Way to go Art,,,we knew you had it in ya.

 

Most of the stuff is back together, I have to get some stainless screws to re-attach the plastic fender inners, chase down a vacuum leak, and it's time to HIT THE ROAD.

Attention to detail is killing time, and the wife is on my back

 

I been following this thread also, glad to see it's coming to an end. Bet your glad your not being paid flat rate, would have lost big time. Gives us all some idea of what to expect when we have to do it. Thanks for the post.

 

It's done.

No leaks...

Definite improvement in the mid-range. Seems to improve the high-end too, but have no real data to prove it. But definitely an improvement in throttle response in the mid-range.

Quieter than it was, because no leaks...

 

So, overall, it's a worthwhile mod??? Even w/ notching the frame, chasing parts, etc,etc, you'd do it again??

Glad to hear you got it done and w/ no leaks!!

 

I'd do it again...

Exhaust sounds just like it did totally stock. MAYBE it has a bit more punch to it, definitely more punctuated at idle. Nothing remarkable though. You can't tell by the sound of it.

NO DRONE at the 1700-2000RPM mark like it used to do in OD at cruise.

More power between 3000-4500RPM overall. Definitely has more seat-of-the-pants when running it up to 70-80MPH.

Can't wait to see what the y-pipe does for it....

 

The more I listen to it with the radio off and the windows closed, the more I can definitely hear the "header" sound of hearing the exhaust through the pipes

Also, there is a definite punch to the exhaust note from off-idle, but after I get far enough into it, it just hisses like it did with the stock exhaust manifolds.

Time for the y-pipe... that'll be a few weeks or more though, before I can get into that...

As it is now, there is a definite improvement in throttle response. It seems not to need near as much pedal as it used to do to "get up and go"... Quite a bit better ....

Not much change at WOT. But then, I don't need WOT near as much so far.

It just feels freer, I'd guess I'd say.

No loss in low-end.

All the above by the seat of the pants

 

Job well done Art. I bet a custom X pipe with full dual exhaust would really wake up them headers. Maybe a project for another time huh????

 

What preventive maintance can I do to stop a rusted exhaust stud?

High Temp Grease on the studs?

 

funny thing is, most of the studs that I had broken were NOT rusted so bad that they broke. They broke from shear - the studs themselves are just plain defective.

Not much you can do, besides start replacing them.

 

here's the sound clip after the headers were in. Stock y-pipe, stock cat/muffler.

http://www.marinepartsunlimited.com/...ck-exhaust.mp3

Here's the totally stock exhaust, from April 2006. Camera is in the same spot, about the same angle from the tailpipe.

You can definitely tell the headers made a difference.

http://www.marinepartsunlimited.com/...ck-exhaust.mp3

 

Thanks for your post here , I read through it and decided to order the banks system , shortly after you started working on yours. I had 4 studs broken on the manifolds that I could see before I started. I ordered the banks power pack for my 99 v-10 it included from the headers back , not including the cat, or intermediate pipe. At the same time I got the banks auto mind, and trans command. It was a great weekend project, I ended up with 10 broken studs 7 were sticking out of the heads a 3 were broken inside, after buying a 2 hundred plus dollar makita right angle drill to get in the tight spots (only one I could find in the area) they came right out with an easy out, actually one started spinning in as I was drilling it. I have pics of everything and will post when I figure out how. Awesome upgrade, though a little expensive its worth it, makes towing a lot better, and a nice tone to the exhaust.
Keith

 

Damit, damit, damit, damit, damit... Here's am trying to stop myself from reading this thread. I don't NEED headers but I WANT headers...especially now. Damm you Art! Damm you Ford for making such lousy manifolds/bolts & studs!

 

One thing about the "Improved throttle response". It might not be as big a jump as I think it is for one reason.

The old manifolds WERE leaking. When you have a manifold leak, you loose throttle response (low-end). So, I'm comparing leaky stockers to non-leaking headers.

However, I do still feel a difference compared to before it leaked.

 

I like it!!!! Sounds really good......The old lady's gonna kill me!!!

EDITTED by krewat to remove the quoted links, people were clicking on the link which was corrupt, and getting "page not found"