Header Opinions?
- Thread starter PhattyX
- Start date
redrooster
New member
I had fenderwell headers on my CJ when I bought it. The exhaust came outside the frame rail and exited in front of the rear tires on each side. I rode it like that for several years and hated it. You smell like exhaust and get dust blown all over you out on the trails.
I eventually pulled them off and put in frame headers on it and they leaked from day one. I tried many different types of gaskets and never could cure the leak. I ended up throwing them away and putting on some stock manifolds. There was no change in power and the stockers bolted up with no leaks. The stock manifolds actually flow pretty good. I would say that your money would be better spent increasing the size of your exhaust tubing to 2.5" and using a good quality muffler. I use Dynomax, but many people like the 3 chamber Flow Master. Dynomax has a good sound but not as loud.
I eventually pulled them off and put in frame headers on it and they leaked from day one. I tried many different types of gaskets and never could cure the leak. I ended up throwing them away and putting on some stock manifolds. There was no change in power and the stockers bolted up with no leaks. The stock manifolds actually flow pretty good. I would say that your money would be better spent increasing the size of your exhaust tubing to 2.5" and using a good quality muffler. I use Dynomax, but many people like the 3 chamber Flow Master. Dynomax has a good sound but not as loud.
PhattyX
New member
The exhaust was done header back right when I got it. It's custom fabbed dual exhaust with Flow Masters. I went three inch to match up to the headers. I, too, have fought with trying to seal the headers at the block. Copper header gaskets have been doing the trick for about 6 months. Lucky for me, the pass. side header has developed a nice big hole at the bend. They're both pretty beat up, so I figured I'd be replacing them soon anyway.
It looks like buying the factory manifolds would require some more exhaust fab since they end up where shorty headers would. Is that right?
-X
It looks like buying the factory manifolds would require some more exhaust fab since they end up where shorty headers would. Is that right?
-X
redrooster
New member
They don't point straight down, they angle back toward the bell housing. Look at the replacement ones in Quadratec for a picture. 304/360/401 manifolds are all the same.
