Do shorty headers help?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 34
From: Los Angeles, Ca.
Do shorty headers help?
Wondering if anyone has used any of these and have any power or MPG data as well as fitment info like having to cut the frame or make any other mods to fit them.
Cheapest is the Maximizer, I assume this is the China header that many people warn against using so it's out unless it's actually not garbage.
Next up is Hedman at about $450 with Y pipe. Pipes are very unequal length, collector looks smooth, but very short & abrupt looking. No EGR which I need, I could add it, but would have to worry about CARB approval. Includes a Y pipe which I don't need, I have the early unrestricted pipe, but I could sell that & recoup a few bucks.
Gibson is the most appealing at just over $500 for an American product with a lifetime warrantee and CARB approval. I don't like the look of the collector tho, there's a bit of an abrupt transition to the outlet pipe which I assume will rob some power. If not for that I probably wouldn't look any further into shorties, but then there's JBA.
Next up in price is JBA at $700, but the ad says call for a discount. Those have a smoother looking collector so I assume they'd do better than the Gibson. Ca approved, 1 year warrantee, no clue if it's US made or not.
Cheapest is the Maximizer, I assume this is the China header that many people warn against using so it's out unless it's actually not garbage.
Next up is Hedman at about $450 with Y pipe. Pipes are very unequal length, collector looks smooth, but very short & abrupt looking. No EGR which I need, I could add it, but would have to worry about CARB approval. Includes a Y pipe which I don't need, I have the early unrestricted pipe, but I could sell that & recoup a few bucks.
Gibson is the most appealing at just over $500 for an American product with a lifetime warrantee and CARB approval. I don't like the look of the collector tho, there's a bit of an abrupt transition to the outlet pipe which I assume will rob some power. If not for that I probably wouldn't look any further into shorties, but then there's JBA.
Next up in price is JBA at $700, but the ad says call for a discount. Those have a smoother looking collector so I assume they'd do better than the Gibson. Ca approved, 1 year warrantee, no clue if it's US made or not.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 7,460
Likes: 85
From: Kent Station, WA
What year and Engine do you have?
For the 99-04 anything has to be better then the OEM log attached to the side which is commonly referred to as an exhaust manifold.
I have the Thorley's waiting, will get an estimate for installation this coming weekend.
If you have a 99-04 you may also look at the SPD y-pipe.
For the 99-04 anything has to be better then the OEM log attached to the side which is commonly referred to as an exhaust manifold.
I have the Thorley's waiting, will get an estimate for installation this coming weekend.
If you have a 99-04 you may also look at the SPD y-pipe.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
I had a set of those el-cheapo eBay stainless headers. They did actually improve the flow, and had more high-end power and some better throttle response (all by the butt dyno).
However, they were loud inside the cab - my Hedmans are much quieter.
Also, one of them cracked right above the ball, there's a weld there that they grind down to make it look better. On mine, they took too much off, and it eventually cracked.
However, I did have a busted exhaust hanger, so the cat was bouncing up and down, and may have actually caused the header to break where it did.
Did not notice any MPG gains.
I think I did a write-up of it somewhere.
However, they were loud inside the cab - my Hedmans are much quieter.
Also, one of them cracked right above the ball, there's a weld there that they grind down to make it look better. On mine, they took too much off, and it eventually cracked.
However, I did have a busted exhaust hanger, so the cat was bouncing up and down, and may have actually caused the header to break where it did.
Did not notice any MPG gains.
I think I did a write-up of it somewhere.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,562
Likes: 424
From: Long Island USA
My saga of broken manifold studs, including the ebay header install:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...ud-or-two.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...ud-or-two.html
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,753
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From: Los Angeles, Ca.
Was it the ticking kinda sound I've noticed with some headers? If so it would make sense that the Hedmans are quieter since they use thicker tubing than most. I looked at all these headers on Ebay and just got a "reduced price" email, $395 for the Maximizer. I'll look up your install thread, thanks.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Los Angeles, Ca.
I can't see your pics in that thread. They sometimes show up for a second when I open or refresh a page but won't stay. Could you post a pic of the frame notch you had to make? Is the notch just for installation or would the frame interfere with the installed headers? And is the notch a requirement or just more convenient than working without notching?
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I can't see your pics in that thread. They sometimes show up for a second when I open or refresh a page but won't stay. Could you post a pic of the frame notch you had to make? Is the notch just for installation or would the frame interfere with the installed headers? And is the notch a requirement or just more convenient than working without notching?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Los Angeles, Ca.
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I'd recommend to the guy getting Thorleys installed to get a full set of extra manifold bolts, I had 8 out of 10 break and used stainless ones from Amazon to replace all of them. Good thing to have handy when the installs is going down.
Also you will loose about 75% of your exhaust loudness with the Thorleys, I was thinking my truck which was loud prior would be super loud and mean after the install and it's pretty much quite now. High Rpms gains are pretty sweet though.
Also you will loose about 75% of your exhaust loudness with the Thorleys, I was thinking my truck which was loud prior would be super loud and mean after the install and it's pretty much quite now. High Rpms gains are pretty sweet though.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
Any decent shorty header is going to be better than the stock 2V log manifolds. They are horrible and IMO are the reason for flutter on the V10s. Ford just decided to bandaid flutter with the ypipe because they didn't have to deal with frame interference issues.
Don't expect mpg increases with any header, I never saw any. Performance yes. Until you buy a good set of shorties (like JBA or Gibson) and fix the stock y-pipe you might as well just spend the money on a set of long tubes from Thorley or Banks.
Don't expect mpg increases with any header, I never saw any. Performance yes. Until you buy a good set of shorties (like JBA or Gibson) and fix the stock y-pipe you might as well just spend the money on a set of long tubes from Thorley or Banks.
New User
Joined: May 2017
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From: Phoenix, AZ
On a general note, Not sure on a reference for this; but I have read/heard that changing over to headers of any type results in frequent(?months?) changing of gaskets? Is that a valid concern with headers?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
Haven't done it in years on my v10 - the one engine that I know of that likes to blow header gaskets is the FE like the 360/390 - because most headers don't match up with the heads correctly.
On the V10, the Hedman header gaskets I have are great. I did put a little orange high-temp RTV on them though.
Oh, and right after installing headers, remember to keep retorqing the bolts regularly for a while. It's not a "install and leave it" kind of thing.
On the V10, the Hedman header gaskets I have are great. I did put a little orange high-temp RTV on them though.
Oh, and right after installing headers, remember to keep retorqing the bolts regularly for a while. It's not a "install and leave it" kind of thing.
