Header opinions please
 

I want to replace my entire exhaust system on my truck. I have a 2001 F250 with the 2 valve 5.4. I believe that headers will increase my horsepower, and I also know that it's not a lot, maybe up to 25 more horsepower. When it's done, I want a better Y pipe, and then dual after the cat with good performance muffler's, not loud. I have a chance to buy a pair of Gibson, stainless steel, ceramic coated shorty headers from someone who bought them, and then sold their truck before installing them. I can get them for less then 200 bucks, and they are the right one's for my truck. I know some people will say, don't bother, the increase isn't that much, but the way I see it, if you do enough small increases it will ad up. I'm not big on tuner's like some of you. I have heard horror stories that have happened, and I don't want to be the next person to tell one. Headers will increase the power, without any risk of damaging the motor. So, I'm looking for opinions here, both good an bad. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks

My buddy just had to replace his 5.4 with 96xxx miles on it... 6500$ later.. he was screw it and put new headers on too.. he put the gibson shortys on and it sounds sweet.. not to loud has the nice burble to it.. the only complaint he has is they have been on for 2 monthsn now and they are already starting to get the petina to them.. little rust spots.. he called and complained and they said its a lower grade stainless steal. soo beware

Any input? OK, here goes.

You won't see 25 hp from shorty headers and exhaust without adjusting the fuel mapping. Maybe 10-15 at best.

And you're right to be suspicious of tuners - there are some out there that are just plain bad. They are only as good as the software.
BUT....
Do some research on tunes from Mike at 5 Star. No nightmare stories there, just lots of delighted customers.

i bought the gibson stainless headers about three years ago now i guess and i didnt notice a difference really but they must flow better than the stock square cast iron junks. at like said above my stainless r all surfaced rusted. not like bare metal rusted flaking just on the surface and gibson said they r stainless just not high grade and if they do rust through then they will replace them. maybe the ceramic ones will be better.

I am open to all input. I'm trying to weigh it all out. I know the horsepower gains won't be much, and I figured less then 25. I also think that headers have more of a benefit for the 2v over the 3v. There was another thread here about the long tube headers. I don't see that materializing though if 25 sets need to be presold. I'm also worried about losing low end torque with the headers, and new exhaust. I know some people say the 3 inch is the way to go there, but I've seen where some say 2.5 is better for duals after the cat. So, I'm looking for as much input as possible, good, bad, and anywhere in between.

I believe the ceramic coated one's are better. To be honest, a little surface rust isn't the end of the world either. Heck, most exhaust systems have rust on them anyway. So I can live with that to some degree.

This picture shows what Gibson claims are the increases in horsepower, and torque for the 5.4.

https://img196.imageshack.us/img196/757/headersmo.jpg

For $200.00, I say go for it! You shouldn't lose any performance and should pick up modest gains, especially with a custom tune from Mike at 5 Star Tuning.

The objective dyno tests I've seen say these are more marketing values than facts... or there is some itty bitty fine print about the a tuning adjustment being added as well.

May I suggest giving Mike at 5 Star Tuning a call and get his opinion? He is a seriously good guy and has spent hours with these trucks on his dyno.

With regards to pipe diameters:

Unless you are making radical changes that will change the operating and peak RPM's significantly, 3" for single, or 2.25 to 2.5 for duals is as big as you want to go on engines of this displacement. Any bigger will not gain peak hp and will hurt lower rpm torque.

Well, I went and picked up the headers today. I think it was a good buy for 200 bucks. Gibson wants 674 bucks for this set. The ceramic coating is suppose to prevent them from rusting. Now I have to put them on. I will use the stock pipes at first, then I will get a new y pipe. When it's all done, it will all be new except for the cat. Here is a pic of the headers. I got all the hardware and gaskets also.

https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/3567/dscf1118.jpg

Oh yeah for $200 you can't beat it!

I like that you're gonna try the headers with the original T-pipe. That way you can report back on whether you think the headers helped noticeably.

When I did mine, I did the headers and y-pipe all at once so I'm not sure what helped more but I definitely felt the difference with the combo.

I have looked at your header article 100 times. I even have it on my computer. Luckely for me, I don't have any broken studs. My truck was bought by the original owners in Florida, so it's been in Florida most of the time since it was sold originally. I know they pulled some kind of a trailor, I'm assuming a travel trailor, so it's probably left Florida, a time or two. Everything looks good under the hood, so I'm hoping I won't have too many problems, and it has less then 72,000 miles on it. I will drive it with the stock y pipe for a short time. I will have to have someone else weld up the new pipes. Then I'm going to go duals after the cat, probably with 2.5 inch pipes.

I have the Gibson 3in in, 2 - 2/12's out. It sounded great, and quiet, until I changed the Y-pipe. Now it is loud, its hard to believe the sound difference from just a y-pipe replacement.

NC

I look forward to your report after the install... headers look great!