Choosing headers

[Lee Peterson]

Well that's not the impression I got from Matt or others who sell both. If you Google "jba ram truck header fitment issues" it's pretty obvious the JBA's are not always perfect. I'm not comparing or arguing value and HP gains for each. I'm just saying "just as good" is not really a fair statement. It's Chinese massed produced stuff compared to hand built American made stuff. There is a difference.

Are the JBAs made in China now? My box says made in Mexico.

 

[theviking]

Are the JBAs made in China now? My box says made in Mexico.

My apologies, I read they were no longer manufactured in the US and assumed it was China now. For all I know it's still Mexico. Which is hopefully better than China.

 

[Wild one]

Well that's not the impression I got from Matt or others who sell both. If you Google "jba ram truck header fitment issues" it's pretty obvious the JBA's are not always perfect. I'm not comparing or arguing value and HP gains for each. I'm just saying "just as good" is not really a fair statement. It's Chinese massed produced stuff compared to hand built American made stuff. There is a difference.

The 1 3/4 JBA's supposedly don't have fitment issues like the 1 7/8 JBA's do.

 

[mondo]

Kooks have been around longer than all of the manufacturers listed.....just sayin....

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

I'm not saying it's better value-add than a blower or many other mods. But if you have no other choice (like the 6.4 HD guys), or have some other reason to want/need headers, they are the best you can buy. Zero issues with fitment, never cracked one, they don't rust, and they work as advertised.

Ok so you are paying all that extra money for pretty welds, and headers that won’t rust (that you will never see). Call me crazy, but if I was a bolt on guy, I would use that saved money on other bolt ons that I saved from the $2K headers. The JBA just can’t be beat for the price.

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

Well that's not the impression I got from Matt or others who sell both. If you Google "jba ram truck header fitment issues" it's pretty obvious the JBA's are not always perfect. I'm not comparing or arguing value and HP gains for each. I'm just saying "just as good" is not really a fair statement. It's Chinese massed produced stuff compared to hand built American made stuff. There is a difference.

JBA figment issues were with their 1 7/8” headers, not 1 3/4”. Only difference is in looks, which you won’t see any way once installed.

 

[theviking]

Ok so you are paying all that extra money for pretty welds, and headers that won’t rust (that you will never see). Call me crazy, but if I was a bolt on guy, I would use that saved money on other bolt ons that I saved from the $2K headers. The JBA just can’t be beat for the price.

No, I am saying that this isn't the only difference. I have seen plenty of threads over the years concerning JBA headers cracking and not fitting correctly. Since I use ARH on my Ram and Kooks on my Mustang I can only speak for those two and say that they have never cracked, warped or rusted and they fit. Good, thick 304 stainless and proper tig welding techniques makes a big difference in how long a header is likely going to last. If you have the money to spend on better headers it's not simply for pretty welds.

 

[Wild one]

No, I am saying that this isn't the only difference. I have seen plenty of threads over the years concerning JBA headers cracking and not fitting correctly. Since I use ARH on my Ram and Kooks on my Mustang I can only speak for those two and say that they have never cracked, warped or rusted and they fit. Good, thick 304 stainless and proper tig welding techniques makes a big difference in how long a header is likely going to last. If you have the money to spend on better headers it's not simply for pretty welds.

My 1 7/8's JBA's have been on for 3 years with no issues.I've never had any issues with them cracking + mine are also header wrapped with no issues with rust.The newer JBA's will probably outlast you as an owner of the truck. The ARH's or Kooks are nice,but are really hard to justify the cost differences between them and a set of JBA's.The money saved on a set of JBA's goes alongway towards other mods.

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

No, I am saying that this isn't the only difference. I have seen plenty of threads over the years concerning JBA headers cracking and not fitting correctly. Since I use ARH on my Ram and Kooks on my Mustang I can only speak for those two and say that they have never cracked, warped or rusted and they fit. Good, thick 304 stainless and proper tig welding techniques makes a big difference in how long a header is likely going to last. If you have the money to spend on better headers it's not simply for pretty welds.

I haven’t heard of any JBA headers cracking. Both manufacturers use the same thickness stainless. 1 3/4 JBA fit fine, 1 7/8 that’s another story.

 

[Leadfoot1776James]

I paid the extra money for the ARH headers. Time will tell if I made the right decision .

 

[Factory]

Kooks have been around longer than all of the manufacturers listed.....just sayin....

On my 17

Running the T304 Kooks 1-3/4 with matching catted high flow y pipe on my 17 , 6.1 Mopar gaskets - zero noise ,never any cel both with stock tune or Jay Greene’s 93 tune . Got em from Daniel “ Gauge “ Greene @ Gauge Performance . Wouldn’t hesitate a second. To do them on another Ram .