Best shorty headers?
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Cross-Country
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 85
Likes: 1
Best shorty headers?
Looking to get some headers for my ‘95 F-150 5.8l 351w, but not sure which ones work best. Would prefer to do long tubes, but I think I will have too many issues because I live in Oregon with emissions. Any help?
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 318
Likes: 20
From: Upstate South Carolina
JBA Ceramic on mine. Great fit and finish but somewhat of a pain to put on. Plug #4 is accessible from below with a shorty header socket. I went with JBA because of the flanges that they have around each port. I just believe they will give me a better seal. No chance of getting a torque wrench on. Need a 7/16" offset wrench. Remflex gaskets are a must - headers or not.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 558
From: Central Wisconsin
I have Pacesetter shortys on my '89. Been there for a decade and have survived the WI winters very well. I just had them off when I swapped motors last month, they still look great. Surface rust but nothing serious. If you order the "summit racing" brand headers, those are what you will receive. No issues with plug access, no issues with burnt wires. A few of the bolts are kind of a pain to get at, but certainly do-able.
I will add, I had one hell of a time with leaks for the first year with these headers. The headers come with paper gaskets and junk bolts. I bought steel core gaskets and had one of the junk bolts back out after re-tightening everything nearly a dozen times in the first week. I tried some different header bolts, ARP's even, and different gaskets. Finally I bought some Percy's aluminum header gaskets and split locking header bolts with an allen head set screw in the middle. Zero issues for the last 9 years. Even reused the gaskets and bolts when I just swapped motors, no issues so far. The split locks were still just as tight as I left them when I put them in 9 years ago as well.
I will add, I had one hell of a time with leaks for the first year with these headers. The headers come with paper gaskets and junk bolts. I bought steel core gaskets and had one of the junk bolts back out after re-tightening everything nearly a dozen times in the first week. I tried some different header bolts, ARP's even, and different gaskets. Finally I bought some Percy's aluminum header gaskets and split locking header bolts with an allen head set screw in the middle. Zero issues for the last 9 years. Even reused the gaskets and bolts when I just swapped motors, no issues so far. The split locks were still just as tight as I left them when I put them in 9 years ago as well.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 318
Likes: 20
From: Upstate South Carolina
I second that. I went with Stage 8. I would say go with a good gasket (not the ones supplied with the headers) and locking bolts EVERY time - headers or not. Now I have no leaks, although I had to have my Y pipe cut and adjusted.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12,338
Likes: 1,314
From: Central Mississippi
JBA plain SS firecone, SS allen headed bolts & washers from Fastenal. Had them for about 10 years now, I think.
Couple of SS studs made from carriage bolts where needed.
Used the gasket that came with them, seemingly flimsy as it was. Lasted fine till first removal years later.
Felpro for 96 Explorer GT-40 heads. They're the OEM supplier. (I have pics from originals.)
Would love if they were ceramic, but they clean up easy. VHT header ceramic paint & DEI titanium wrap right now.
I love the heat reduction properties.
Zero problems hooking up the EGR.
Couple of SS studs made from carriage bolts where needed.
Used the gasket that came with them, seemingly flimsy as it was. Lasted fine till first removal years later.
Felpro for 96 Explorer GT-40 heads. They're the OEM supplier. (I have pics from originals.)
Would love if they were ceramic, but they clean up easy. VHT header ceramic paint & DEI titanium wrap right now.
I love the heat reduction properties.
Zero problems hooking up the EGR.
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Cross-Country
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 85
Likes: 1
Awesome thanks for the input guys, I’ve heard good things about JBA and Bassani, but I feel like the summit ones might be a good bang for the buck. Any thoughts on sound and power with the summit headers?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 558
From: Central Wisconsin
With that said, I did notice a difference when putting the shorty headers on and swapping to 3" dual exhaust and a Magnaflow Tru-X muffler vs the awful factory Y pipe and catalytic converter.
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Hey man I got a 96 f150 i have a cracked manifold and i am switching to headers. I was wondering where you found your head gaskets and bolts. only because i've looked around for percys and haven't had any luck.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 558
From: Central Wisconsin
Summit Racing has some Split Lock header bolts available under their own brand name. Same basic design as the Percy's. The Percy's/Taylor Cable 66014 dead soft aluminum "Seal-4-Good" gasket must also be out of production. Quick google search, looks like they are available on amazon right now, 20 remaining, but it doesn't look like any major distributor (Summit, JEGS, etc.) have them anymore.
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