How to Install BBK Shorty Headers on a Mustang
Replacing the factory headers on your Mustang with performance aftermarket headers, such as those produced by BBK, is an effective and relatively simple way to increase horsepower and torque and give your Mustang a louder and more aggressive exhaust note. Headers serve as an intermediary for airflow between the engine and the exhaust, and shorty headers are a particular style of headers designed to minimize the distance the air has to travel to reach the exhaust.
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Things You'll Need
- Crescent wrench
- 10 mm wrench
- 13 mm wrench
- Flashlight or other light source (optional)
- Jack (Optional)
- Jack stands (Optional)
- Tire chocks (Optional)
Instructions
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1
Pull the hood release lever, typically located underneath and to the left of the steering wheel, and open the hood. Older Mustangs may also have hood pins that need to be released before the hood can be opened.
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2
Disconnect the ground (black) battery cable from the battery. Most versions of the Mustang use a bolt to connect the battery cables to the battery which must be loosened with an adjustable wrench before removal. Wait 15 minutes for any remaining electrical charge to dissipate before moving on.
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3
Remove any engine components that are located above the headers and would prevent you from lifting the headers up and out of the engine bay. On most model year Mustangs the oil dipstick will need to be removed, which is typically connected with a 10mm bolt.
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4
Remove the bolts that connect the stock headers to the engine. On most Mustangs these will be 13mm bolts that can be removed with a 13mm wrench. They are located inside of the engine bay.
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5
Remove the bolts that connect the stock headers to the exhaust. On most Mustangs these will be 13mm bolts. The connection between the headers and the exhaust is located underneath the vehicle. The easiest way to access these bolts is to lift the Mustang using a lift or a jack and jack stands.
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6
Remove the now disconnected headers from the engine bay. Make sure to lift straight up rather than diagonally to avoid scraping or damaging any other part of your Mustang.
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7
Line up your new BBK headers with the bolt holes that connected the stock headers to the Mustang engine. Use the same bolts that you removed to connect the BBK headers to the engine. Repeat this process to connect the BBK headers to the factory exhaust.
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8
Replace any engine components that you had to remove in order to remove the stock headers from the engine bay. Make sure to replace them in exactly the reverse order that you removed them.
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9
Connect the ground (black) battery cable to the battery. Close the hood and turn on your Mustang. Place your hand behind the exhaust pipe in order to feel for warm air, which indicates that the headers were installed properly. If you do not feel warm air flowing out of the exhaust, recheck all connections.
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