Another header-related question (do they ever stop?) . A set of coated AS&Ms alone are about that much...Dynatechs more...TOGs are less and are mids,right? Thorley Tri-Ys ,coated, are about 600 and are mids,too.
I know headers look nice and sound good but is it a cost effective mod compared to some other stuff? After install,Y pipe,X or H pipe,cat back or whatever you might do to complete the system it can hit a grand or more.
I've read here how some guys can sometimes feel little or no difference unless those are just tuning issues.
It seems like in the older-gen engines headers yielded more but I guess it's because those old exh manifolds were a lot more restrictive.
Any thoughts or comments?

 

My thorleys are long tubes, at least that's what they advertise as. I went with the uncoated ones, and they seem to be doing fine, they just blued up right after I cranked the truck up. I'm really happy with them, and for under $500, I'm not going to complain. Don't know about the other expensive headers though

 

I wouldn't say it is worth it.

 

I think headers become more beneficial after head/cam swaps. the factory manifolds seem to flow fine for a basic stock engine with a few bolt ons. I think for $800 you could get better results out of other mods.

 

I think our truck headers are too expensive in general. $800 is too much, but there aren't many choices. The Thorleys seem to be the best value. Don't waste your money on shorty headers though. Go with the thorleys before doing shorty headers.

 

I see forsee the prices of headers for our trucks coming down in the next couple of years. These engines have been out for more than 5 years.

 

Thorley 310-Y chrome full length headers, $438 shipped from Summit. They do have an EGR fitting BTW. You could take that $800 and install a nice cam, but then you would need headers... To answer your question, 15-20 HP is not worth $800, if that is all your going to do. However, that 15-20 HP can easily equal 30-40 HP on a modified motor. Then it is worth it....

 

Yeah, I think it's tough to say. What might be $800 and 15-20 on a stock motor, would be $800 and 35-40 on a high revving H/C engine.

Another way to look at it, is even out the field.

Say a Radix - $5000, for 100hp. (guesstimate) That's $50 a horse.

Headers - $800 and 20hp - that's $40 a horse.

 

i would say yes. btw, don't use chrome as just listed, go with ceramic coated. underhood heat is a bad thing...

 

Yes, headers for these trucks are a rip. You can get Hooker super-comps for most anything for like 375, and just regular hooker comps for about 170.

Now look @ some C5 headers... that crap is expensive!!! You can easily spend 1K on some C5 headers.