Any suggestions for headers for a 2001 2500HD/6 speed stick with the 8.1. Exhaust manifold is cracked. I'm sure this has been asked many times but I just joined the forum. The only headers I found so far are from JBA. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Check out StainlessWorks, we have a member here (Whippled496 I believe) who is running them on his big block. He had a thread with pics and his impressions on the headers, if you search under his user name. I have StainlessWorks long tubes and catted y-pipe on my 5.3 and I can tell you that both the quality of the headers and the customer service that I received is top notch

 

Thanks for the info. I checked out StainlessWorks and they have headers for the 2003 8.1. I will ask if it will fit on my 2001.

 

They might, when I got mine from them, they were listed for 03+, and I actually test fit them for SW, on my 99. They were tight with the frame rail on the passenger side, but still cleared and I've been more than satisfied with them

 

I would say the reasoning behind listing them for either a '99 thru '02 or an '03 and up would be due to the EGR connection. The '03 and up doesn't need it and while on some brands they may choose just to plug it off, others will delete it all together.

 

That may be part of it, but when I talked to them they mentioned that they hadn't test fit a 99-02 so they weren't sure that they'd fit. Some 02's didn't have EGR either, I'm running an 02 PCM and it doesn't have EGR tables and provisions, so I deleted my EGR all together. The 4.8/5.3 SW's don't have EGR or AIR provisions...makes for a clean looking engine bay actually.

At the time when I test fit the headers for SW, I sent them my passenger side Gibson shorty so they could take measurements for EGR, to expand their LT applications to fit 99-02. I'm assuming that they did take measurements as they had the shorty for a while before they sent it back to me, but they never did make the changes and offer 99-02 as a direct bolt in...although I and others know that they will fit 99-02 as long as you don't have AIR or EGR

 

I'm sure youre right, there is probably more than one reason behind it. Damn I glad mine didn't have the AIR provisions as well. Of course the EGR didn't last about 30 seconds after I seen how ugly the adapter was when the Radix went on......LOL

 

Yea, I'm glad I didn't have AIR either, I've seen trucks like ours with AIR and it's frickin ugly! My 85 MonteSS had AIR, and I had the Edelbrock Tubular Exhuast System, which worked pretty well, but it just looked so un-performance-like with the AIR fittings going to each primary.

I bought the GM EGR block-off plate for the intake, and tucked the EGR electrical connector up under the intake cover, so it looks factory like it never had EGR

 

Maybe you can make one of these Edelbrocks fit?

http://store.edelbrock.com/gmtruckandsuv.aspx