Hey

i have been trying to convince not only my wife

but also myself about slapping on some headers.

i figure with the FIPK i am puting good air in might as well get the bad out...duh

i have had 2people ( one was a radiator guy) tell me that it would be hell

so i am wondering is it really that tough to install headers? looks tight in there.

i don't think i would do it, but a good mechanic should be able to do it ...is it still a chore for him? or is it fairly easy i could probably figure it out..in a lot of hours...LOL

i want to start there before i replace my CATs and flowmaster. w/ BORLA? MAGNAFLOW? FLOWMASTER? DUALS?

dave

 

I did the headers myself, they were not hard, however they did take time.

Chris

 

thats cool.

what brand were they?

how was the fit?

did you notice gains...HP? TQ? milage? (gotta tell the wife its good for milage)

and of course i have to ask..are you generally good mechanically or what.

i am pretty novice..change light bulbs..oil..tune-up (on older cars...LOL)..installed my FIPK...seems like headers could offer problems...i look down there though and it really doesnt look too bad...just "tight" like everything is so crammed together.


dave

 

Pretty sure you need a custom chip for headers..

 

yeah i'm not sure...

but thats why i am kinda making the chip the last things i add.

besides...it would be cool to have all the gains already then add the chip and get an extra 20-30 hp!


dave

 

I would recommend under drive pulleys and electric fans before doing the headers. The reason being less money and less work. After those items then go ahead with the headers. I installed JBA headers. It was a straight forward install, but quite tedious. The old exhaust manifolds came off with little trouble, but getting those header bolts threaded in is a b_tch! The reason is that you need to get your fingers to bend around those header pipes. I would certainly get the locking header bolts as I had no desire to get back in there to routinely retorque those regular bolts. You can do it yourself with regular mechinics tools, but plan an entire day for the project. IN addition, you may need custom tuning for your headers - such as Superchip.

 

how good is the fan? just easing the stress on the engine?

how about the pullys?


yeah i think i might beable to tackle the headers... JBA shorties i think.

is a decent jack and stands enough to get the job done underneath?

sounds scary...but i think the headers can be doable. by me that is LOL just seems so tight in there. i wish the stupid HAYNES book was out for my year...2001

thanks


dave

 

Hey Avirtudlbeing; If you have all the suff on your truck that you say then Hedders is the way to go. I have JBAs on both of my trucks.the install is easy and the results are great. The reason I choise JBAs, Is they fit almost perfect. And the power from them is, Well you will be able to tell the difference. I know there are others who make Hedders but the only you hear of on this site is JBAs. I think for more power youll want Magnaflows..For a bitchen sound try z-55s Ravins.. Hi flow cats are pricy. And un less you have been a very good Boy you may have some trouble talking your wife into them.Any way good luck Oldgray

 

yeah overall i am just thinking of getting the breathing a lot better..i have another post about a new throttle boddy.

is a jack and few stands enough to get under and install headers?

as for the cats..i thought they were only about $70????

hey is there any problems you ran into popping in the headers?

so you like the magnaflow? is that what youre running?

thanks man


oh the wife....she thinks i am the spending


dave

 

The pulleys I am running are the ASP 2 pulley system. Basically slows the acc belt by 25% giving you about 10 horses. THe nice thingk about pulleys is you get the extra power all the time.

Electric fans - I have two Derale fans. In a nutshell you take off the 14# stock steel fan. So the engine doesn't have to spin it up the speed every time. You get 10-15 horses and 1+ mpg increase. In addition you get better than stock cooling - in particular when in traffic at slow to idle speeds, electric fans still run at full speed. Fans can be wired to come on with the AC so you get far better than stock AC efficiency.

I would say you have two options with your 5.4 - first the 'shorty' JBA ceramic coated (you want ceramic coated), bolts up with little trouble. Second would be the JDM 'long tube" headers - giving you bigger performance and a much bigger hit to your checkbook.

A set of jack stands is all you need. Jack up one side set the stand, remove front tire and plastic fender liner and you have good access to your work area. I thought the passenger side was a bit easier to do, but really the only real problem was threading those new header bolts into the block. Obviously you want to be working on a cold engine, and for sure you don't want to cross thread those bolts. One helpful hint I found was buying a box-end ratchet wrench in the size of the new header bolts. Your regular socket will not work as the header pipes are in the way. A regular box-end wrench will work, but it is more hassle. Again I liked the Stage-8 locking bolts - a bit pricey, but if you're will to spend the cash for new pipes, then bolts really isn't all that much more.

I didn't notice a large increase in power (by seat of the pants), but in fairness I'm making good power before the headers. I already had Exhaust, plugs, wires, coil packs, injectors, fuel pump, pulleys, fans, bigger mass air meter, intake, and custom tuning to run it all. But I would do headers again. The real gains will be had after the supercharger install, but I've a bit more cash to save first.

 

well i must say you kinda gave me the answer i was looking for

i think my FEARS are about gone, and i can probably do the headers in a few hours!

oh, what would hbe the major differences on the shortys vs the long tube headers?

since you also mentioned the fan and pullys...i guess i will have to let the ol lady know about those too

thanks alot

hey do you have a gallery of your rig on this site?


dave

 

DEFINATELY do the fans and pulleys !! I got a good performance difference..I have Steeda pulleys and a flex-a-lite fan..I also did a Cobra R water pump while I was in there..

 

pretty truck

oh i totally agree....

"Truth is not validated by the amount of people that believe in it. "


dave