Difference between headers and manifolds
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Burbs
I've been debating for months if I want to go with headers or just a new cat back system. I basically just want to help my truck breathe better. So shorties don't have the same gains, power wise, but seriously, shorties have GOT to be better then stock manifolds.
I've never installed shortie headers, but I hear they are WAY easier to put in. Plus it seems shorties would be nicer, with a set of High Flow cats and a custom pipe job afterwards.
As far as the O2 sensors, do any headers come with premade holes for installation? If not, I would just be a bit confused on where to put them.
I've never installed shortie headers, but I hear they are WAY easier to put in. Plus it seems shorties would be nicer, with a set of High Flow cats and a custom pipe job afterwards.
As far as the O2 sensors, do any headers come with premade holes for installation? If not, I would just be a bit confused on where to put them.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 657
Likes: 0
From: brimfield township,OH
My shorties were a pain to put in.I don't think I would do it again.Maybe I'm just getting old.The headers don't help much by themselves because the 2-cat y-pipe is the real bottleneck.My o2 sensor bolted in the y-pipe.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 0
From: Rio Rancho USA
Originally Posted by Murk
I've been debating for months if I want to go with headers or just a new cat back system. I basically just want to help my truck breathe better. So shorties don't have the same gains, power wise, but seriously, shorties have GOT to be better then stock manifolds.
I've never installed shortie headers, but I hear they are WAY easier to put in. Plus it seems shorties would be nicer, with a set of High Flow cats and a custom pipe job afterwards.
As far as the O2 sensors, do any headers come with premade holes for installation? If not, I would just be a bit confused on where to put them.
I've never installed shortie headers, but I hear they are WAY easier to put in. Plus it seems shorties would be nicer, with a set of High Flow cats and a custom pipe job afterwards.
As far as the O2 sensors, do any headers come with premade holes for installation? If not, I would just be a bit confused on where to put them.
A cat back will help, but the biggest restriction on most vehicles are the stock headers, Y pipe, and cat.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
That would be the best only if you installed the correct size system with a X cross and legal for your state. On a Rover Disco w/4.6 litre, cam and chip with twin cats to a Y single exhaust the cats rattled and plugged up. With a hole saw cut a 2" hole in both and gutted, vehicle ran great (5-speed). Due for smog I installed CarSound's high flow cats, when done it was hard to just detect the difference vs gutted cats. With factory cats a big restriction.
With CarSound's it passed smog with ease like 5 of 100 and 7 of 180 HC test.
With CarSound's it passed smog with ease like 5 of 100 and 7 of 180 HC test.
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