1996... too "new" for headers?
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New User
Joined: May 2006
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1996... too "new" for headers?
Alright, so today I stopped in at the local exhaust/mechanic shop and asked about installing headers in my '96 351. To my dismay, the man I spoke with told me to forget about it because of a number of oxygen sensors that would need replacing, and even if they were done correctly the truck may never run right after installation. As far as I knew, there was only one O2 sensor in my setup near the manifold... am I wrong? Was the guy right in that this is a bad idea?
If it can be done, I realize after reading past posts here that shorties are my best option to alleviate the pains of engine work down the road when it presents itself... but where do I order them from? Finding headers for my '96 seems harder than it should be.
If it can be done, I realize after reading past posts here that shorties are my best option to alleviate the pains of engine work down the road when it presents itself... but where do I order them from? Finding headers for my '96 seems harder than it should be.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
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From: Gateway to the West
There are several manufacturers out there making shorties for your 96. Yes, the 96's do have a total of count 'em THREE O2 sensors. One in each exhaust manifold and one at the convergence of the two arms of the Y-pipe. However, this does NOT make it impossible much less a bad idea to put them on your truck. You don't have to REPLACE the sensors either. You can swap them from the existing system provided they are in good condition and are not seized in place. Not sure what your mechanic was trying to avoid by telling you that but its just not true.
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Well the only reason I went to him in the first place is that I recently moved back to school and don't have my tools here, let alone friend's garage to work them in myself. I'm in a remote college town and I think he was just deferring the work outright... he didn't sound excited about it at all.
Thanks for the advice though- he was right on the sensors. Does anything need reprogramming then since the sensors are factory-set for less air than will be traveling through the pipes post-header install?
Thanks for the advice though- he was right on the sensors. Does anything need reprogramming then since the sensors are factory-set for less air than will be traveling through the pipes post-header install?
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Gateway to the West
Nope, the sensors will still function as before. There is no calibration for an O2 sensor and the ECM will compensate for the changes to the exhaust system after about 30-45 minutes of normal driving.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Groton, CT
Headers on my 96 was one of my first (of many) modifications. No muss, no fuss. As Grey stated, there are many shorty headers available that will bolt right up to your stock exhaust without any difficulty (other than breaking loose the factory hardware). Your chosen exhaust guy either does not want to mess with the job and is trying to scare you away, or he is ignorant (ingnorance is curable...stupid is forever).
I installed JBA Headers on my 96 5.0 and everything lined up perfectly. The JBAs have been on my rig for 4 years without problem. If I had it to do over (and was independently wealthy) I would go with Bassani ceramic coated headers.
I installed JBA Headers on my 96 5.0 and everything lined up perfectly. The JBAs have been on my rig for 4 years without problem. If I had it to do over (and was independently wealthy) I would go with Bassani ceramic coated headers.
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Joined: Jan 2003
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I put the JBA 409 stainless headers on my 94 eb 351 about 2 1/2 years ago. They had exhaust sealing putty in the collector right out of the factory. They are leaking like crazy at the collector now. I am about to replace them with stainless edelbrock headers. No sign of exhaust putty in the edelbrocks, but a little more expensive.
