Headers or exhaust?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Headers or exhaust?
I've had my truck long enough 2 know it's reliable so nows the big question.........headers or exhaust first?
Please also include specific brands and a great place to buy em.
It's a '96 f-150 with an inline 6.
115'000 kilometers.
71'000 miles
(if I did the math right)
Please also include specific brands and a great place to buy em.
It's a '96 f-150 with an inline 6.
115'000 kilometers.
71'000 miles
(if I did the math right)
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 726
Likes: 3
I did the exhaust on my carbbed inline six. no cats and a 2.5" bullet muffler and its ungodly sometimes if your outside of the truck. I also tried it with a high flow cat and it was a nice sound. I did a side dump 2.5" all the way but this was on an 85 where they had 6 to 1 manifold on it. Im not sure how yours is but my 89 has two manifolds that collect into a cat then they are 2.75" into a second cat then 2" out. Thats the biggest restriction. If youve got the time and money i would do both. I think the system on my bronco cost me $30 bucks in materials and an afternoon.
matt
matt
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 0
From: southwest michigan
as far as power goes, they headers and exhaust go hand in hand, both are restricting and it's best to do both. are you looking for a complete exhaust system or are you going to do more of a home made deal, where you buy mufflers, pipe, and (cats)? if you do it yourself, i would say it's best to do them at the same time for compatability, but if your getting an exhaust "system" do the exhaust first. since i did mine, home made, i used flowmasters, i can't give you a good reason, i just liked them.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 726
Likes: 3
i just bought the parts to do my full exhaust, excluding header. It cost me $60 shipped. i used a $15 summit muffler thats aluminized, aluminized exhaust pipe and i even bought some u bends so everything looks nice. ill try to take pics if i get it together this weekend.
matt
matt
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
I'm looking at a flowmaster 50 muffler.
I'd like 2 keep the original pipe if possible, change it when it rusts out.
High flow cat or maybe NO cat at all, we don't have inspections in Manitoba.
I'd be interested in building my own headers, I have the ways and means but no set to copy.....any help?
Hear say the original down pipe is relativley restrictive....any comments?
I'd like 2 keep the original pipe if possible, change it when it rusts out.
High flow cat or maybe NO cat at all, we don't have inspections in Manitoba.
I'd be interested in building my own headers, I have the ways and means but no set to copy.....any help?
Hear say the original down pipe is relativley restrictive....any comments?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 726
Likes: 3
I would said the orig pipe is going to be very restrictive where it drops down after the second cat. Yours may be different since mine is a CA truck. I guess it depends if you want power or sound or both. Im happy going to 2.5" personally. It flows good but you could go larger if you wanted but i would reccomend it if you arent going to put cats in for back pressure reasons, just a hunch though. as far as your own headers. I would just make them how you want. If I was starting at the headers i would do 3-1 and keep duals all the way back or dual side exit pipes next to eachother. you could do 6-1 and save some room but it would be fun lining all those up i bet.
matt
matt
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: rural PA
Get yourself a Walker 2 into 1 pipe from advanced for about $60. I think the part # is 45166. It bolts on to your stock exhaust manifolds and has a bung for the O2 sensor. It goes on a lot easier than the stock one comes off. It's cheep so you can probably afford the rest of the exhaust also. I put this on my 94 with a 3" 50 series delta flow out the side. It's way to loud for my taste so I'm gonna replace it with a 50 series big block muffler. It was the easiest exhaust I've ever done. It runs a lot better now. 
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
First and foremost, all parts minus the muffler, pipe, and optional cat will be home made.
I can't just build the headers any way I want them. I read an article which stresses the importance of each headers lenght which controls things like vaccuum and scavenging. Looking at 3-1, 6-1 I'd probably lose my mind.
10-1 odds says I do anyway!
The Walker downpipe, has it a bigger diameter? I'll build that as well.
I assume the straighter the pipe, the better the flow? Going to use 2 and a half inch pipe and keep it as straight as possible, make my own mounts. Single ehhaust out the *** end.
'96 f-350rcsrw460zf
watcha doin with your old muffler?
Keep the advice coming!
I can't just build the headers any way I want them. I read an article which stresses the importance of each headers lenght which controls things like vaccuum and scavenging. Looking at 3-1, 6-1 I'd probably lose my mind.
10-1 odds says I do anyway!
The Walker downpipe, has it a bigger diameter? I'll build that as well.
I assume the straighter the pipe, the better the flow? Going to use 2 and a half inch pipe and keep it as straight as possible, make my own mounts. Single ehhaust out the *** end.
'96 f-350rcsrw460zf
watcha doin with your old muffler?
Keep the advice coming!
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 726
Likes: 3
i havent found a good calculator for trucks yet but i found one for motorcycle engines that lets you input port size, timing rpm power etc and tells you where to put the bends. The biggest thing you want to look for is restriction. I would take the pipes away from the head with a nice bend about 45degrees. as long as you keep them about equal length and you have them collect together you dont have much to worry about on this motor. Its not a high revving high hp thing. Anything over the stock log will flow much better. you will probably never get two of the same answers when it comes to exhaust work or headers but there are plenty of books out there that can 'guide' you in the right direction.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 0
From: southwest michigan
i just wanted to add, that i've found with flowmasters, any slight change in the rest of the pipe can change the sound alot, after we got mine welded on we test drove it, then we welden the rest of the pipe on after the muffler and retest drove it, then put chrome tips on it and drive it again, every time with a very different sound. from my understanding other mufflers don't do this as much.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 726
Likes: 3
here are a few pics of the exhaust i made last weekend. 2.5" all the way from the second cat. i oriented the muffler sideways for more clearance. its a center in offset out from summit, 14bucks. and the pipe is aluminized. uses factory mounts and a 3 bolt flange after the second cat.
