Topic: header install

[tttppp54]

What would be a reasonable price for a header install?

[Jesse-James]

I was quoted at about 100.00 at a small local shop.

[tttppp54]

Is it worth the hassle to save the hundred bucks and do it myself?

[jcsanders79]

I wouldn't do it again, plus I ended up going to a shop to get the pipe welded.  I am not a big fan of those exhaust clamps. 

[chrisfranklin]

Heard it can get pricey, 4-6 hours shop time x $70 an hour. 

A good header sounds like fun to me. But, I am increasingly leary about doing any performance mods on an engine (especially my a 13 year old Jeep 4banger) without establishing baseline air/fuel (no mods) and then air/fuel ratios after the mods (then increasing fuel as necessary to preserve the baseline ratio). This involves a lot of work and probably doubles the expense of tuning (if you have a shop around that can do this), but you end up with professional results.

Half the guys out there with mods are probably tuned haywire and are ending up with half-assed performance increases and/or bad emissions, etc.

I agree that the newer computer-controlled engines (2.4L 4Banger and JK 3.8L V6) are probably a ton easier to work with.

[lutzke21]

I did it myself.  I'd rather get up close and personal with it.  Gave me a chance to peer inside and I know it was done right.  Oh, and saved me money too.

I was quoted at about 100.00 at a small local shop.

Yeah, funny thing about quotes is...

[lanulos89]

i did it myself like 4 times, exhaust manifold bolts once, once when i got my first header, whihc was wrong, again when they sent me the right header, and a final time when my head gasket blew this past spring.  if u get goo dat it it takes no where near 6 hours, i can do it in 3, yes i timed it

[chrisfranklin]

i did it myself like 4 times, exhaust manifold bolts once, once when i got my first header, whihc was wrong, again when they sent me the right header, and a final time when my head gasket blew this past spring.  if u get goo dat it it takes no where near 6 hours, i can do it in 3, yes i timed it

That's some speedy work.  Maybe 4-6 hours is for the 4.0L. 

My manifold was removed last year and reinstalled, so its no longer "welded" to the exhaust ports.  Maybe I can get a header in there in 2-3 hours down the road.  I'd just want the fuel to match the new airflow is all.  J.E.E.Pocket

[dunklervogel]

Anyone lose any low end after installing headers?  I want to look into exhaust mods for performance but everything I've read has me thinking to just leave well enough alone that i'll lose low end torque and it only help up high.  :(

But i've found a few writeups on the internet on how to install headers on the 4.0 and i'm sure it is about the same for the 2.5 ...

[lanulos89]

its rlly not to much work, its 2 bolts holding the fuel lines to the intake manifold, pop the throttle and trans kickdown cable off the tb, the three bolts holding the power steering pump out.  then its full bore on the exhaust/ intake manifold bolts.  pretty sures there like 8 to 10 of em.  then redo it nd ur done,

[lanulos89]

oh and the down pipe nuts, whihc will prob be tha hardest to get out outta all of them, unless u got a broken stud, in which well have fun 

[Oilsmoke]

Anyone lose any low end after installing headers?  I want to look into exhaust mods for performance but everything I've read has me thinking to just leave well enough alone that i'll lose low end torque and it only help up high.  :(

But i've found a few writeups on the internet on how to install headers on the 4.0 and i'm sure it is about the same for the 2.5 ...

If you have enough back pressure with smaller dia exhaust headpipe you will gain torque. Remember it's a total system not just one part of the exhaust that can influence torque or high flow.A Header with 2.5" dia all the way won't make as much torque as a 2" inch would. Balanced system will get you both.

Think like this If you put 2.75 dia exhaust system on a stock manifold you would lose Torque. Install a 1.875 and you gain allot of torque.

Now My Jeep has a Banks Header and Custom 2 Inch downpipe into 2.25 tailpipe and When I added the header I gained lowend & more topend, Rev out quicker, Pulled 3rd gear  hard, that's with 30" tires. I never use Stock manifolds . They just don't work as well  as a good designed Header. Stock manifolds Just don't scavenge the cylinders enough.

[wild_thing]

Anyone running a Clifford header?

I am in the process of rebuilding my 88 2.5 and found a great cam. So I figure that I will look at a header and modifying the intake.