Headers

[ramportin1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyw91iVROTI

and just to further my point of how common it is

 

[theviking]

I'm not going to argue that a properly designed header will outlive a properly designed exhaust manifold. But there are sooo many cheapie headers on the market that IMO they get a bad rap. A properly designed 3/8" or better flange, 304 (or better) stainless, tig welded on a jig header should have a very long shelf life. Especially in a non-turbo application. My point on the Mustang is simply that they have been using headers since 2011 and I have never read about a broken exhaust manifold bolt due to warpage/expansion. Yes, I'm sure there is someone, somewhere that would say otherwise. But I don't think it's ever been an issue.

OEM's use cast manifolds because they are cheap and reliable. In the case of the Ram manifold, it may have been more cheap than reliable. IMO anyway.

 

[theviking]

I have read repeatedly on Allpar that a 5.7 Hemi motor cost FCA about $1500 to manufacture. A complete motor. That should give you some idea how little money they are actually putting into specific components. And how much they are marking up service parts.

Point is, I think the exhaust manifolds, bolts or both are crap. And a good header might actually outlive the stock stuff in THIS case.

 

[smiley]

Isn’t the issue with our cast iron manifolds that they are too strong. They warp and don’t break and simply for the studs and bolts to snap off. On mine it has always been the rear 2 bolts/studs on both sides.

When I went round and round with warranty company that would not cover the drivers side after passenger side was done under warranty. They tried to tell me that the warranty didn’t cover it because the bolts snapped and that caused the manifold to warp. I of course freaked out and said how in the world would a bolt just snap without a force on it? It was simple they didn’t want to pay so they made up something to get out of it.