LCE headers on 2.7 3rd gen

Nope, you feel it right away. Simply disconnect the battery when installing and installing the header is easy. Just unbolt and bolt on.

 

Headers are high price low return. If you have money burning holes in your pocket, go for it. If you are constantly budgeting for the next upgrade, dont waste the money

Unless the headers have a Turbo attached to them...

 

Have you done it yourself? Simply curious, because there's quite a few people on here who'd disagree with that statement that its "not worth it." I'm not budgeting for my next upgrade either lol, but I do like to take my time with what I have done to my truck. IMO, if people are willing to spend $200-$300 for a goddamn grille, what's $450 for a header if you get some added low end torque and lowered peak torque? I'm not expecting a miracle.

 

It's not even CARB approved so I wouldn't waste my time or money.

I find the LCE claims questionable at best since they don't have a dyno sheet, and the placebo effect has been known to kick in after people spend this kind of money.

 

There’s some independent dynos that show a gain for sure

I think you’re correct, it’s expensive for such a small gain in power but for me it was absolutely worth it.

 

That’s how I’m looking at it too. I’m not expecting the WOW factor. I just have the extra cash and already have funds set aside for the regear, lift, wheels, tires, etc when the time comes. A little more grunt on the low end is worth $450 (for me)

As for not CARB compliant, sure it’s not, what my 2017 won’t need to be smogged for years and I’ll keep the stock header around

 

Done what my self? Turbo? Yes. Headers and exhaust? Not on my own car.

Its just advice, I'm not really too concerned with how you spend your money.

If you want more power, you need to understand your engine and its cap / lims. A 2.7 i4 isn't inherently a high HP engine. Putting on headers and a bigger exhaust may help mid to high range power but at the loss of lower end power. You need to understand that changing the dynamic of air flow into and out of an engine will change how the engine pulses and where it achieves maximum efficiency in the RPM range.

You also have to understand that the cam timing is designed to maximize the engine pulses and if you change air flow velocity, you may even lose power as the cam timings will be out of phase of the engine pulse. Maybe if you find a way to tune the cam timing you can find some additional mid range to high range power but it will still be packaged with an overall net gain of zero as far as measured area under your dyno curve due to the loss of low end power.

The only way to gain more net power from an engine is to increase RPM's (not easy for a large bore/stroke engine like the 2.7L) which would also need major work on intake and exhaust ports to support higher air flow requirements, increase overall efficiency of the fuel/air burn, or use forced induction (turbo, SC, NOS).

Bottom line is you may gain higher peak power / torque but you won't gain net power / torque. If that's worth the money to you then go for it.

 

The EGR connection is there. I think if you can fab up a tin cover to hide the header for smog, they would never know.

 

Look bro, that’s what you’re not getting - multiple people including Tooter have posted dynos and their experience showing it DROPS peak torque and gives you more low-mid range bang for your buck. I’m not after a high hp monster.

If you wanna show me these guys are full of shit and it only increases top end power where I’d never notice it (because I don’t drive like a prick), then please do.

No one (including me) wants to waste their money, I’m simply going off what I’ve read here on Tacoma world by guys who have actually put the LCE header on.

That’s all...

 

I can see you're taking this a little hard...

 

He is absolutely correct. Speaking from experience with the LCE header. Low end torque was noticeably reduced and most of the benefits are felt on the highway.

 

lmfao, I could care less man. Everyone has their own opinion/experiences, but thanks for chiming in while not trying to show evidence to dispute other memebers who say the opposite of you with proof. That's all im getting at. Either they are wrong or you are wrong. Saying smartass comments just makes me laugh at you aha - couldn't get under my skin if you tried brother.

 

This is why its confusing. A few guys claim (some with proof) it lowers the torque peak and provides more low end and then some say it reduces it quite a bit and only helps on highway..

Are the results really that different across the board?

 

I've seen all the dynos. There's no definitive proof. The headers will reduce the gas flow velocity and the RPM speed that maximizes exhaust scaveging will be higher. Its more complicated with your 2.7L as you have variable intake/exhaust profiles that change with engine speed to maximize scaveging. Generally headers (and bigger exhaust) reduce low end torque and increase high end power.

Here's the best video actually showing the marginal "gains" of headers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1bXPNy1Yn4