Headers and towing
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2016
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Headers and towing
I've heard that headers aren't a good idea for raising underhood temps while towing. I know I've got a few bad manifold studs, and when I had the SPD Y-pipe installed the shop did say the rest of the system was not in the best shape. No leaks or anything (yet) but definitely on the radar. Also heard that the stock system is pretty good, and minimal gains are had by going the big $$$ route with headers. Money well spent, or just stick with stock for towing?
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
I installed a set of Banks headers on my V-10 EX about 7 years ago, the EX is our dedicated tow rig for our 12K TT, I have not had a single issue with under hood temps. And the headers are holding up very well with no problems.
These headers did bring a little towing performance to the party, most noticeable when climbing a highway grade under high load while towing heavy. However, out of my 3 biggest mods the headers are third on my performance increase list. First, without question are the deeper gears, went from stock 3.73s to 4.88s. I now run 35" tires for an effective 4.39 ratio, the deeper gears make the EX tow like a completely different and better truck! Second on the list are the 5Star custom tunes, I tow almost exclusively on the 89 Octane Performance tune, much better than stock and a bit better than the 87 Perf tune. I prefer to tow with the Perf tune vs the actual Tow tunes as the Pert profile holds OD longer befor forcing a downshift on grades.
These headers did bring a little towing performance to the party, most noticeable when climbing a highway grade under high load while towing heavy. However, out of my 3 biggest mods the headers are third on my performance increase list. First, without question are the deeper gears, went from stock 3.73s to 4.88s. I now run 35" tires for an effective 4.39 ratio, the deeper gears make the EX tow like a completely different and better truck! Second on the list are the 5Star custom tunes, I tow almost exclusively on the 89 Octane Performance tune, much better than stock and a bit better than the 87 Perf tune. I prefer to tow with the Perf tune vs the actual Tow tunes as the Pert profile holds OD longer befor forcing a downshift on grades.
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Joined: Apr 2020
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From: Big Spring,TX
Didnt have the spare cash for the headers But did pull the trigger on the 5star tunes today. Hoping to do the headers soon and regear. I was having hell finding gears doing my searches Did you do the gears yourself or have a shop? I just recent taught myself regearing on my crawler.. so Ive got the basics down. Just need to do that to the excursion But I wanna make sure the jeep is good first haha.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,052
Likes: 1,550
From: Media PA
Didnt have the spare cash for the headers But did pull the trigger on the 5star tunes today. Hoping to do the headers soon and regear. I was having hell finding gears doing my searches Did you do the gears yourself or have a shop? I just recent taught myself regearing on my crawler.. so Ive got the basics down. Just need to do that to the excursion But I wanna make sure the jeep is good first haha.
Which tunes did you get? Like I mentioned above I prefer towing with the Perf tunes over the Tow tunes because they will hold OD for a wider throttle opening climbing grades. My wagon is still making sufficient power/torque to carry OD on most Eastern highway grades at speed and the more time it can spend in OD the better the fuel mileage. I do allow a little speed to bleed off if nesesary on a climb if that means avoiding a downshift, nothing crazy, maybe 2 or 3 below the PSL, I typically tow either 5 MPH over the PSL or 65 to 68 MPH max. If your goal is to maintain as much speed a possible on a grade climb or if you want to the first on to the top, then the actual Tow tunes will be a better match for that driving style.
I got lucky and found a complete set of axles (including brakes, lugnuts and all steering linkages) already with 4.88s and a rear locker for $1200, they weren't local but it gave the wife and I a 2 day driving date to run out to WI to pick then up. What tire size and gear ratio are you looking to move to?
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 36
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From: Big Spring,TX
I got 87 Perf, 87 Tow and 89 perf tunes. I haven't decided on the gears yet. I'm running 285/75R16 for tires. I may go to 35's But I wanna keep it reasonable for towing so wont be going to crazy.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,052
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From: Media PA
My EX is on 18"s wrapped in 35"s with 4.88 gears and all it does is tow our 12K TT, it has handled that load all over the Eastern states for over 46 K miles so far. The effective 4.39 ratio and the 89 Performance tune does pretty well for a 15 year old 4 sped gasser.
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