SALEEN S281 3V, I love the sound of the stock saleen exhaust but I want it to be more noisy

What's the best way to make it louder without getting the "check engine" light?

and whats the best headers to go for?

Thanks in advance :)

I have this set-up and think it sounds great.

JBA CAT4WARD ceramic coated headers; Stage 8 locking stainless header bolts.
MagnaFlow stainless steel “spun” high-flow cats w/Tru-X Pipe and cat-back exhaust.

[Animal67]

Originally Posted by david01130

13-17hp is pretty good power IMO. I have JBA LTs and love them. They are pretty well priced too.

David...how do you get past the smog and CARB EO# BS?

[david01130]

I haven't had to get smogged yet. But I know someone that can hopefully get it written off for me. There is no way these headers are coming off.

[Animal67]

Originally Posted by david01130

I haven't had to get smogged yet. But I know someone that can hopefully get it written off for me. There is no way these headers are coming off.

Oh ok. Im due next year and did my cams. Dont think it will affect the Smog but who knows. Did you go to JBA in El Cajon to get the LT's? Im serioulsy thinking about it.

[Bruce]

Here is a sound clip and some pictures of my PJ with Bassani Ceramic L/T headers with X-pipes mated up with the Saleen PJ Exhaust.

[hennie]

what might be a nice noisy option with a classic muscle car sound

- ford racing Hotrod cams
- JBA shorties
- MRT H pipe
- Corsa extreme's

it's loud but sound like the a sixties big block

Hennie

[06281E]

Originally Posted by david01130

I haven't had to get smogged yet. But I know someone that can hopefully get it written off for me. There is no way these headers are coming off.

I'm with you on that one! They are never coming off! Even stock i had issues with the car passing, untalented smog place i went to was the cause i think though.

[david01130]

Originally Posted by Animal67

Oh ok. Im due next year and did my cams. Dont think it will affect the Smog but who knows. Did you go to JBA in El Cajon to get the LT's? Im serioulsy thinking about it.

I got them off of craigslist and installed them myself.

[Jason @ 281m]

For long tubes, we are a huge fan on the American Racing Headers and the JBA's. For mid-pipes, I prefer JBA as they tend to be very throaty while at a good price! I have JBA Shorty's and a "One-Off - Prototype" Magnaflow 3" X w/cats and 3" Cat-back with Magnapack Mufflers! Not that I can sell those, but on the dyno for HOURS, I netted 70rwhp! Those results are not very typical, but with the combo and extensive turning, thats what we got.

As far as a good cat-back, I really like the JBA, Magnaflow and LOVE the FRPP FR500 exhaust! But that tends to be quite pricey.

I hope that helps.

[06281E]

I am running the ARH 1 5/8 primary setup to an X with cats mated to the stock Saleen exhaust and the car sounds like a muscle car should but i think the combo of the long tubes and the Saleen quad exit exhaust just makes for one exotic muscle car tone that you do not hear everyday.

[Jake]

I just installed a pypes offroad x and I did not get the sound I was hoping for. I want sound like stated above. If I get cams and longtubes will it get rid of the raspiness and make it deeper again?

[SloRIde]

One of the best places i have found to purchase anything for a mustang is www.stage3motorsports.com . John there is awesome. Their prices have been great and no shipping costs.. You can get a tuner from them also and they will send you the proper tunes!

[wiggywigton]

With long tubes and an x pipe I had serious trumpting issues at 2500 rpms. I had to install new cats and the problem is fixed. I think it has to do with the quad exhaust.

I love the sound now!

[olecoot]

Originally Posted by Bruce

Here is a sound clip and some pictures of my PJ with Bassani Ceramic L/T headers with X-pipes mated up with the Saleen PJ Exhaust.

That's a great looking installation. Did you do it yourself?

'Coot