I’ve been doing a ton of research regarding the best value on headers. Gadget has quite a write up. I have also been checking products out such as Downey but they don’t appear to fit the 2000 4Runner. Anybody know who is currently producing the TRD headers and if you can purchase them in “non-TRD” format? From what I have read the edelbrock are a good value if you get them coated. Thanks for the ideas.

FROSTY

 

TRD, Edelbrock, and Downey are the available headers for the 3.4.

 

From what I have read(somewhere)the TRDs are made by Thorley. Not sure how true that is. They don't have a listing for 4 Runners on their site. They maybe under contract only to TRD for them who knows. I went with the TRDs because of the good reviews I had heard and read.

 

The TRD headers are made by Thorley. TRD headers are WAY over priced, IMO. I'm running Edelbrocks. Check out my site.

 

Nice site HaveBlue--I think your right about the Edelbrocks. Would you recommend the TRD Cat-Back or should I just have my muffler shop do their version? I figure if I'm going to do the headers I'll have the exhaust done at the same time. I guess the other option would be buy an aftermarket muffler and have the shop do the rest… The only thing I don’t like about the TRD is it goes out the back rather than the side—I’m scared I’ll pinch it coming off a rock….

 

Frosty:

The Edelbrocks have to be modified for 99+. Something about welding up a port. I'M sure someone on here will explain. The TRD cat-back goes out the side. The old style used to go out the back.

 

Frosty-
FYI: The TRD cat-back is made by Borla. Like pfdaxe said, the new style exits out the side. The old style exits out the rear.
It's cheaper to have a muffler shop fab one up for you. The only difference is that the TRD is mandrel bent. That just means that there is *slightly* less restriction in the pipe. You won't feel the difference.
The muffler shop that welded my sliders on quoted my $350 to have a custom setup made. I asked him just out of curiosity. If you were in Colorado, I could recommend this guy to you. He does great work.

Thanks for the compliment on the site, too!

 

My best info is that the TRD headers where developed by Mike Hamm Engineering. The production may have been farmed out to different firms to get the needed volume.

One good thing is that TRD has finally redesigned the gasket design which will hopefully solve the never ending leaks many of us have had.

If I was trying to decide, I would go TRD or stay stock. There is nothing wrong with stock and what little power you get, does not justify the cost and hassle, but if you want the ultimate headers for your truck I think that is TRD. I just hope you don't have the leak problems I have had and had to fix on my own with my own gaskets.

Gadget

www.GadgetOnline.com

 

Gadget—I think you just killed my pipe dream! I was hoping to gain around 15-20hp between headers and exhaust—I take it this isn’t going to happen? I’ve always wanted a supercharger but I don’t want to sacrifice the reliability—so I thought this might be the compromise….. I like to off-road but I also use it as a daily commuter—any other ideas or comments to get my HP around 200+ with out killing the reliability? I just want to be able to haul a$$ if I need to…….

Thanks,

FROSTY