Headers for swap?
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Enterprise, AL
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Headers for swap?
Hey everyone,
I completed the 3.4L swap a few years ago. Everything has been going good but I just got a pretty serious exhaust leak in my crossover pipe from ORS. I was wondering what people are using for headers now that Downey is gone. And...if anyone has any headers they recommend. Or anything for sale?
Thanks,
Marge
I completed the 3.4L swap a few years ago. Everything has been going good but I just got a pretty serious exhaust leak in my crossover pipe from ORS. I was wondering what people are using for headers now that Downey is gone. And...if anyone has any headers they recommend. Or anything for sale?
Thanks,
Marge
#2
Registered User
mt. goat had a similar, maybe exact issue like yours. ORS came out with a new recommendation not to wrap the headers, but to actually get them ceramic coated. Check his thread and see if it's the same crack/issue that a few members have run into: https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f160...5/index30.html
#3
Registered User
Yeah, if you're set on headers, some used or leftover Downey's are what you're stuck with. I looked at all the brands I could find available, and called the companies that didn't have pictures of their products, and even got a couple companies saying they'd never heard of swapping that engine into our gens. Probably the most economical route is doin like Mt Goat did.
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Enterprise, AL
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yep, I had my crossover wrapped. Once I heard the exhaust leak I pulled off all the wrapping, tons of flakes fell out, I had painted the crossover but apparently the heat and wrapping had jacked it up something fierce. And one of the welds had a pretty decent hole in it. I am gonna try to pull it off and get it to an exhaust shop where they can patch it up. Then I will get it coated if it is not too much money. Thanks for the link BoostinChick.
But, nah, not set on headers. The compression on the engine isn't great to begin with so I will have to do a complete rebuild in the next few years. And based on the current condition of the engine I don't think headers will give me much of a boost.
Thanks guys,
Marge
P.S. If anyone has a set of headers they are willing to sell lemme know ;-)
But, nah, not set on headers. The compression on the engine isn't great to begin with so I will have to do a complete rebuild in the next few years. And based on the current condition of the engine I don't think headers will give me much of a boost.
Thanks guys,
Marge
P.S. If anyone has a set of headers they are willing to sell lemme know ;-)
#5
Registered User
It's not just the ORS cross-over. I had mine custom made, but didn't have an expansion joint put in it. So, where the pipe meets the flanges on the exhaust manifolds has started to crack due to the different expansion and contraction rates of the pipes versus the engine. Next time around, I'm having an expansion joint put in and, if I can find someone locally, I'll have them ceramic coated.
Getting the cross-over out isn't going to be very fun at all.
Getting the cross-over out isn't going to be very fun at all.
Last edited by RobD; 11-14-2009 at 06:40 AM.
#6
Hey everyone,
I completed the 3.4L swap a few years ago. Everything has been going good but I just got a pretty serious exhaust leak in my crossover pipe from ORS. I was wondering what people are using for headers now that Downey is gone. And...if anyone has any headers they recommend. Or anything for sale?
Thanks,
Marge
I completed the 3.4L swap a few years ago. Everything has been going good but I just got a pretty serious exhaust leak in my crossover pipe from ORS. I was wondering what people are using for headers now that Downey is gone. And...if anyone has any headers they recommend. Or anything for sale?
Thanks,
Marge
So far I have over 12K on my swap and haven't developed a crack, yet. Hopefully never. My truck is my dd, fifty commuting miles every day on expansion jolt ridden socal freeways, offroad miles in the Sierras and the Mojave desert and so far so good, no crack. I had both the exhaust manifolds and the cross-over ceramic coated (Jet-Hot Coatings), and have the required flex section. I do not have the cross-over braced yet, but thats coming up.
Trending Topics
#8
Registered User
Nah Camo, they were one of the companies that acted like they thought I was on crack for asking. What they told me was that they were looking at a long tube header for the 3.4, and maybe developing one like Downey's, but that they didn't know anything about using it for the swap.
#9
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Enterprise, AL
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yep, pretty much decided on pulling the crossover off, getting it repaired, and then getting the exhaust manifolds and crossover ceramic coated.
RobD, any tips for getting the crossover out? It does look like a sonofabitch job but if I can get my hands on another daily driver I will just take my time with it.
Cadman, what do you mean a flex section after the crossover? There is a flex section on the section that goes from the passenger side manifold to the driver side. But nothing else. Also bolting the crossover to the bellhousing? For added support or...?
Yeah, I have a little over 25k on my swap now and so far everything has been awesome. This is the first real problem I have had. But it is my daily driver and the truck is getting pretty old. I am looking into getting a tiny honda civic hatchback as a daily driver and then fixing up the truck as a camping vehicle only.
RobD, any tips for getting the crossover out? It does look like a sonofabitch job but if I can get my hands on another daily driver I will just take my time with it.
Cadman, what do you mean a flex section after the crossover? There is a flex section on the section that goes from the passenger side manifold to the driver side. But nothing else. Also bolting the crossover to the bellhousing? For added support or...?
Yeah, I have a little over 25k on my swap now and so far everything has been awesome. This is the first real problem I have had. But it is my daily driver and the truck is getting pretty old. I am looking into getting a tiny honda civic hatchback as a daily driver and then fixing up the truck as a camping vehicle only.
