Should I get headers for my 2.9?

[88_Eddie]

I've been re-doing my 2.9 for a few months now and slowly i've been collecting all the new stuff it needed. I just got my headbolts and headgaskets easter weekend and now all i need is some random exhaust stuff and maybe new heads.

i'm thinking about putting headers on it. my old manifolds are fine, they're just VERY rusty and look like crap. here's my engine right now minus the heads and exhaust manifolds:

are headers worth it on a 2.9? i know that the stock stuff flows really good, but for the price i think i should just go with headers. autozone wants $87 & $65 just for stock replacements, plus i have to get gaskets ($6) and the manifold bolts (6 broke off during removal - $10 i'm guessing) plus and then $70 for a new y-pipe (cut the old one up to get it out - dont ask me why). if i do that, then i just end replacing everything to stock form and i've spent around $275, plus all of that stuff only has a 1 year warranty.

here's what i'm looking at:
http://store.newlevelmotorsports.com/papehe19fora.html

they have a 3 year warranty and they come with everything i need. opinions?

 

[Psychopete]

If you want to run headers, run them. You will probably like the sound..

Install of my pace setters ended up being a chore.

The passenger side header on mine was up against the oil filter 90 degree assembly.. I wrapped that header section in header wrap to help with the heat.

The black is going to get rusty fairly quick. I had the ceramic coated and they looked good for a few years.

Collector to cat ended up in the side of the frame, against the radius arm bolt - which I had to "tweak them" to correct these issues. Give yourself plenty of time, but you might not run into the issues that I ran into.

Also, after tweaking the headers, I noticed that the collector pipe cross over was really close to my A4LD transmission pan. Not sure if I would have been able to get the pan off with them installed, but there was some clearance. I wrapped this area as well with header wrap.

The collector would have been a pain to get it back up with the cat, but I was running an all new system, so I was pretty much free to do whatever to make it work in my case.

After the headers on, you will find that the fuel filter mounted inside the frame after the high pressure pump is a real pain in the butt to change. Do this while you have it apart. Even better if you get it with the engine out.

The slip-fit connections are a joke.

Pete

 

[88_Eddie]

^
yeah, i forgot to mention the sound aspect of installing them. my engine is out right now, so they wouldnt be hard to get on, it just may be harder to set back into the engine bay.

i have a manual tranny, so maybe it wont rub like the A4LD

i also ripped out the entire stock exhaust system, it sat for so long there were holes everywhere, so i have a new cat and piping and soon a new muffler.

where did you order yours from psychopete? oh and what muffler did you run with it?

 

[Psychopete]

where did you order yours from psychopete? oh and what muffler did you run with it?

Ebay for $180, which was pretty decent since they were coated. Keep your eyes peeled if you have time and you can usually find a deal. Sold my old headers for $30 I think, but they weren't in that great of cosmetic shape, but definitely were useable.

I used a Dynomax super turbo kit, it was a single in dual outlet muffler, and I ran fake dual exhaust. Kept it this way since the 2.9L only has 1 o2 sensor. But hard to fit another exhaust on the driver's side because of the gas tank and drive shaft..

Did a bunch of modifications at once, hard to tell if the exhaust helped out any at all. I was running a decent camshaft for mid/high end, so I'd be willing to be it helped there over the stock manifolds.

 

[88_Eddie]

Ebay for $180, which was pretty decent since they were coated. Keep your eyes peeled if you have time and you can usually find a deal. Sold my old headers for $30 I think, but they weren't in that great of cosmetic shape, but definitely were useable.

I used a Dynomax super turbo kit, it was a single in dual outlet muffler, and I ran fake dual exhaust. Kept it this way since the 2.9L only has 1 o2 sensor. But hard to fit another exhaust on the driver's side because of the gas tank and drive shaft..

Did a bunch of modifications at once, hard to tell if the exhaust helped out any at all. I was running a decent camshaft for mid/high end, so I'd be willing to be it helped there over the stock manifolds.

yeah, these are for $200 with free shipping (i think), i'll most likely go with them if ebay doesnt have anything. i plan on running a single outlet and i dont have any internal engine mods just yet, gonna wait til she completely gives out on me to do that.


thanks for the input

 

[low_five]

I think you should man. that pic makes 2.9 owners proud. if nothing else, you should dress it up a little bit.

 

[88_Eddie]

yeah, i'm gonna get them, cant see why i shouldnt. i just need to get my heads compression tested to make sure they're still in good shape, hope i dont have to buy new ones.