eBay headers
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 636
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From: Portage Twp, PA
eBay headers
Just wondering if anyone's seen (or even better, already bought) the eBay auctions for stainless steel V-10 headers that are selling for around $150 or so shipped. They sure LOOK nice...all shiny, and nice thick flanges. And the exhaust manifold studs in my dear ol' dad's Excursion were replaced about this time last year, so those nuts should still be pretty easy to remove. But, as we all know, eBay is not the fuzzy, wholesome place we'd all like it to be, and there's a shyster or two to be found.
Basically I'm curious to know if these inexpensive headers are legit, or if some dork took a pic of some Gibsons in order to peddle his Chinese crap.
"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is..."
Pat
Basically I'm curious to know if these inexpensive headers are legit, or if some dork took a pic of some Gibsons in order to peddle his Chinese crap.
"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is..."
Pat
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,733
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I have been on this board for a lot of years now and it is still 50% vs. 50% swing on headers being worth it no matter how cheap or expensive. Some like the added noise and claim seat of the pants gains... others think the added noise destroys the beauty of the quiet V10 and they claim lost power or MPG slightly...
there is no clear definitive evidence that adding headers to any of the V10 versions always adds power, gains MPG and are a great modification... the guys that swear by their header mod all did a LOT of other modifications
That said... I think $99.99 to $199.99 is the range of prices where experimenting is acceptable... I would never give Summit, Jeggs or others $479.99~$829.99 on an "experiment" unless the majority of all posts on these boards was positive..they are not!
there is no clear definitive evidence that adding headers to any of the V10 versions always adds power, gains MPG and are a great modification... the guys that swear by their header mod all did a LOT of other modifications
That said... I think $99.99 to $199.99 is the range of prices where experimenting is acceptable... I would never give Summit, Jeggs or others $479.99~$829.99 on an "experiment" unless the majority of all posts on these boards was positive..they are not!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,769
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From: Gretna ,LA.
I have some ebay headers. I am not sure if they are all the same. I had to open up the bolt holes and massage one tube on the passenger side, other than that, they have been worthwhile. Like Fred said though, I have many other mods and I would never go back to a stock exhaust set up. They are nice looking and thick, it just I had fitment issues. They are still on my truck after a few years now. You need longer bolts than the ones that come with them.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 334
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From: new jersey
on the dynojet useing the capts 05 truck. there was NO increase in power levels over the stock 05 cast iron near header manifolds with either the gibson or ford raceing headers. plus fred said it ,more noise inside the cab. we have since reinstalled almost all his stock parts, save the 4:56 gears , the cold air kit because of the costly stock filter and the sctflash tuned program. his truck runs just as well this way. and can still pull our race toys with out any problem inside the trailer.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Portage Twp, PA
Well, thanks guys...guess unless I've got a bunch of money burning a big hole in my pocket, I'll just leave well enough alone. I'm old-school; just used to putting headers on everything I get as a rule. There doesn't seem to be any sense in going through the hassle if there's no appreciable gain...just hoping for a few tenths of an MPG and a little more torque.
Thanks again...
Pat
Thanks again...
Pat
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,268
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From: central Louisiana
i've installed 3 sets of E-bay headers.............1 is still on the truck today! the other 2 fell apart (cracked at welds) after a trip mudding! heat and spashing cold water were there demise! we headed back to the house and discovered "nioses" coming from under the hood of 2 of the trucks, after trouble shooting the exhaust, we found cracks along the collector welds, and the flange welds. the other set was still good-to-go! so i guess i've had a 33% success rate with them!
I personaly have BANKS headers w/ Ypipe! NO i didn't pay $1200 for the set, i found them on e-bay for $540 ($35s/h) was my winning bid. YES there were very good improvements to my 2-valver!!!!!! along with a "highest flowing CAT availible" and a flowmaster original 40 series, towing was noticible improved, and there was a slight increase in MPG. as CAPTCHAS said 2-valvers respond VERY well to exhaust mods............3-valvers on the other hand woun't see the gains, and woun't be worth the pocket change!!