#10
Registered User
RobD, any tips for getting the crossover out? It does look like a sonofabitch job but if I can get my hands on another daily driver I will just take my time with it.
Also bolting the crossover to the bellhousing? For added support or...?
Yeah, I have a little over 25k on my swap now and so far everything has been awesome. This is the first real problem I have had. But it is my daily driver and the truck is getting pretty old. I am looking into getting a tiny honda civic hatchback as a daily driver and then fixing up the truck as a camping vehicle only.
Also bolting the crossover to the bellhousing? For added support or...?
Yeah, I have a little over 25k on my swap now and so far everything has been awesome. This is the first real problem I have had. But it is my daily driver and the truck is getting pretty old. I am looking into getting a tiny honda civic hatchback as a daily driver and then fixing up the truck as a camping vehicle only.
I wouldn't recommend bolting it to the bellhousing. It needs to expand and contract as it heats and cools, and I would imagine that bolting it down would make that more difficult.
Mine has around 92 000 kms (approx 57,500 miles) with nary a hiccup. The only problem I have is that stupid crossover. Oh, well...next year, now that winter is coming.
#11
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Enterprise, AL
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Okay,
I have all the crossover nuts off. But getting the crossover off is not as easy. It is hanging up on the studs which I could potentially unscrew but...I am not sure they will come out of the exhaust manifold very easily. Anyone have any tricks for pulling the crossover off the exhaust manifolds?
Thanks,
Marge
I have all the crossover nuts off. But getting the crossover off is not as easy. It is hanging up on the studs which I could potentially unscrew but...I am not sure they will come out of the exhaust manifold very easily. Anyone have any tricks for pulling the crossover off the exhaust manifolds?
Thanks,
Marge
#13
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Enterprise, AL
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hmm, not sure. I tilted the transmission to try to angle the exhaust manifold studs down. But the crossover is still hung up on them. I might try unscrewing the studs or pulling off the exhaust manifolds, then I might be able to get it out.
I will let you know.
Marge
I will let you know.
Marge
Last edited by Marge; 12-02-2009 at 03:45 AM.
#14
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Enterprise, AL
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Uh yeah, couldn't get the crossover out. So...I removed the transmission. That made it a lot easier. I had some really bad cracks and one hole in the crossover. I am gonna take it to a welding shop for repair and sandblasting along with the exhaust manifolds and then I am planning on sending them all to a ceramic coating place.
Does anyone have any suggestions on where to send my exhaust manifolds and crossover pipe to get ceramic coated?
Thanks,
Marge
Does anyone have any suggestions on where to send my exhaust manifolds and crossover pipe to get ceramic coated?
Thanks,
Marge
#15
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Enterprise, AL
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Alright, so I took the crossover to an exhaust shop. The guy said the crossover metal was "crystallized" or "layered" which means it won't weld up nice. Anyone know what that means? It did look pretty bad. He also said that getting a new one won't help much because the metal is not stainless. So I was thinking about picking up some of those OBX headers. They are for a 1999 - 2002 4Runner but the bolt patterns are the same right?
Here is a picture:
Thanks everyone,
Marge
Here is a picture:
Thanks everyone,
Marge
Last edited by Marge; 12-15-2009 at 05:26 PM.
#16
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Enterprise, AL
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Apparently I can't figure out how to post pictures. Ah well, here is a link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mariogia...eat=directlink
Thanks everyone,
Marge
http://picasaweb.google.com/mariogia...eat=directlink
Thanks everyone,
Marge
Last edited by Marge; 12-15-2009 at 05:33 PM.
#17
Contributing Member
Looks similar to what mine looked like. I basicly layed a new section of pipe over the old section, one strip at a time. The wrap was the problem, it held the heat in and allowed the metal to get red hot and oxidize. There is a place in OKC (Performance Coatings) that does ceramic coating.
Last edited by mt_goat; 12-15-2009 at 05:37 PM.
#18
Contributing Member
From what I can see in the pics, it looks repairable to me Marge. The guy that was welding on that either didn't know what he was doing or didn't have the proper tools or didn't care*. It would probably be best to find someone that does TIG welding to repair it and have it coated. If you can find someone with a TIG welder take them my pics of how I repaired mine (see link in post #2). If you can't find anyone in Enid, get it to me in Edmond and I'll do it for a price.
*Its obvious he was using a MIG welder on it and didn't even bother to wire wheel it to get down to good metal. Not saying it can't be repaired with a MIG but it will be harder for them. Getting down to clean metal is a must!
*Its obvious he was using a MIG welder on it and didn't even bother to wire wheel it to get down to good metal. Not saying it can't be repaired with a MIG but it will be harder for them. Getting down to clean metal is a must!
Last edited by mt_goat; 12-16-2009 at 05:25 AM.
#19
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Enterprise, AL
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Dale!
Yeah I just moved from Enid in June, I was in Air Force fixed wing training at Vance AFB. Now I am living in Enterprise, Alabama flying helicopters for the Air Force at Ft Rucker. Thanks for the welding offer though. I am gonna try a welding shop around here.
Thanks,
Marge
Yeah I just moved from Enid in June, I was in Air Force fixed wing training at Vance AFB. Now I am living in Enterprise, Alabama flying helicopters for the Air Force at Ft Rucker. Thanks for the welding offer though. I am gonna try a welding shop around here.
Thanks,
Marge