I have two questions along the lines of ATsX but I don't want to take over his thread. I notice a lot of V10 headers on e-bay and was wondering if anyone has any experience with them. Most of them appear to be knock-offs and I wonder about the quality. Looking at the stock system it appears pretty large and unrestrictive, the manifolds appear to be pretty small. Plus, I like the tone of the factory exhaust.

Has anyone just put headers on with the stock system and if so, what was the result?

Has anyone bought the headers they have on e-bay? (They are running around $200 for the set.)
MDpopo

 

Read these two links before you decide to spend good money on headers for a V10.

http://www.kennebell.net/techinfo/fo...s-and-suvs.pdf
http://www.kennebell.net/faq/faq-answers2.htm

 

Thanks Pops,

I've already ordered a set and figured for 200 bucks I'll try em out and see. I'll let you know the results.

 

mdpopo59,
Can we ask for an update after the install?
Good luck! I'll be right along side you soon.
Thanks,
ATsX

 

Update:

I just got my $200 EBAY headers yesterday. They look almost exactly like the Gibson design, I'm sure they were reverse engineered knock-offs. I called my mechanic today and he's going to try and schedule me in next week. I don't want to do it myself because I'm sure my exhaust leak problem probably involves some broken exhaust manifold bolts, I'll let him figure that out.

 

mdpopo59,
Always good to have a new toy to look forward to.
Good luck and keepmus updated.
ATsX

 

keep us posted with the results!

 

The same guy that sells them on ebay had an ad for them here on FTE for $500! What a shmuck. Ad was pulled.

I hope the quality is there for you. Guess we'll first find out about any fitment issues. (hopefully none) I'm sure there will be some sort of performance gain.

 

The welds look pretty good, I wonder about how they sealed the weld where the 5 1-1/4" pipes go into the 3" collector. I can't see any gaps though. The flange that mounts up to the block looks very good and strong, it has to be better than the stock manifold. I would have to compare them against true Gibsons to be able to see any differences.

 

the ones from ford racing are that price. standard stainless 499, coated 599 msrp.
yes i would pull the ad also.
yes i paid dealer cost for mine but the fit was great , the install took about 3 hours per side, hp you only get it upstairs

 

I just wanted to update those who are interested about my $200 Taiwan headers, I got them installed last Friday.

First off, I had 6 bolts broken off in the heads which was causing manifold leaks from 5 cylinders. It took my mechanic half a day just to get that straightened out. The headers were installed and fit perfectly...well...almost. While the drivers side slid in and mounted up ok, the passenger side would not fit through either the top or bottom. He had to remove the passenger side front wheel, shock and shock tower and then trim enough of the inside fenderwell to get it through. There is about a 1/8" between the header and the frame rail on the passenger side. It took him about 8 hours total, but everything fit and sealed up. I was suprised at how thin and restricted the stock manifold is.

As far as the sound and performance, without the exhaust leaks it is much quieter...until you get into it. You can definitely hear the raspy exhaust sound out of the heads when it's under load. My mechanic said it sounds like a "ricer". I had a FM70 cut into the stock 3" system, which gave it a deeper tone, but not loud. The headers didn't seem to effect the sound of the exhaust out the back. I definitely feel a better throttle response and it winds up quicker when I get on it, ESPECIALLY above 3 thousand RPM's. I can't wait to pull my TT this spring.

I don't know how long they will last but, for $200, who cares. Beats $600 from Gibson or $900 from Banks. I have the stock manifolds just in case.

 

Good news! Now save up for the Y-pipe swap.

 

I saw the banks headers at the Pomona RV show and they were long tube headers , from front to back they looked about 5' long , I bet the install on those is fun.

 

Banks uses different ones for RV than for pickups.

 

I have a set on my 03' were fun. 5 tubes makes it a blast to tighten all 10 bolts. And they tell you to torque them to 18 ftlbs. You have to use extensions and universals just to get at them never mind a torque wrench.