Exhaust Manifold Help For V8 Swap

[lehiguy]

yea...not following why you can't run the AIR pipe if you want to?

Headers are the biggest pain in the @$$... if you want something to melt plug wires, run headers, if you want to melt anything close to them...same thing, if you want exhaust leaks...again same deal, if you want to burn the "ever-loving-hell" out of your body parts... get near the headers at the wrong time. Headers may the easy route right now...

I like the rams horn manifolds, had zero problems with mine so far. Personally I would only run headers if I had no other options.

The only problem I know of on the rams horn manifolds is...if you have an egr pipe that has to mate with the exhaust.

I don't know why you're hating on the headers, I love mine, no problems at all. They flow better, cost nothing, they don't come loose if you do it right, the block huggers are compact and sturdy and they cool off faster than a cast iron manifold. You have to run silicone plug wires and boots, but that's just a smartt thing to do no matter what you run. Unless, of course, you don't like horsepower, then shun the headers.

 

[ntsqd]

I see block hugger headers as "tubular manifold" problem solvers more than true headers. While they may or may not flow better than a Ram's Horn (I have no way of knowing beyond an educated guess) they are not really a true header as they are far too short (both tubes and collectors) to be tuned for any likely use of an FJ.

Leaks, loosening, etc. are all functions of the quality of the set. Buy cheep and you'll for sure have those issues eventually. Buy quality and you probably won't.

Sanderson makes some interesting cast manifold options (pics are linked):

 

[Elbert]

My view on headers...

You're not going to make much difference in power on a stock engine and in my mind it does not make it worth screwing with headers. Headers do not last near as long as exhasust manifolds, nor to they seal to the cylinder head as well as a manifold. ITs not that I don't know how to install them, my views are based on running them in the past on hot rods etc. THey certainly will raise the underhood temps, and on some configurations its a pain to deal with the p/s and a A/C bracktes.

IF all things are equal on a stock engine I'll run manifolds any day over headers. If manifolds did not make sense for whatever reason then of course headers are your only choice.

Headers generally have exhaust leaks of one kind or the other, they generally don't last that long, and they are a pain in the @$$ to install on some vehicles. They will melt plug wires. THey do cool off faster, but radiate heat under the hood quite a bit .

On a performance engine that flows well at the cylinder heads ...yeah headers are the only way to go.

with manifolds you just install them and forget about it... no issues, they seal at the cylinder head and at the exhaust flange... no problems.