I'm new here, so please bear with me...lol

Would installing headers on a '97 with a 4.6L make a difference that is worthwhile? If so, what would the differences be?
Thanks.....

 

Headers are better than stock manifolds in both sound and performance. Long tube headers are more performance based than shorties and IMO sound better. The downside is that they are a pain to install and if you live in Gaylafornia, then they are no street legal. Shorties just drop in and bolt up to the stock exhaust while LT's require a completely modified exhaust and relocation of the cats.

If you got the cash and you love your truck to death, then go with the LT's. If you can get your hands on a set of cheap shorties and you could care less about the gains, then you might as well go with them.

 

hey! dont be hatin'. i happen to love my strict laws here...

 

I would sat go with LTs, but if you wand Shortys, i have i set pm me for details

 

Remember, he has a non-PI 4.6, you do. I don't know if your headers will line up with his engine.

 

Shorty headers would be your best bet to stay legal, and gain sound. LTs and hi-flow cats are illegal in Cali. You will need to upgrade to hi-flow cats if you went LTs, OEM wont hold up to the force, and will still kill flow substantially.

 

I'm in Lancaster County Pa. About 60 miles west of Filthadelphia. Thank you to all of you who have replied. Someone told me if I put the headers on, I should do the intake also, to match. That sounds feasible to me....any opinions? Thanks again.....

 

Ok. well you could probably run LTs with no hassle then. For LTs, you will have to get a custom tune for sure, engine is breathing out alot easier so it needs to work a little more by getting more fuel, and hi-flow cats, and an intake would help with performance substantially.

 

all the tune will do is help the the truck learn the new 02 sensor position faster you dont need a tune if you dont want one. because when you move those cats your 02 sensors will be back farther than they were (no big deal)

 

how does the tune learn the new o2 position? i can see a custom tune accounting for lt's but a canned tune will still help with added fuel to compensate moving more air.