Header opinions needed
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 1
From: Corinth, TX
Header opinions needed
My next add-on for my '93 351 EB is a set of ceramic-coated headers. As it sits, I've got a Flowmaster 3-chamber dual-outlet muffler on a kinda cheesy custom cat-back. By cheesy I mean that it was made at a muffler shop and not mandrel-bent.
What I need are some opinions on different brand-name headers for this truck. I know I want them ceramic-coated, or at least wrapped with insulation. What I don't know is what works best for MPG, performance, and sound. I think the Bassani optimum-length coated headers is about as good as it's going to get, but they are pretty expensive and I don't know anyone who has them (I think they're relatively new). Since there are so many different brands... what is the best bang for the buck? What do those of you who have headers use?
All comments are welcome (as always
)
-Josh
What I need are some opinions on different brand-name headers for this truck. I know I want them ceramic-coated, or at least wrapped with insulation. What I don't know is what works best for MPG, performance, and sound. I think the Bassani optimum-length coated headers is about as good as it's going to get, but they are pretty expensive and I don't know anyone who has them (I think they're relatively new). Since there are so many different brands... what is the best bang for the buck? What do those of you who have headers use?
All comments are welcome (as always
)-Josh
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 436
Likes: 1
From: North Carolina
you get what you pay for. You can pay 200 or so for cheap headers thats tough to put on or get some nice bassani ceramics or other brand like many on here have, jba, gibson, etc. The header wrap is a bad idea. The headers need the surrounding air to cool/expand, etc. The wrap will just cause you problems & shorten their life.
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 1
From: Corinth, TX
hmm i heard the opposite about the wrap. I was told that it keeps the heat inside the pipe and pushes it out the exhaust, and that the repeated cooling/expanding of the pipes is what shortens the life. If what you say is true, how does the ceramic coating affect the life? Wouldn't it have the same effect as a wrap? i.e. keeps heat in, etc?
-Josh
-Josh
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
The wrap shortens life by condensation between the wrap and the header=rust.You are rite about the wrap working good for a while until the rust happens.The hotter you keep the exhaust in the pipes the better power and flow you will have.Ceramic is the best of both worlds without the rust/replacement every 1 1/2 years.
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,547
Likes: 6
From: MA
Everything tigerhawk_212, Dutch, and wiggit have said is true. I have Bassani ceramics, as well as a Bassani Y Pipe...both are very well designed, and rugged units. I had a Bassani catback too, but I wont get into it (girlfriend...). Do not skimp on headers, because you will be kicking yourself later when you find fitment issues, flange warpage, rust out, etc. If you want top of the line products, you could also use JBA (although they are more expensive than Bassani). The ceramic coating serves two purposes. It keeps the primary tubes rust free for life, and it acts as an insulator, and keeps much more heat in the system. On the NORMAL temp guage, I was running about R/M with my stock manifolds. With the Bassani's, I now regularly am in the 'O' range. Remember...a cooler underhood equals a cooler intake charge, which equals power! A number of users here run Bassani stuff on their broncos, with success.
Rich
Rich
Last edited by WhëëlMå1; May 14, 2004 at 09:17 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 861
Likes: 0
From: Marysville Wa
i run hedman headers right now, the bad news lately is that i have yet to get the pass. side header to seal up, i dont know what parts leaking but i have tried to fix it twice, on the other hand, i have been real happy with how they hold up, they are not ceramic coated and are bare metal, but have had vero rust issues, and i live in washington! i personally like headmans, i paid 130 for my longtubes, and then due to driveshaft issues i whent to the shorty headers (i hate it!) which cost me 200(supply by demand huh). if i was to change them again, i would upgrade and get the headman elliete headers, they are there HD version that is ceramic coated.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
chiefsfootball
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
42
Jul 23, 2015 06:14 PM
Nathan Plemons
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
2
May 12, 2015 05:15 PM
