If you had both...

I was given a pair of Hedman in-frame headers (http://www.4wd.com/Jeep-Engine-Perf...er.aspx?t_c=74&t_s=49&t_pt=3240&t_pn=HED99200)
and I already have an original set of manifolds that appear to be in decent shape. If you had both at no cost which would y'all run?

 

Iron manifolds. Headers are a pita. Hot, fragile, leaky, noisy ... Go with the factory manifolds and duals inside the frame, with a balance pipe. The factory manifolds are pretty good as iron manifolds go, and you'll get the V8 sound you want with the dual exhaust. Sell the headers.

 

Heck, you'll get a V8 sound with a single exhaust and the right muffler. I've got factory manifolds over to a single pipe and FM 50's on the 360 and it sounds just fine to me. I'm happy with the factory stuff.

 

Iron manifolds hands down. Headers are fine for the track. They suck off road. Cracks and leaks will be the norm if you wheel it. I just switched back to manifolds and in frame mufflers and am so happy, it's like driving a whole different Jeep.

 

Ok, I'll play Devils advocate.
Run the headers. Bolt them in with some Stage 8 or Percy's fasteners and you won't have to worry about bolts shaking loose and blowing the gasket out.
Then all you have to worry about is the tubes rusting out and cracking long before a stock manifold would.

 

run the headers till they break or rust out it will happen then run the manifolds get your free worth outa em...

 

I'd sell the headers.

 

Run the manifolds and sell the headers to finance the rest of the exhaust. Manifolds are much less trouble with bolts loosening, blowing gaskets, and cracking as was said.



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For myself headers, i do have fender off headers, sound nice i have issu with leaking , none with bolt that get loosse. Better sound to me and a little gain of power!!!

My 2c

 

Thats a good idea

 

I have whined a lot about fender well headers on this forum. I have gone thru many sets, now I have switched back to manifolds. My main complaints for the fender headers was the cracking at the flange because of the weight of the exhaust system on them. If I had the inside frame headers I would switch back to try them. I can always go back to the manifolds if I want. I think headers inside the frame with full length exhaust would boost your power.

My other complaint with the old headers was the tendency to burn the exhaust valves. The short exhaust with almost insignificant cherry bomb glass packs let the red hot exhaust blast out.

The full length exhaust will give more back pressure to mitigate this problem, I think, and you could hang decent mufflers under the jeep instead of glass packs.

If it was me I would give the headers inside the frame a shot. Of course I don't think you can run them with the Ross steering can you?

 

As an aside, am I correct that you can't do the Saginaw steering upgrade with the stock manifolds? Or would this question belong only on the early's?

 

Yes, headers CAN cause a few problems. However, its MORE power and MORE mileage. If you get quality headers (and Headmans are reasonably good), the flange cracking is close to non-existant and loosening header bolts are minimal. They absolutely will lean the mixture and if you don't tweak the induction, you can burn exhaust valves-but if you do, it's your own fault. And a little header wrap takes care of the heat problem.

I have had headers on both the 3B and the CJ5 nearly the entire time I have owned both (40 and 43 years respectively). The CJ5's are Headmans and its the only pair that have been on it. The 3B has Hookers and I am on the second set of those, but the first pair went 34 years. The failure of the Hookers was rust through right before the collectors-where they get sand and gravel blasted from the road. Never did have one break at the flange.

Needless to say, I would be using the Headmans.

 

'72+ have Saginaw installed from the factory. You can install maniolds and Saginaw on ECJ5, but it takes late model manifolds and some custom creative intermediate steering shaft work.

 

manifolds.

 

Never saw any description that said your existing manifolds were removed. Definitely wouldnt remove them if they are working fine with no leaks. Break some bolts and youll wish you never got the freebies.

 

Can you go more into depth on that?

 

If you are running FI, it will likely take care of it without any further attention as the O2 sensor will detect the lean condition and adjust the fuel accordingly. If you are carbed, you need to jet it up (richer), maybe start with two jet sizes bigger. Check plugs and exhaust. You want it brownish. Light tan to white is too lean and you will be burning exhaust valves. If you have an O2 sensor, you want the air fuel ratio 14.7:1 or less. If it gets too rich, your mileage will suffer, but you will not destroy the engine.