I agree with you that is is really expensive if you have shop put them on for you. I was told a minimum of 6 hrs shop labor to install plus what ever they cost for the shop to get. The same Gibson part at the local ehxaust shop would have set me back $1000 for the headers and labor ($700 for headers and ~$300 for labor).

Now, if you know where to look, and what to look for, you can get them really cheap as I did. I paid $320 for my top of the line Gibson headers, and installed them my self.

And the best thing is that they amplifiy what ever mods you already have!

You can stuff all you want into tuners and intakes and such, but if you don't have a good exhaust setup, you won't get the max out of those mods.

 

I'm looking into headers too, but i live in canada and we dont need cats or any of that? can i cut them off? Why do you all say its bad? I do understand emissons but we dont have that.


2002 s/c f-150 5.4

 

People have a misconception that all emissions equipment kills power and can be prone to failure. First thing many of us want to do is remove it (I'm guilty). Making modifications is a natural thing, but an investigation of the consequences may be a good idea. In your case, Patch, you won't have the potential of the US EPA or any local agency breathing down your neck if you remove or modify the equipment that you are aware of - however you may have a Canadian authority that says it's illegal and you need to be aware of their existance, just in case. Do an internet search of your authority, and perhaps ask some questions in your local chapter forum here at FTE.

A quick lesson in this type of mod -
To produce torque you have to have a high exhaust velocity, not necessarily a high volume. Leaving the stock cats is actually a good idea unless you're going with a long tube setup - the long tubes help torque production. The velocity with the stock cats allows you maintain the usuable torque in the current rpm range. Opening the system up by either getting rid of them or going to "high flow" units will give you power in your top end, but off the line you will lag - unless you have a power adder (supercharger/turbo).

The stock 'y' pipe must be gotten rid of, I have pics of the one that came off of my truck in my gallery. The factory 'y' pipe is a joke. It actually creates bottleneck that kills the flow coming out of the driver's side exhaust set up.

If you do choose to swap out your existing set up and don't expect to face any legal recourse, go with a long tube header and a single cat on each side with the same diameter as the stock unit. The computer needs the first O2 sensor on each side for the ECM functions. Further down use an x-pipe to equalize your flow from each side. You can remove the last O2 sensor on each side with either a MIL eliminator plug or by using a programmer that has that same function. Your torque production will increase as well as stay in the ballpark rpm wise.

-Kerry

 

Where abouts, or which company has long tube headers?

 

I would go for headers. From the few vehicles I have put them on they seemed to make a tiny difference. The reason i went for them is the sound. And as for removing the cats, be gone with them. I havent used high flow cats yet, but if they are anywheres resrictive as stock cats I wouldnt touch them. As for the emissions laws, I think they are a joke, and they have alot better ways to help the enviroment, but thats a different topic

 

Dynatech sells a setup that include the cats and long tubes - they want a pretty penny.
Pacesetter has an inexpensive headers only set, but that's not a brand name known for quality.

I thought there were others, but I'm not finding them at the moment.

You also have the custom route - a local shop does the work using a minimum 3/8" flange, 1 1/2"-1 5/8" primary with a 2 1/4"-2 1/2" collector, 14-16 ga steel (stainless preferred, but aluminized will work), coat them with a super high temp primer and ceramic coating.

-Kerry

 

patch there are defenitly laws in canada about emission equipment.if your like me and live in northern ontario you dont have to have any emissions tests like they do in southern ontario.if your vehichle came with cats your suppose to have them on and anyshop that took them off to put on just pipes could be charged.that said i found a shop that did my previous f-250 4x4 for me,for cash with no reciept for obvious reasons.i now have a 2003 f-150 4x4 with the 4.6 which at the most for me i will go to catback exhaust if it gives it a nicer sound?i also put in a trueflow filter(foam).