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S550 GT350R Race Car Build Build Thread Profile - S550 Mustangs

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Great choice in headers!
Are you planning on wrapping the headers also?

I just ordered a set of BMR lowering motor mount brackets that allow stock height, 1/4” lower and 1/2” lower. I want to lower the center of gravity. My only concern is header clearance. The ARH long tubes take up a lot of space. If you decide to wrap the headers it’s going to be a tight fit.
I’ve been considering going back to stock headers and running the kooks GT4 exhaust.
I’ll see how the motor mounts work out first.


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Did you wrap them front to back?
 
Did you wrap them front to back?

If you’re asking if I wrapped my headers no sir I haven’t.
I have ARH headers and catless pipes, but I run also the ARH X pipe and use oem mufflers. But I also have ARH mufflers and Borla mufflers.

I too have a QA1 Carbon fiber drive shaft and have the same titanium wrap but have yet to install it.
It’s a tight fit running long tubes on these cars. If the motor mount brackets cause an issues I’ll probably go back to stock headers and run the GT4 system as mentioned before.

Giving up the sound the voodoo makes with long tube headers would make it a hard choice though.
Not to mention the additional 30+ rear wheel hp increase.

The easiest way to install headers is to lower the K-member. On my GT350 I didn’t lower the K-member I just removed the motor mount bracket on the right side (passenger) and the starter. On the left side I just removed the steering shaft from the rack and pinion only, not from the steering column.
ARH headers use the same bolt pattern and header gaskets as the 5.0. I prefer the oem header gaskets.
You have to swap the two center exhaust port bolts / studs to the opposite holes.
Red highlighted holes are for oem headers and kooks.
745873340312a260c72b9938af16a54a.jpg

Yellow highlighted holes are for 5.0 and ARH headers
7c6f335a180e165384f5a3675b7190ed.jpg

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Wrapped the exhaust front to back.

First header done — from collector forward:

View attachment 3847

Nick
I hope that wrap doesn’t cause clearance issues. If / when the motor torques over its very close to the rails and causes false knock on some gt350’s
No disrespect but maybe ceramic coating would be a better option.

I run ARH headers on my 2016 track pack without any problems.
Below are pictures of a friends GT350 also with ARH.
He auto X and his rub all the time.
This is his second set of ARH headers.

f1a124d7a46e6ef95a23ac783b7d455a.jpgc9b473ba68f556e2b0cb4b9b0da5af2d.jpg


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Thanks, but I think the wrap is soft and thin enough to not cause major knock issues. I'm contemplating running the Watson solid engine mounts to minimize engine rock and improve engine torque response. Ran those on the Boss with good results. Prior to that, Polymer lowering mounts melted on the Boss with headers....

Also had to jiggle the Boss headers on the bolts to avoid Steering column interference. Those were Kooks headers. Will be careful with this install to maximize rail clearance if there's any jiggle with these.....
 
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Sounds like you guys might need a ball-peen hammer if things are getting close in there.

That’s one of the reasons why I want to lower the engine to see if I can gain clearance around the frame rails.
Along with changing the center of gravity and also to use a cobra jet intake. I have a set of BMR MM008 motor mount brackets on the way that retain the oem mount. These allow stock height, 1/4” lower and 1/2” lower settings, I still have a Flat plane crank and do not want a urethane or solid mount.


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501
550
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Snowy North
Have you seen or heard about possible oil pan-PS rack interference issues when lowered by 1/2”?

I have not, but was told today by a motor mount manufacturer that they’d heard scattered complaints.
 

steveespo

Lord knows I'm a Voodoo Child
Moderator
4,008
1,924
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
10-20 Years
Cookeville TN
Have you seen or heard about possible oil pan-PS rack interference issues when lowered by 1/2”?

I have not, but was told today by a motor mount manufacturer that they’d heard scattered complaints.

I lowered my engine in my S197 by 1/2" and had a Moroso aluminum pan on it. driver's side rubbed on the k-member. @captdistraction has since had the pan repaired. Don't know if S550 cars have same issues.
 
501
550
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Snowy North
Mine did not with OEM 5.0L steel oil pan and BMR 007 @ -1/2”.

I am installing a Voodoo oil pan (as on 2018’s) and will have clearance details shortly.
 
Nick, will that throw a code?
 

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