Headers whats the gain?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Peabody Ma.
Headers whats the gain?
How much of a horsepower gain would you get from installing a set of shorty headers? Right now Im using a set of factory (81) exh. manifolds wich I reworked, I removed the A.I.R tubes and the heat riser and welded in a 3'' flange from a new year. So I basicly have a set of headers now. Will I see a gain or just a waste of money? Also wondering about just having what I already have Cermic coated so I dont have to redo the new exh system. Any thoughts
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 143
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From: Independence MO
My thought is that unless you are going RACING what you have is plenty good enough. Headers even coated have their problems. They sometimes leak and they will rust out down the road especially if you do not drive it much because the moisture builds up and this is what causes rust. Coating your manifolds would be what I would do instead of using headers. Also shorty headers do not give you that much increase of flow like regular long headers would. Like I said unless you are looking for every bit of HP from your motor I would stick with what you have and coat them. "If it AIN"T BROKE don't fix it." 
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,629
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From: Somers CT
I agree with the above, the Ram's horns are pretty efficient, for normal use I don't think you'd see a difference other than how much lighter your wallet is.
The ceramic coated headers do reduce under the hood temps big time, when I did my engine swap I had to buy headers and got the coated ones. There's a huge difference in how hot it gets under the hood with these.
The ceramic coated headers do reduce under the hood temps big time, when I did my engine swap I had to buy headers and got the coated ones. There's a huge difference in how hot it gets under the hood with these.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
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From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
Originally Posted by TopGunn
I agree with the above, the Ram's horns are pretty efficient, for normal use I don't think you'd see a difference other than how much lighter your wallet is.
The ceramic coated headers do reduce under the hood temps big time, when I did my engine swap I had to buy headers and got the coated ones. There's a huge difference in how hot it gets under the hood with these.
The ceramic coated headers do reduce under the hood temps big time, when I did my engine swap I had to buy headers and got the coated ones. There's a huge difference in how hot it gets under the hood with these.
not much HP gain but the look cool & make the exhaust sound good. I would leave the ram horns. You can get them power coated or ceramic coated & them look just as cool.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
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From: Surrey
Originally Posted by bruced267
How much of a horsepower gain would you get from installing a set of shorty headers? Right now Im using a set of factory (81) exh. manifolds wich I reworked,
Ceramic coating is good (if done right). It definitely reduces temps in the cabin (so keeps the heat in the exhausts: aiding power?) & the headers look as good as they did 3(?) years back when I fitted them.
With experience, would I change stock '81 manifolds to Headers now? No, not unless I had decent heads on it. The stock manifolds were clearly causing a restriction at high revs, as the power could be felt tailing off with them fitted. It's better with Headers on, but it's still tailing off, probably due to the heads. The main reason I changed them was that the stock manifolds were starting to split.
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Peabody Ma.
I do have good aftermarket heads, and a mild cam. My main goal was the cermic coating I would like to try and reduce cabin (a little more) I was just thinking while Im at it, but I would rather coat what I have if im not going to see any big HP gains. Also I did remove any restriction from the stock 81 manifolds so they are close to a shorty header and the only reason I was thinking a shorty was for the z bar for cluth linkage.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
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From: San Antonio TX
On a wheezer '81, you may pick up five or so horsepower. The rams horn manifolds are, as iron manifolds go, pretty good. The more airflow you have in the intake, heads, and cam, the more power you'll see. And there's not a big difference between shorty headers and full-length headers. It shows up when you get well beyond the 1hp/ci, but below that, it's better to go for fit and convenience than outright horsepower. The tube length moves the torque peak around, but this isn't something that you need to be concerned about at your level with a corked exhaust.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,465
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From: Orange Park Fl
Note: For those of you that keep saying "rams horns", '81s had shorty headers stock.
If your stock tubes are in good shape, keep them. Replace the rest of the exhaust system! I replaced my stock set up with ceramic shorties and 2.5" true duals. The difference was huge, but the reason I replaced the stock headers was because they were corroded and leaking. God bless, Sensei
If your stock tubes are in good shape, keep them. Replace the rest of the exhaust system! I replaced my stock set up with ceramic shorties and 2.5" true duals. The difference was huge, but the reason I replaced the stock headers was because they were corroded and leaking. God bless, Sensei
