3.4 Headers

3.4 Headers...What is the best brand? How difficult is it to do in my shop and do I need to have a Y pipe made?

 

i did the doug thorley headers. The install was a bit of a pain in the ass. but removing the rear trans cross member nd bringing the trans down made removing the crossover pipe easy. only modification you need to do is to the front cat if you have it.. dont know about the single cat trucks

 

there is a guy in the 1st Gen market place with a set of headers ...

Adrn1986@yahoo.com

 

I've got the TRD headers on my 3.4 and they sound great, absolutely love them. I don't have any experience with any other brand but I do highly recommend them. Only problem is they're discontinued, though I've seen a few new sets for sale on eBay.

 

No Y pipe needed, I'm rocking JBA headers, they're stainless and make good power! my friends with chevy's think I did a V-8 swap lol. If you do it yourself you're gonna cuss for two days straight if you've not done this before and don't have assistance! I did it in 12 hrs wont ever do that again unless I pull the engine. They are worth it especially if you supercharge it and if not. Experienced exhaust shops charge for 18-24 hrs labor for installers that have done the install. I highly suggest if you get a good set replace all the nuts/bolts with stainless as most kits get rusty bolts after a year, most have crappy hardware, address it before you have to replace rusty bolts later! Here's a pic of mine five years strong notice the rust on the bolts, stainless is coming soon!

 

C.A.R.B. Legal I forgot! passes visual in So Cal they don't even ask for the eo sticker thank god,but it has one. You can find TRD headers they are out there you have to look hard! I believe Gadget ran Doug thorly headers and got great power! You can't really go wrong with the JBA, TRD, or Doug Thorly. They all work and they all sound sweet!!

 

I also have JBA headers. The flow very nice, especially with a supercharger. The down side is the installation. Most headers have a bolt flange, JBA DO NOT. You have to weld on some type of flange, so some fab skills are necessary.

 

Wait, so JBA isnt just a bolt on application?

 

tag for answer

 

@CD20H

 

The headers, Y Pipe and cross pipe themselves are. If you look at a set of JBA Headers, they do not have a collector that headers normally have.
You have to either weld on one or just weld it directly to the exhaust pipe. That is what I did.

 

@TacoBunny I paid $110 parts + labor to have the correct flange + gasket installed on my JBA clones (DNA motoring) at an exhaust shop.


If I did it over again I would be looking at DT or TRD but the JBA style do sound good, as previously stated. Install is a huge PITA; lifting the motor is a must and if I did it again I would commit to pulling it (at least partially).

 

@Wulf @CD20H so what youre saying is that i may aswell just drop the extra cash for some Doug Thorley headers

 

earlier year version is bolt on.

 

"treat yo' self"

 

This is true. 95-2000 appear to be pretty much bolt on. Mine WAS NOT. But I have 04 model.

 

ive got a 97, so i guess i can try the Jba ones. i found some for 515 on Amazon. dont talk me out of a deal like that

 

No there are four diff sets of jba headers for us, bolt on costs more look up URD! The JBA headers are made by Pertronics a ignition company, I believe made in Oxnard Ca you can call tech support I know they still make the bolt on set stainless, jet coated ceramic, and a black oxide finish just get stainless the coating usually comes off after washing. They may have a set for one without the crossover tube going over the tranny, if I'm not mistaken it's for the non federal edition.. you don't have to pull the motor you just have to figure out how to fenagle the crossover tube over you're trans! It's a pain but I did it myself! Watch a Tony Robbins video and get pumped before you approach this I'm serious, the install is very physically demanding and mentally challenging, but doable for a nice hp add on that is worth it! Good luck, when you're done you'll have a good story to tell.

 

Did you have more than a single cat? I'm wondering if that's why.

 

im sorry im kinda confused, the non federal doesnt have a crossover tube... or it does?? im not really sure what youre saying