Headers for 1998 4.6L
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
Headers for 1998 4.6L
I was looking into adding some shorties to my truck and noticed on the Ford Racing website that headers for 1998 models were skipped...97s are alone, then it skips 98 and goes to 99-03...I called them to see what the deal was with skipping 98 and they said the 98s have an oddball y-pipe and the flanges are in a different location...
However, if you use other websites like JBA, they have their headers fitting 97 to 03 4.6s...
Does anybody have cat4ward headers on their 98 4.6? If so, did you have to do any mods or did they just bolt right up?
However, if you use other websites like JBA, they have their headers fitting 97 to 03 4.6s...
Does anybody have cat4ward headers on their 98 4.6? If so, did you have to do any mods or did they just bolt right up?
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Joined: Sep 2002
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I just put them on a couple of weeks ago. In my opinion, in terms of cost and the difficult installation, they are not worth the performance returns. Don't get me wrong, you know the difference with the shorties, but what a PITA! The driver's side was a piece of cake, but the passenger side was a pisser. Besides 2 broken studs, one broken EZ out, $40 worth of cobalt drill bits to drill out the broken EZ out, retapping the head, pulling the starter, starter-battery connection corroded to the point of breaking, and jacking the motor and unbolting the passenger motor mount bracket it was easy. 
I do like the extra nuts it has with the headers, but if I was to do it again I think I would pull the motor...
The JBA's do fit like a glove on the 98 4.6L though. If you don't run into the same problems with the broken studs like I did, you should be all right. At the very least you will have to unbolt the motor mount bracket from the block and jack the motor for the passenger side...Good luck!
AMMOEATER
I do like the extra nuts it has with the headers, but if I was to do it again I think I would pull the motor...
The JBA's do fit like a glove on the 98 4.6L though. If you don't run into the same problems with the broken studs like I did, you should be all right. At the very least you will have to unbolt the motor mount bracket from the block and jack the motor for the passenger side...Good luck!
AMMOEATER
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
Originally Posted by ammoeater
I just put them on a couple of weeks ago. In my opinion, in terms of cost and the difficult installation, they are not worth the performance returns. Don't get me wrong, you know the difference with the shorties, but what a PITA! The driver's side was a piece of cake, but the passenger side was a pisser. Besides 2 broken studs, one broken EZ out, $40 worth of cobalt drill bits to drill out the broken EZ out, retapping the head, pulling the starter, starter-battery connection corroded to the point of breaking, and jacking the motor and unbolting the passenger motor mount bracket it was easy.
I do like the extra nuts it has with the headers, but if I was to do it again I think I would pull the motor...
The JBA's do fit like a glove on the 98 4.6L though. If you don't run into the same problems with the broken studs like I did, you should be all right. At the very least you will have to unbolt the motor mount bracket from the block and jack the motor for the passenger side...Good luck!
AMMOEATER
I do like the extra nuts it has with the headers, but if I was to do it again I think I would pull the motor...
The JBA's do fit like a glove on the 98 4.6L though. If you don't run into the same problems with the broken studs like I did, you should be all right. At the very least you will have to unbolt the motor mount bracket from the block and jack the motor for the passenger side...Good luck!
AMMOEATER
One other question...How long did it take you to install them?
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Joined: Sep 2002
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Not considering the additional problems, figure 4-6 hours with a good selection of tools. I highly recommend using Stage 8 locking header bolts instead of the ones that come with the headers. They are an extra $60, but once you torque them and put the locking clips on, you can forget them. I've heard you have to keep re-torquing the other bolts that come with the kit... www.stage8.com
AMMOEATER
AMMOEATER
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
Originally Posted by ammoeater
Not considering the additional problems, figure 4-6 hours with a good selection of tools. I highly recommend using Stage 8 locking header bolts instead of the ones that come with the headers. They are an extra $60, but once you torque them and put the locking clips on, you can forget them. I've heard you have to keep re-torquing the other bolts that come with the kit... www.stage8.com
AMMOEATER
AMMOEATER
