Looking for some feedback from those who are running headers on your truck. What brand, any issues, gains....etc.
Thanks all

 

You want Long Tubes. Built54 on the dyno got 30/hp and 34 or 35/tq. With shorties he got 0/hp and 0/tq.

Dynatech is known as the top brand but is very expensive. $1400 with the mid pipes and high flow cats. T304 stainless steel.

OBX is very similar. Same design and materials. There are a few negatives going around about the OBX such as thin tubing and bad welds but have all been made by people who have never owned the OBXs or even seen them. Those who own them have praised the quality. And, the OBXs are less than half the price. Down side is they come with resonators that need to be replaced with high flow cats where the Dynatechs come with high flow cats. Still, after all is said and done, you're a whole lot less into the OBXs money wise than you are the Dynatechs for essentially the same setup. Also, T304 stainless steel. $500 w/mid pipe(s) and resonators.

Pacesetter is another common brand used here. Like the OBX, there are some negatives going around but most people have had no problems with them on here. I think built54 was the only one I read that had a problem. They're the least expensive. They're constructed of mild steel and not stainless. I believe they come painted but the paint burns off which is why people like shifty85 stripped the paint and repainted with a paint made to withstand the extreme heat. $280 headers only.

There is also Kooks but I know nothing about them. I have only heard that they are a good brand.

 

i had the pacesetter shorties before i found this site for 3 years on my truck with no probs...Threw 3 michigan winters of Snow and salt even with no high temp paint *they were super rusty lookin* but no holes or cracks...i now have pacesetter longtubes...so does Jbrew on his 5.4L. i painted my headers with VHT flamerpoof header paint...so far its doing good but its only been about 3 weeks since i put them on....i noticed gains right away. when i had my shorites id hammer it from a light and the tires would Cheerp and then grab....with longtubes i leave 50 foot black marks deff added seat of the pants HP and a nice sound...they were only 283.00 bucks and i got dynomax bullets for 41.95 on summit... that paint was 8.90 or something a can from Summit. i know people dont like pacesetter cuz there not Stainless steel but if that steel can last unprotected in 3 years of michigan weather....thats some good steel!!
But yes Dynatech headers are the best Stainless steal...but they will cost an arm and a leg.
Kooks are much like dynatechs very good and SS. but also very pricey...
OBX's are made in china and are SS but a few people have had issuses with them breaking/leaking at the welds.
Its all about what you have money for and what you think you'll like on your truck. i will say pacesetters because well ive had 2 of there products and i love the brand...but if you have the money get the dynatechs or Kooks...id stay away from OBX's but this is all just IMO. Good luck!!

 

Yeah I had pacesetter shorties, didnt get anything but trouble. cracked 4 times. I bought gibson shorties, gained nothing over the manifolds. put on dynatech long tubes with high flow cats, gained 30hp/35ftlbs. that was with the PI Head swap and comp cams, but the gain would still be high for a normal engine. I had the shorties off and the long tubes on in 4 hours.

 

Did you have the blower on your truck when you installed the pacesetters?
How were the defects handled, i.e. did pacesetter honor a warranty or anything?
I am thinking OBX may be the way to go on my 4.6. I am totally NA except for the tune and cat back exhaust. I live in Texas and we have mild winters.

 

no that was with my pi head swap and comp cams. pacesetter did nothing. claimed it was not their fault.

 

Check out 01Roush's thread on his OBXs if you haven't already. He has the 5.4 but it will give you an idea of what you're looking at.

 

Those headers were pretty. The sticker on my block says the motor was manufactured 7/24/00. It's a romeo 4.6L. Would I have PI heads? Anyway for me to tell externally?

 

i didnt think the 4.6L started having PI heads till 03? im prob wrong someone will let you know but i didnt think they were PI till 03.

 

Been working on and off installing a set of pacesetter longtubes in my '97 4x4. I've run into a couple of problems:

1. the header tube coming off the second cylinder back on the driver side turns down almost immediately after the mounting flange, thus making installing a full-length bolt impossible.

2. the front drive shaft hits the driver side header.

3. the passenger side header required grinding on the tranny bellhousing.

4. When the lousy weather decides to cooperate, I'm going to look closer, but all indications look like, after fighting to get the driver side header in, I'm going to have to remove it and take it in to a shop and have the O2 sensor bung ground off and have a new one cut in to the opposite side of the header, as it looks like the O2 sensor will run right into the driveshaft.

I had to drop the starter, unbolt the passenger side motor mount from the block and jack the motor up. It's looking like I'm going to have to unbolt the driver side motor mount and jack the driver side of the motor to get all the bolts in as well.

All in all, tons of fun.

I just hope it was worth it.

 

wow talk bout some issues yeah that front bolt is a PITA!! as for the tranny on the passenger side? i donno mine cleared fine. did you get the 4x4 headers? they put the o2 senor in a diff. place than the 2wd ones. as for the driveshaft i dont have 4x4 so i donno bout that. heat um up and bend it a lil.

pacesetter gives a 5 year warenty i belive vs deffects in there work. i would think headers not fitting and hitting drive shafts is there bad!

good luck