Headers

[Jujoo]

Hey gang,

I was wondering on what brand headers to put into my 74 fj40. Does anyone have any of the ones i've been looking at and if there's anything better where can I find them.

Also, if anyone has any info and insight for the headers let me know...here's the contenders:

man-a-fre 6 into one $150
man-a-fre tuned ceramics $325
spectre OR 2 peice $245

Thanks all!

 

[Degnol]

I have the SOR 2 piece that I bought from IDave. The flanges are the same as the intake so no messing around with half washers or machining the intake. I think that is real important, that the flanges are the same thickness. I used 2 felpro gaskets and retorqued 4 times, the 5th time there was no change, but I'll still check it periodically. If you are long-term in the cruiser, consider the ceramic coating.
IMHO
Ed

 

[IDave]

I agree: 2-piece from SOR is a good fit. Unless you have a PTO winch, in which case only the MAF 6>1 fits.

 

[RBHME]

i just got the ceramics installed last week and I am SO happy with them. the fit, finish and performance is clean. second degnol, long term -- go ceramic.

 

[RBHME]

oh, forgot, so that you know, I had the maf 6>1 and could not get them seated right. some have done it successfully but i could not ( i am not the best with wrenches.........)

 

[Jujoo]

Any real-time performance changes when you guys installed the headers???

I got some mixed feelings from people about headers...
i.e.-they don't do crap, it's not worth it, there's no use in buying them, etc. etc.

Thanks again guys!

 

[dd113]

In what condition are the stock headers you currently have and why are you replacing them?

 

[Degnol]

I'm certainly no professional wrench, like many on this and other boards, so when I figgerd out who was...I followed their advice. Primarily PinHead and Poser (I know ther are others). There are a lot of variables involved with many of the "improvements", "mods" and "upgrades". The results can be deceiving.
When you replace a stock manifold, intake, exhaust, headers, makes no difference, you replace the gasket on the manifold(s). IF things were not right BEFORE you replaced anything, and they're "right" after, then it is easy to give credit to whatever you bolted on. When in reality, you just may have installed everything CORRECTLY!
I have a '74 F motor in a '66 FJ40. Replaced the intake/exhaust manifold gasket, had only RTV before, well it improved, but still a rough idle. Rebuilt the carb...sorta, and performance improved, but still a rough idle. Added Mini truck PS, and wanted to retain a stock aircleaner, which meant a 2F, because of the location of the PS pump. Decided to run a 2F valve cover and intake, which would not mate with my F exhaust manifold, so I decided to go with a header. This time I really rebuilt my '74 carb, boiled out, etc. Used 2 gaskets on the header, fired it up and VOILA! Runs great and idles smooth at 550 rpm. Everything I ever wanted!
Now was it the header? The carb rebuild? The HEI? The PS?
OR...was it the fact that everything was installed correctly or at least better than it was before? I think I cured an intake leak that was never properly identified before. These rigs are OLD, many unprofessionally wrenched. The amazing thing is it still ran, as most of them do.
So with all that in mind...HEI, Header, carb rebuild, PS...oh, and a new valve cover, polished, of course.

Ed

 

[65swb45]

Think outside the box and have a look at the Tri-Y design offered by Downey Off Road. A little more money than a 6 into 1, but better construction, better midrange and a collector that runs ahead of the bellhousing (unlike $ORs PITA) My .02

 

[yotanut]

Been running the Downey header for a few years now. A little spendy but
it's really well built and runs very good since put on.

 

[78 One owner]

Are 6 bangers as prone to exhaust leaks as V8's are once you switch to headers?

 

[yotanut]

Anytime I install headers, I use Coppercoat.
I haven't had any leaks on any of my vehicles.

 

[78 One owner]

I tried that and it still didn't help with the Downey V8 headers I had. Got rid of them and went to cast iron. Sooooo quiet.

Sorry to hijack the thread

 

[RBHME]

Jujoo,
degnol has a the best point...... was it a combo of things that were wrong and made right etc. I am a fan if staying with original if you have it. Trying to keep mine as stock as possible but somethings are variable due to cost. Mine is long term. I am 29 and plan to have it forever and just starting on the resto process. So when I am 40 it should be in mint condition....

To answer the performance issue, make sure it runs right and you will have all the power you "need" when you have to have it. This thing was never made to run fast and is scary when it does :. The difference in mine is unbelievable compared to before having my headers/ y - pipe,and aisin carb installed. It is a whole new animal and has ALL the power I need untill i upgrade the axles (only after a blown 2f that cannot be fixed for the same amount as fully installed v8). So if you are looking for performance upgrades, they are going to be very minimal IMHO.

 

[Jujoo]

Thanks all,

my headers are in pretty good condition but like most of you I tend to keep this for the long haul. My exhaust pipe and muffler are a different matter. They're all rusted up and the clamps were over-tightened so it bent the tubes a little bit. I was thinging if I was gonna replace the pipe and muffler I might as well change the whole system to I'll squeeze all the torque and hp I can get...even if it means a little bit more.

I'm with you on the fast thing RBHME. I'm not planning to go fast with a vehicle that was made to be exciting and adrenaline pumping going at a crawl. I just want the extra power for reserve when I need it...just in case.

Thanks again for all your feedback guys!

It's ok about the hijack 78.

 

[drohweder]

Ive got OEM ramhorns off a 76 Corvette engine. Guy before me bored them out with that abrasive roto-roter stuff. The work great and I don't have to worry so much about under hood temps cause their cast iron. No experience with the old ones but I'm running a sbc so I guess this whole post is irrelevant. :whoops:

 

[IDave]

Having done the MAF and SOR headers, and now having gone back to the OEM exhaust (because I wanted the heatriser), I can honestly say it has had no impact on gas milage (some advertise a 2-3 mpg improvement). There may be a little power improvement with headers, maybe 10 horsepower, but I think other adjustments like fine tuning the timing have more impact.

 

[Klunky Chris]

you know... It's been a while since I've checked on the prioce of Extrude-Honeing.
http://www.extrudehone.com/powerflow.html

I've heard a lot of great things about the process and you get to keep your factory cast iron headers. It's supposed to make a big difference in flow, maybe comparable to a header.

If it's close to the same price as a new header, it might be a good idea

 

[Klunky Chris]

hmmm....

looks like $575 plus shipping. That's a bit spendy for a tractor motor. If you really want to keep your stock exhaust it might be worth it.

 

[xumFJ40]

I love the MAF 2 piece ceramic headers that I have. Spendy, but hopefully the only set I will ever have to buy.