Hey, is it worth having the heads Ported and Polished? How much do we really gain? Any idea of a hp gain? Also what would I gain if I put headers on to.

 

I have personally heard nothing good about headers on diesels. I have read that they have a tendency to crack.

 

Way better things to spend money on and for better gains.

 

Might ask SuperDoodie, Greg, I think he has had it done on his. Maybe he can give you some insight.

 

I can see headers if you have a full worked motor with a giant turbo. Stock manys hold the heat in better I would think. If the heads are off P&P might help it just flow alittle better. Might not gain any SOTP feeling.

 

port and polish isnt muh hp gains, it isnt done for hp, its done for better flow of boost and in theory easier to get more air into the engine, i have it done on mine.

Headers, are more for sound, atleast thats why i did it. once agian with the bends of the pipe flow a lot better then ****ty designed manifolds. more for sound

 

Headers on a gasser give better flow, and sound. Didn't hear a diesel with headers yet. But I would think you would get better flow. Stock manifolds on a diesel, I would think, would hold heat better for better spool up. I again would think P&P would gain HP since your getting more air in faster.

 

Manifolds of any kind are a cluster*uck, having exhaust pulses bouncing against 90* walls and fighting each other can't be good for flow. YES you can make alot lot lot of hp with stock manifolds, but it is a much better design as far as flow and backpressure reductions for headers. Kenny and me both have DI headers, i had mine JetHot coated, (it's gone now lol) and they do make our trucks sound ALOT different from any 7.3 with manifolds. And yes the first few sets had tendecies to crack at high temperature use, however before i had mine coated i had my exhaust temps well over 2400* and they are fine.



after JetHot coating..



Porting in the right spots also does wonders as far as letting air in and out of the cylinders easy since we are only working with one exhaust and intake valve per cylinder.. If you strip a head down and feel in the ports, there are quite obvious spots where some finesse with a die grinder will get rid of sharp corners and bumps in the ports. I made mine smooth, but didnt polish them so to speak as i wasn't splitting hairs. I do believe i took a few pounds out of the heads though as i did work on them for a few hours a piece each night. I do notice lower boost numbers, which is good because that means air is getting in and out with less restriction

 

That said. i didnt even answer your question.. No headers arent worth the coin at your HP level, and porting is debatable. If you have a good die grinder with alot of stones, and you have a spare head to practice on, then do it. Or else let someone with experience grind on them. I heard a truck with headers once, and i just had to have them.

YouTube - 7.3 Headers exhaust note

Here is the infamous WOT run that had the temps up way high which eventually led to my 7 out of 8 cracked heads between the valves and the dropped valve seat:

(pause it at :56)
YouTube - Slow 7.3 Powerstroke drive by

And i went back for revenge a few months later:
YouTube - Finishing off old tires 7.3 Powerstroke

 

Wow that does sound good. What do you mean at my hp level? How much hp am I making?

 

Anything over 500 IMO should be ported and polished.

What are your mods you will be doing?

 

Dont worry, at your horsepower level you won't need headers whatever it may be. Im guessing you're doing hybrids, 38r and studs?

 

I still think I'm doing headers because of the sound, and I heard they reduce turbo lag. Right now i'm roughly 550hp, this winter its time for oil, bigger turbo, and a few other things. Headers will be on the list.

 

You're at 550hp really? What mods do you have? lol

 

Head studs, fuel system, bigger lines, dual pumps, reg reg, valve springs, swamps push rods, idm mod, 75mm turbo, swamps injectors, swamps hpop (Gen 3), swamps tunes. Thats just some of the major mods, no need to get into the little stuff