Hey guys,

I just read that the downey headers for the 3.4L wont fit with vehicles with a body lift.

Is this true with all headers for the 3.4L ?

 

hmm I just read that in there catalog, now im curious why. The only thing i can see is the fender some how being in the way of the headers, but im sure theres people out there with them

 

<96_runner> has some headers on his and is running a body lift.
Don't remember what kind though. Maybe he can help you?

 

I got your PM, but I figured I would reply here. I am pretty sure that the Downey headers will not work with a BL because of the steering shaft fitment. In other words, I don’t think the drivers side header will clear the steering shaft because of the spacer.

I run Edelbrock headers, purchased at Summit Racing for $375 and free shipping. I sent them out to HPC to have them coated. That ran another $200 or so. I highly recommend you get some type of coating done to keep the under-hood temps down and the exhaust gasses flowing. I am especially glad I got the coating now that I am installing a supercharger (high EGT’s).

The only problems I have had with the Edelbrocks is the clutch engagement fork rubbing on the drivers side header (slightly, but enough to be annoying), and the slave cyl hydraulic line getting burned, causing a complete loss of clutch function. Both of these problems can be remedied at installation by simply modifying each part. The engagement fork has room to be sanded down on the end, and the slave cyl soft line can be moved by bending the hard-lines into position. Now this may not even apply to you if you are running an Auto, so disregard if that is the case.

The performance increase compared to hassle of installation is very close to being not worth it. It took me a full Saturday to get them on, and couple trips to Sears. The hardest part of the install was one bolt on the drivers side header (2hrs) and my attempt to salvage the crossover pipe (2hrs). I could probably do the install now in about 5 hours if I just sawed off the crossover pipe in the first place.

Let me know if you need any more info.

I can tell you this, the SC’r kicks the living crap out of the HP gains provided by the headers. The donor rig I have in my possession right now would smoke my 96. Something to think about.

 

Christian,
What is the donor rig you're driving?

 

Pretty much the same thing as my 96, only it has 265/70/16's and 4.10's. Oh and it (was) supercharged.

I should have just done the SC'r in the first place.

 

You can normally fit the 3.4 Edelbrock headers with a 1" body lift and still clear the steering extension, as noted on the web page:

http://www.4Crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...l#Applications

Not sure if this applies to the Downey headers as well or not.

 

Roger-

You are correct. I have your kit and the Edelbrock's. The BL made the R&R of the stock manifolds and headers much easier. Like I said, the only ongoing problem I have is with the clutch release fork scraping the drivers-side header during engagement, which is unrelated to your kit.