New Style Man-a-Fre Headers and a Desmog later....

[fliphkd778]

I've got it advanced as far as the adjustment will allow, no pinging that I'm aware of. I can only get it to ping when in 4th going about 15 under heavy throttle. I agree, I'm going to get some new vacuum hoses and finish up with the HIC and move some other open atmosphere hoses around.
After that, I think I'll consult a mech friend to see if he has any way of gauging the A/f ratio

 

[fliphkd778]

AYEEEEE I blew the gasket for the first time since I put my headers on!
4,000 miles. Wow. I can't get it to seal back up, the headers have become warped.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

AYEEEEE I blew the gasket for the first time since I put my headers on!
4,000 miles. Wow. I can't get it to seal back up, the headers have become warped.

No s***!! I have at least 8k on the crappy gasket MAF gave me with no noticeable problems. I will change it out for a remflex as soon as it gets warm out, but no problems yet ( knock on wood ).

What torque number did you use? I used the "California" spec of ~50 ft/lbs.

On a completely unrelated note, my god damn windshield wipers stopped working 5 minutes ago. It was well below zero today and I don't feel like figuring out why.

 

[chris777]

Called around, maf is out of their new style like the ones glthfj60 is running. I spoke with mark's offroad, he has three headers left, $270 a piece. Downey's are around $325 iirc for chrome, and $370 for ceramic. Money's sort of tight and I'm in a bit of a time crunch, so I went with some jt outfitters for $159. Another member here is running the jt outfitter's, photos under the thread "my desmog." I spoke with their tech, and they sound alright. American made, supposed to feature easier access to clutch, etc. I was disappointed that the flange is a single piece as opposed to maf's two. I've heard the double flange helps stop leakages.

My father always told me that it is the cheap man who pays the most. My $370 headers that I have been running problem free for over 6 years were worth the extra money.

 

[JohnnyC]

hay Johnny (glthfj60)

how is your MAF headers doing?

I am in need for a new one...the 6 to 1 is the only way i'd be able to go with my current PS set-up...the price is steep...this is actually my 3rd header...1st was a SOR 2 piece (rotted out) ...second is an older MAF one piece flange....but also rotted out (lasted awhile 12+ years).

I will be looking into haveing it ceramic coated....I know of swaintech...but they are VERY over priced.

theres a place in CT and one in lower NYS looking into prices from them now

did you look into by you? what prices did you get?

 

[chris777]

My headers are doing GREAT!!!! I am very happy with them. And they have been on 8.5 years now!

I am religious about retorquing them every 18 months.

 

[Spike Strip]

Did you look at marksoffroad.net ? He has ceramic-coated Tri-Y headers... Same as the chrome one on this page:

http://www.marksoffroad.net/1specials/1specials.html

He also has a smog-legal version of it to fit 1983 and earlier 2F.

 

[JohnnyC]

last i knew he only had the chrome...my SOR was chrome...and that rotted very guick

when i got my triumph spitfire header ceramic coated ... if i got chrome they would need to charge to strip it off...and thats if they were able to get it all...they wouldnt garentee it then.

I would need a bare header to get ti coated...i have an earlyer f engine...actually a 74 f.5

 

[JohnnyC]

just to clarify....

I would love to get it done by the same place ....but....over 24 years ago I had the triumph header ceramic coated...and they are no longer around...and they were on Long Island...

ceramic coating works great....the triumph header looked like new the day i sold it a few years ago

 

[Spike Strip]

He has ceramic, and/or he can get them ceramic coated - I know 'cuz I've got one sitting in the garage waiting to go on my '75.

He has the headers made, so he could prolly also send you one raw ?

Might wanna call him and ask. 818-953-9230

 

[JohnnyC]

I will contact him...last i knew ...he does batches of them at a time...keeps cost down...but...i will see what he's got as a option for me

thanks

JC

 

[chris777]

mine came ceramic coated. why not just buy them already coated? they are coated inside and out. it is applied with some kind of "hot jet air" or somesuch. No rust after almost 9 years.

 

[JohnnyC]

see post #88...last i checked he only had chrome...no more ceramic coated ones

the 6 into 1 and his tri-Y have the #1 cyl pipe close to the block...they would be the only ones that i know for sure would fit with my currect PS set-up...

I will see if he has any ceramic or if he plans on making some

....with all that...i was very pleased with the MAF one....and it also would bolt right up to my current exhaust with no mods...would just need to get it ceramic coated...MAF isnt planning on getting any new batched ceramic coated anytime soon...i had asked

 

[Spike Strip]

Yeah, I guess with the add'l cost of the ceramic, the chrome prolly outsells the ceramic 15 to 1, but my experience with ceramic is that they usually outlive your love-affair with the vehicle...

 

[GLTHFJ60]

The headers are great. I got mine bare and I coated them with some high temp header paint but that burned off right away. Ran it for a year and a half with no leaks and then the s***ty intake gasket I used ( came with header ) broke, so that got swapped out. I got all of the surface rust off and coated with more high temp paint, this time grill paint, and that burned right off. I put too much torque on the collector bolts so the flange warped a bit and leaks now. Easy enough to fix, but annoying until I do.

Two things I would look for in a new header. Get one that is ceramic coated, either by the manufacturer or by a private coating place, and get one that uses band clamps instead of the regular collector gaskets. The ceramic coating will prevent corrosion and the band clamp will give you a leak free exhaust.


The header itself is awesome, no warping over time, nice thick downtubes, fits perfectly. I would buy another one in a heartbeat, as long as it had band clamps and was professionally coated.