Topic: Who has a pace setter header?

[wrangler387]

Well i put my header on yesterday afternoon/night. Probably the most annoying header install i've done. I hate how the header goes right under the oil pan, i'm going to need to modify the damn thing. But the question i have for anyone who has this header, did the black paint that came on it peel off? All of mine is, so now i'm going to have to take the piece back off to spray it in high temp. I wish i would've known it would peel  off before installing it. Also, for anyone who put their own header on, did they look at their exaust ports? I  knew the different length runners on the intake manifold would make the sets of cyclinders run different... And go figure the two middle ones with the short runners ran lean and the outside ones rich. What a stupid design.

[SMC4WD]

All I can say is Arrggghhh...

I'm running pacesetter headers, but I had someone else install them.  As far as the paint peeling off... I hear that it is the way of all painted headers.  You're supposed to run them a few hours to burn it off.  Ceramic coating them (or any equivalent) would have been a great investment.  I wish that I could help you with the question regarding the runners...  I've always head that equal length headers were the way to go...  But pacesetter is one of the cheapest headers out there.  

Maybe someone could research Borla or Banks...   Those being the 'top of the line', maybe they're equal length...   If not, either custom headers or deal...

Now two things that I had done when I had these installed was to reroute the crossover tube and to have my O2 sensor relocated.  These pictures show the undulation of my oil pan.  (Pre suspension lift wheeling).   I figured that if my oil pan looks that bad, I couldn't imagine how beat up my exhaust would look if it was still there.


The O2 sensor was facing forward and was just as low as the rest of the stuff...  That had to change to.



I hope this info helps you a little.   :?

[wrangler387]

I'm going to need to do something like what you did. Thanks for the pictures.  :D

I dont mind the design of the header all to much in terms of runners/length, i mean it's not perfectly equal length but its not horrible. But the runners enter the collector atleast the right way. 1-3-4-2... But when i was talking about unequal runners i was talking about the INTAKE manifold. I knew it was going to create uneven air flow to the cylinders (since cylinders 2&3 have shorter runners and a tighter bend, and 1&4 have longer runners and not as tight of a bend), making two of them lean while the other two rich and vice versa..

I'm going to build a new manifold over the next couple months, sucks that school starts up again this upcoming week... I'm not going to have a lot of free time to fabricate a new intake manifold. It's going to be a pain attaching the power steering pump to the intake manifold also.

[Erik]

if its not broken, don't fix it.  it's a jeep, not a race car.  spending countless hours and money on designing and fabricationg a new intake manifold that the computer isn't calibrated for is just goingt o cause you unnecessary downtime and frustration.

almost every intake mnaifold has different lenth runners for different cylinders and they all work fine.... v8, I4, V6, V10, etc... all the same and all work as they are meant to.  

spend that money on a locker instead :)

[wrangler387]

Although it may not be broke, it can definately be improved  :wink:

I would not consider building an intake manifold if it wasn't for these three things:
1. Megasquirt and spark extra (already have a board built, but not playing with that for awhile since i ended up taking school full time this semester ontop of my fulltime job, and being in a serious relationship  :shock: )
2. I'm going to turbo charge it. Have a lot of random shit laying around from my teggy.
3. I enjoy designing and fabricating things... I have gone back and forth between an engineering and accounting/business major numerous times, but i've decided on accounting/business for good this time.

Also, I have a lockright locker that i need to install for the front. But i may buy a local dana 30 that has 4.88s in it already. I also have a super35 detroit locker that i got for a good price, but i havn't decided if i want to use it or do an axle swap. I'm most likely going to stick with the super35 since it would cost more for me to do an axle swap and lock it then just get some 30 spline shafts... I have no intentions of going over a 35 inch tire and My next set of tires will be a set of 33s.  

[wrangler387]

Just an update... Although i am going to have to modify how it goes under the oil pan, and i should get it coated. Performance wise this thing made a big difference. The jeep feels a lot better throughout the whole powerband. Highway cruising is dramatically better. I can hold 70mph on the highway easily. I didn't try and fully get on it or anything, but if i pushed the gas pedal alittle more it actually sped up (as in started to go faster then 70) before it would start slowing down lol (it would still slow down with the 4.0 tb/spacer/ram air intake).  I'm very happy i put this thing on. I definately recommend it to anyone else. I'll know this weekend if it helped out my MPG, i'll have to fill up again... the acetone I put in the last tank didn't help me at all.

[wrangler387]

Another update... Went on the highway again tonight to go to dinner with my girlfriend. Suprisingly the jeep was able to go 80mph in 5th gear, and maybe more. I only went 80 for probably 3 or 4 miles and then slowed back down to 70mph, i dont like my RPMs being over 3grand for cruising. I also had to fill up the gas tank, and i got 18.86mpg. I've been getting between 18 and 19mpg, so same mpg, but a lot better cruising/driving characteristics. The jeep actually suprised my girlfriend when we were getting on the highway today, the jeep actually had a little kick to it without needing to rev it to 4,500-5,000 rpm area.

[SMC4WD]

Congratulations...

It sounds like you've made a wise investment.  Let us know how that oil pan re-routing goes.  And if the girlfriend is happy, that's a good thing

[wrangler387]

I was really suprised how much better it went on the highway... Now one day if i get A/C we can take the jeep on a road trip   A/C will be one of the very last things i worry about though. I'll update the thread again once i reroute the exaust, but it won't be for awhile.... I kind've screwed most of my summer plans for the jeep by taking school full time again. I'm going to be working 6-7 days a week, going to school, and somewhere in there trying to keep my girlfriend happy. Jeep is going to be lonely  :cry:

[Beachbum]

Thanks for the good info on the pacesetter header Wrangler387, I've been "wrangling" with the idea of purchasing one myself. The price is definetly much cheaper than a Banks or Borla. I definetly don't like the idea of it running under the oilpan. I'm gonna have to sleep on it, I sure would like to install a header when I install my cam and head, just hate the price on the Banks (the one I want).

[yellowta]

I saw another header for the 2.5 in the latest Jeg's catalog. Looks like it's made by Dynomax, and was listed for $199. Think I may try this one out when I'm ready to buy a header

[Beachbum]

JEG'S has Borla headers for the 2.5L for 297.95 right now, that is by far the best price I have seen or can find on it anywhere. I went ahead and ordered a pacesetter for my 91, just couldn't choke up the extra money for the Borla.