RESOLVED: What Headers Do You Recommend for an FJ40? (1 Viewer)

[Solace in Solitude]

44's headers are looking down-in-the-tooth and I am considering replacing them with a fresh set.

Everything I've read says MarksOffRoad are best - but are 'out of stock' - Mark has no estimate for when they might be replenished...

SOR are said to be good - but are 'out of stock'...

MAF appears to have some...

JTOutfitters has some, but they are said to be 'crap'...

Any others that might be worth the money and the time??

Thanks!

 

[handcannon]

This following is just my opinion so keep that in mind. These are tractor motors, not high RPM motors like what we find on newer performance oriented cars. Anything over 3K RPM is not seen very often. The headers I'm familiar with were designed for higher RPM operation way beyond what these motors normally run at, making the money spent for a header set lost money as you won't see any benefit. Keeping this in mind I would recommend finding a used stock exhaust manifold, or intake and exhaust set, that are in real good shape and have them resurfaced/refurbished. Then put what you save there into a real good exhaust pipe system that will last for many years.

Please keep in mind that this is just an opinion based on personal experience. Way back when I was in my early twenties I put headers on a 327 in a 4X4 truck hoping to get better fuel mileage with the 4.56 gears it had. I'm not a hot rodder. In a few years the headers rusted out. If I had left the cast iron manifolds all I would have had to concern myself with would have been the cracking occasionally found on center dump manifolds.

Don

 

[FF LC FREAK]

The Tri-Y headers are generally considered to be the best headers. The only tri-y design I could find in stock in my recent search was this one - http://www.fjparts.com/tri-header-fj40-45-55-60-chrome-p-1567.html. But, at almost $500, it is hard to pull the trigger. Yes, you get what you pay for...

The other recommended option is the 3fe manifold. After reading a few threads here on mud (such as this one - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/3fe-exhaust-manifold-on-carbd-2f-head.748113/) about installation, I went this route. I picked up a set for $100 shipped that look pretty clean. They should show up in the next few days. I know I'll put some money into them to get them machined, but it's still better than $500.

 

[landcrusher909]

I have been running the same headers on my 1973 40 for over 25 years, 10 years on my sons 1973 40 I also ran a set on the 1966 LV with a 1974 1.5F . I am running a 2F he still has the orginal 1F. Honestly I could not tell you what brand they are I picked them up used via a fellow mud member used, Painted them with some BBQ paint and have never had a problem. Living in So Calif I couldnt tell you if there would be a big diffrence in location ( rust issues ) I do know they dont leak, Cruiser runs Great and its clean. ( Pic of the motor going into my 66 FJ45LV ) so I guess my opnion is find something clean/straight and run it

 

[cruiserkev]

Hi Danny, I was fortunate enough to purchase my FJ40 with the old school $pector Offroad steel tri-y style headers. PO apparently coated it with some type of ceramic coating that has degraded a bit over time. Looks a little rusty these days but has held up well for the 20 years I've had them. These have been on 2 different 2F engines since then. Just checked for holes and weak spots the other day, no issues. I would check for some quality used ones online. So many cruisers have engine swaps now, there has to be a few left out there. Good luck!

 

[kruisinkid]

im in the go back to iron manifold boat.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Thanks guys!

I knew my muffler and pipe need to be replaced, but I assumed my headers did also - well I was wrong! Turns out my headers are solid and have a long life left on them... even though they are not pretty.

While the headers make it VERY difficult to drop and replace the oil pan (I just went through this exercise again), I think they pull a lot of heat away from the carb.

I agree with the naysayers who doubt that headers on a 2F actually give a performance increase... kinda like trying to get lean pork by putting a girdle on a pig...

If I had an exhaust manifold, I would never have exchanged it for headers. But, since 44 came with headers and they probably still have more years on their life than I do, I'll stay with my headers and my presumed carb heat decrease.

Thanks for your input, regardless!

 

[handcannon]

Thanks guys!