I personaly have BANKS headers w/ Ypipe! NO i didn't pay $1200 for the set, i found them on e-bay for $540 ($35s/h) was my winning bid. YES there were very good improvements to my 2-valver!!!!!! along with a "highest flowing CAT availible" and a flowmaster original 40 series, towing was noticible improved, and there was a slight increase in MPG. as CAPTCHAS said 2-valvers respond VERY well to exhaust mods............3-valvers on the other hand woun't see the gains, and woun't be worth the pocket change!!
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Elder User
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Jason, did you need longer bolts than the ones that came with the headers like V10KLZZ71S did? Or do either of you know what size bolts to use? Santa just brought me a set!
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: central Louisiana
Originally Posted by bterry
Jason, did you need longer bolts than the ones that came with the headers like V10KLZZ71S did? Or do either of you know what size bolts to use? Santa just brought me a set!
the only PITA i had was the passanger side rear 2 bolts, they were a bisitch!
good luck, and let us know what you think!
New User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4
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From: Minnesota
I saw the ebay headers and was also wondering about them especially after I had bought a set of Gibson headers for 500.00, the Gibsons were an excellent fit with no installtion problems at all, I did pcik up about .7 mpg while towing, did not have any noise difference, also seems to have a little better low end
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,954
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From: Mesa
Originally Posted by bterry
Any ideas on what to do with the EGR pipe on a 99? I'm thinking of moving it down stream to the y-pipe.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
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I'm not aware of the differences between the 05' manifolds and the 00-04' manifolds but it sounds as if it is significant as someone refers to them as being "near headers". I know that my 01' is breathing through 60's style truck logs. My 95 300 has a better manifold than this.
Theoretically there should be no loss in low-end torque with the shorty eBay header and there should a gain in horsepower. I don't beat up on my truck but I bring it to redline a few times a week merging with traffic and I like it to go fast.
That said, now that we have a couple more months under our belt I'm curious if anyone else has tried these?
Specifically I'd like to know if:
1. The headers are quiet during normal driving (no ticking, leaking, etc)
2. There is a noticable upper end gain.
For the price, and given my need to modify anything that turns air and fuel into power, I figure why not but I don't want to jump in to find out that the truck is no faster and louder.
Theoretically there should be no loss in low-end torque with the shorty eBay header and there should a gain in horsepower. I don't beat up on my truck but I bring it to redline a few times a week merging with traffic and I like it to go fast.
That said, now that we have a couple more months under our belt I'm curious if anyone else has tried these?
Specifically I'd like to know if:
1. The headers are quiet during normal driving (no ticking, leaking, etc)
2. There is a noticable upper end gain.
For the price, and given my need to modify anything that turns air and fuel into power, I figure why not but I don't want to jump in to find out that the truck is no faster and louder.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,954
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From: Mesa
Mike, The V10 (04 and older) responds well to intake/exhaust mods. Don't expect a ton of power but some. Yes it will be in the upper RPM range. That's OK by me because like you say when you hammer down your not in the 2000 rpm range but in the 4000's. On my 99, I added a K&N, Borla headers and cat-back. Where these mods really shined was towing. My towing mpg went up by 1-2 and I had power to pull grades where before the truck just seemed to run out of steam. If I had to make a header choice then I would look into the brands that also come with a new Y pipe. Banks, Borla, Hedman etc.
There will be some noise from the headers. The thin walls of the tubing don't muffle the exhaust as well as the cast manifold. I really never noticed it but the day I sold it the new owner noticed it right away on the test drive...
There will be some noise from the headers. The thin walls of the tubing don't muffle the exhaust as well as the cast manifold. I really never noticed it but the day I sold it the new owner noticed it right away on the test drive...
Last edited by V10man; Mar 23, 2007 at 02:48 AM.
New User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6
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From: Eastern Ontario,Canada
I am running the E-Bay headers, 90 days now , no real problem , installment had one issue , passenger side top of frame rail had to nip off less than .25 of a inch or less to fit, I finished with the exhaust on Monday past, running to new Cats and a Flowmaster 50 series ,duel in and out, after 1000 miles this week computer has really come around, mileage has increased at least 10% maybe even better. Sound was loud at first but has mellowed, Idle is not much more than stock, start up sounds like a V8, hard throttle well people are looking around them to see what happened , light throttle or reg driving sounds like a pontiac V6.2001,F250, 4X4,V10.Crewcab S box.
2003 Big X, 6.0
1993 Benz 300TE
2003 Big X, 6.0
1993 Benz 300TE