exhaust manifold or headers
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Freeville Ny
exhaust manifold or headers
Hi guys.
well surprise surprise my 5.4 needs new exhaust manifolds. so here are my questions.
should i just pop on new manifolds or should i get headers.
if i go with headers any emission issues i should know about. check engine light could annoy me.
should i swap out the inlet pipe as well perhaps getting one that has more flow.
and on either option anyone have any brand preferences that won't break the bank. just sunk 1400 into it in the last couple of weeks so my pockets are a tad sore.
thanks for any suggestions you guys might have.
well surprise surprise my 5.4 needs new exhaust manifolds. so here are my questions.
should i just pop on new manifolds or should i get headers.
if i go with headers any emission issues i should know about. check engine light could annoy me.
should i swap out the inlet pipe as well perhaps getting one that has more flow.
and on either option anyone have any brand preferences that won't break the bank. just sunk 1400 into it in the last couple of weeks so my pockets are a tad sore.
thanks for any suggestions you guys might have.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 1
From: Clearwater Fl.
If you're going to replace the exhaust manifolds, you might as well go with headers. I have a set of ceramic coated stainless steel Gibson headers waiting for me to install them. I think you will be happier with headers. They will give you a slight increase in horsepower. They will have no affect on your emissions. Just make sure you get the right set for your truck. If you're going to go through all of that, you might as well get the most out of it. You can check Ebay for headers, but remember, you get what you pay for. There are some real cheap headers on Ebay, and there is also some very good ones. Good luck.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Headers and Y-Pipe made a nice change to my V10, and never made the Check Engine Light come on. The headers cost somewhere around $300 from the dealer, and the Y-Pipe piece was less than $100. Last I checked 5 Star's price was cheaper than eBay.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 8
From: WV
Another vote for headers and y-pipe both if you can spring for them. That combo made a noticeable difference in mine.
Be sure to get the right ones for your truck. Mine didn't have EGR so I had to choose headers without EGR. I had another member email me saying his 5.4L had EGR. I don't know which models had them and which didn't so you might wanna check on that.
Here's some info I put together when I did mine last year....
2004 F250 Broken Exhuast Manifold Stud
Be sure to get the right ones for your truck. Mine didn't have EGR so I had to choose headers without EGR. I had another member email me saying his 5.4L had EGR. I don't know which models had them and which didn't so you might wanna check on that.
Here's some info I put together when I did mine last year....
2004 F250 Broken Exhuast Manifold Stud
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Freeville Ny
Another vote for headers and y-pipe both if you can spring for them. That combo made a noticeable difference in mine.
Be sure to get the right ones for your truck. Mine didn't have EGR so I had to choose headers without EGR. I had another member email me saying his 5.4L had EGR. I don't know which models had them and which didn't so you might wanna check on that.
Here's some info I put together when I did mine last year....
2004 F250 Broken Exhuast Manifold Stud
Be sure to get the right ones for your truck. Mine didn't have EGR so I had to choose headers without EGR. I had another member email me saying his 5.4L had EGR. I don't know which models had them and which didn't so you might wanna check on that.
Here's some info I put together when I did mine last year....
2004 F250 Broken Exhuast Manifold Stud
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,450
Likes: 70
From: South Jersey
IM FROM JERSEY AND I INSTALLES STAINLESS GIBSONS HEADERS TWO YEARS AGO AND THEY SUCK! NO FEEL OF PANTS INCREASE BUT IM SURE THEY HELPED A LITTLE BUT THE STAINLESS IS THE CHEAPEST AVAILABLE AND IS ALL COVERED IN RUST ALLREADY. GIBSON SAYS THIS IS "NORMAL" AND WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS THEY ROT THROUGH. PLUS I'VE HEARD HEADERS HURT YOUR LOW END PULLING POWER WHICH IS THE REASON I MIGHT BE REINSTALLING MY FACTORY MANIFOLD'S AGAIN
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Freeville Ny
Low end loss wouldn't bother me too much depending on how much this truck has plenty of low end so it could afford a small loss. More high end would be great though. For towing up hills at speed
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
Be careful when choosing your headers. The engineer that designed your motor used the manifold he did because he designed the motor to run with a specific amount of back-pressure. Avoid cheapo headers and get something designed for the truck....
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
All the aftermarket 5.4l SD headers I've seen are shorties. Some are CARB approved. I would look at a set of JBA headers. A set of shorty headers and an SPD y-pipe should give you a nice performance increase however I would recommend a good tune to go along with them to lower EGTs, correct the A/F ratio and etc. You will notice more noise from the headers due to the thinner wall thickness however.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 8
From: WV
I chased that noise thinking it was an exhaust leak for a few weeks before finally deciding it was normal. I don't even notice it anymore.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
Completely false.
All the aftermarket 5.4l SD headers I've seen are shorties. Some are CARB approved. I would look at a set of JBA headers. A set of shorty headers and an SPD y-pipe should give you a nice performance increase however I would recommend a good tune to go along with them to lower EGTs, correct the A/F ratio and etc. You will notice more noise from the headers due to the thinner wall thickness however.
All the aftermarket 5.4l SD headers I've seen are shorties. Some are CARB approved. I would look at a set of JBA headers. A set of shorty headers and an SPD y-pipe should give you a nice performance increase however I would recommend a good tune to go along with them to lower EGTs, correct the A/F ratio and etc. You will notice more noise from the headers due to the thinner wall thickness however.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
The stock tuning and emissions may have been done around the stock manifolds but thats about it. The whole backpressure thing is bunch of BS. Go take a look at a set of manifolds and y-pipe off an 00'-04' SD gasser and look at Fords engineering. You may not have so much faith after you see them. I've got a set in my shop right now and headers on my truck. Power was increased dramatically even with the stock tuning with the headers and y-pipe setup.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Freeville Ny
so ive been shoppin around. and i can't swing a large amount of money but i am looking at the summitt racing brand headers. anyone know anything about them. should i avoid them and just wait till i can swing some higher end ones.
as far as the y pipe. im curious. mine doesn't look quite like the one in baja's photos. mine comes down from the passenger side manifold. turns toward the front and then makes a 180 into the y. drivers side just comes down and turns into the y. can i just swap out like baja did or do i have to look for a specific y pipe.
as far as the y pipe. im curious. mine doesn't look quite like the one in baja's photos. mine comes down from the passenger side manifold. turns toward the front and then makes a 180 into the y. drivers side just comes down and turns into the y. can i just swap out like baja did or do i have to look for a specific y pipe.