I knew my muffler and pipe need to be replaced, but I assumed my headers did also - well I was wrong! Turns out my headers are solid and have a long life left on them... even though they are not pretty.

While the headers make it VERY difficult to drop and replace the oil pan (I just went through this exercise again), I think they pull a lot of heat away from the carb.

I agree with the naysayers who doubt that headers on a 2F actually give a performance increase... kinda like trying to get lean pork by putting a girdle on a pig...

If I had an exhaust manifold, I would never have exchanged it for headers. But, since 44 came with headers and they probably still have more years on their life than I do, I'll stay with my headers and my presumed carb heat decrease.

Thanks for your input, regardless!

As long as you're headers are still in good shape I would use them. I'm in the camp of "use everything until ALL life is gone". I've still got shirts in my closet that are probably twenty years old. I save them for those times when I'll be getting REAL dirty/greasy. If they aren't worth cleaning/saving, or torn I don't feel as bad about throwing them out.

My experience has been that the lower end of the header around the collector area is where they go bad first. Clean up as much as you can easily get to, especially the collector area, and apply some good rust converting/inhibiting paint and they may last for many more years.

Never heard of this saying before, "kinda like trying to get lean pork by putting a girdle on a pig...". That's a good one!

Don

 

[Mace]

I've always been pleased with opening the exhaust up and adding a header. If you still have the small restrictive exhaust, then there is no reason for a header.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Come on Don (@handcannon), you're just like me... we both have shirts in the closet that we intend to someday be able to fit into again! You like my quote, huh? You are welcome to use it.

@Mace my exhaust is 2" - are you suggesting going larger? Or, is that what you meant?

 

[Mace]

2" is just fine. You're good

 

[brian]

header and 2.5" pipe is the bee's knees.

 

[Weber Sarge]

Exhaust system volume for a 4.2L engine needs a 2.5" pipe . For those that think a header makes no difference - I ran mine with a junk 4 into 1 generic when I first got it , top speed was about 70 mph with the 33's and 4.11 gears . Mark's TriY pushed it to over 90 , or "a bit too much" for most people . Ran 75 yesterday on I-80 with a 25mph headwind , about half into the secondary of Troll hole's carb . It runs almost too good , I'm waiting for a big "Kablamo" (thanks for that , Me. Hobbs) .

It's a little loud with just a 2.5" Magnaflow glass pack but sure has a nice growl...

Sarge

 

[76technician]

Mine came to me with headers and a Holley, so I never had a good option to go back to the stock exhaust. The ones it came with were the two-piece that I think were SOR so when they rusted out I replaced with the same (about 2002ish?). The newer set had much better thickness on the manifold flange and bolt up pretty well without split washers, at least I've always had good vacuum at about 20". My latest minor leaks were because the welded sealing surfaces were not quite lining up with the metal edges of the OEM gasket, but the latest Remflex gasket seems much better. The new ones were supposed to be ceramic-coated, but that went chalky very soon and I've had good luck with BBQ paint or high-temp spray paint. One thing I like about the two-piece ones is the ease of installation and removal. I think I bought the complete SOR exhaust then too, which is a little narrow but does fit well above the frame rails, I think I was able to fit the skid plate without strife (though it's back off now for work so I can't say for sure).

 

[65swb45]

I've always been pleased with opening the exhaust up and adding a header. If you still have the small restrictive exhaust, then there is no reason for a header.

This from the man that sold me his 2.5 exhaust system because it wasn't big enough!

Sorry for the current situation. I've been stupid busy with other things. I'm gonna try and get going on another batch in mid-May.

 

[Mace]

The turbo requires a bit more flow.

 

[antFJ]

resolved? which one did you pick?

 

[Solace in Solitude]

I picked the headers I already have - see post 7

 

[antFJ]

Thanks!

 

[sggoat]

This from the man that sold me his 2.5 exhaust system because it wasn't big enough!

Sorry for the current situation. I've been stupid busy with other things. I'm gonna try and get going on another batch in mid-May.

I would be in line for one of these--but not the first one-give me one that was built on Tuesday or Wednesday