Manifold or Headers?

[tfotos77]

Hello all. So I have just ordered the new ABS control module because mine has crapped out. I know that my right exhaust manifold is leaking due to the noise it is making. My questions to you is: Should I just replace the manifold and hardware, or spend a couple hundred more dollars and get shorty headers to install instead? Has anyone done exactly what I am asking? What was your experience? I appreciate your input. Just a heads up, I already had my exhaust modded for sound and I installed the Vararam intake...I may have answered my own question, but I still want your opinions and experiences.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

If you're going to go with shorty's then stick with AFE.
You won't gain a ton of much, just a bit smoother flow and a touch of sound.

If staying stock, go with the BD Diesel ones.

If you're wanting some better flow and sound, have you looked at a custom y-pipe for your HEMI and 5" tips?

 

[KansasArt]

Your gains with shorty’s will be minimal at best. And will be more than a few hundred over stock manifold. If you replace with a new stock manifold it will warp again. If you remove your warped manifold you can plane it with a belt sander and reinstall. They have already gone through 1000’s of heat cycles so won’t warp again.

 

[Streetsport]

I had my manifolds milled at the machine shop for a short term fix but would like to upgrade to shorties eventually

 

[tfotos77]

If you're going to go with shorty's then stick with AFE.
You won't gain a ton of much, just a bit smoother flow and a touch of sound.

If staying stock, go with the BD Diesel ones.

If you're wanting some better flow and sound, have you looked at a custom y-pipe for your HEMI and 5" tips?

So I was thinking of replacing the stock manifolds with these headers linked below. My logic wasn't for much of a performance gain, but the fact that these probably wouldn't warp like factory replacement manfiolds would.

BBK RAM 1-3/4 in. Tuned Length Shorty Headers - Ceramic 40140 (09-18 5.7L RAM 1500)

FREE SHIPPING! More Power and Growl. Increase your Ram's horsepower and provide a head-turning, throaty growl with these 1-3/4 tuned length shory headers from B

www.americantrucks.com

I haven't gone the route of a replaced Y pipe yet. I remember when I was on the fence about buying a new exhaust, a local car guru sent me to the local muffler shop. This place was a "good ol' boy" shop in someone's back yard that was full of garage ports and lifts. I dropped my truck off. Two hours later and $200 dollars later my truck sounded amazing. I have no idea what they did. I remember when I turned the truck on and heard the growl my pants got 6 sizes smaller. After that I bought the Vararam Grabber intake and installed it.

Anyway, there was my logic for the headers vs the manifold, but I haven't ruled out the BD Exhaust Manifold for the passenger side.

 

[Wild one]

So I was thinking of replacing the stock manifolds with these headers linked below. My logic wasn't for much of a performance gain, but the fact that these probably wouldn't warp like factory replacement manfiolds would.

BBK RAM 1-3/4 in. Tuned Length Shorty Headers - Ceramic 40140 (09-18 5.7L RAM 1500)

FREE SHIPPING! More Power and Growl. Increase your Ram's horsepower and provide a head-turning, throaty growl with these 1-3/4 tuned length shory headers from B

www.americantrucks.com

I haven't gone the route of a replaced Y pipe yet. I remember when I was on the fence about buying a new exhaust, a local car guru sent me to the local muffler shop. This place was a "good ol' boy" shop in someone's back yard that was full of garage ports and lifts. I dropped my truck off. Two hours later and $200 dollars later my truck sounded amazing. I have no idea what they did. I remember when I turned the truck on and heard the growl my pants got 6 sizes smaller. After that I bought the Vararam Grabber intake and installed it.

Anyway, there was my logic for the headers vs the manifold, but I haven't ruled out the BD Exhaust Manifold for the passenger side.

Don't buy BBK's,unless you like replacing them on a yearly basis,they're famous for cracking.If you're doing headers,suck it up and do long tubes,they give you more off idle torque and pull harder all the way through the powerband then shorties ever will. Shorties actually hurt off idle torque,as the exhaust system acts similiar to the intake system,long intake runners create torque when the manifold switches over to the short runners,they enhance the top end power,headers act the exact same,long primary tubes create torque / short primary tubes create upper end power,alibit shorties don't do much for creating top end power.
As stated above shave/sand the original manifolds flat,replace the bolts with new bolts and use a set of Remflex 6022 gaskets,and odds are you'll never have another issue with them.The Remflex gaskets are a thick graphite gasket,that has the ability to handle expansion and contraction better then a multi-layer steel gasket does.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

So I was thinking of replacing the stock manifolds with these headers linked below. My logic wasn't for much of a performance gain, but the fact that these probably wouldn't warp like factory replacement manfiolds would.

BBK RAM 1-3/4 in. Tuned Length Shorty Headers - Ceramic 40140 (09-18 5.7L RAM 1500)

FREE SHIPPING! More Power and Growl. Increase your Ram's horsepower and provide a head-turning, throaty growl with these 1-3/4 tuned length shory headers from B

www.americantrucks.com

I haven't gone the route of a replaced Y pipe yet. I remember when I was on the fence about buying a new exhaust, a local car guru sent me to the local muffler shop. This place was a "good ol' boy" shop in someone's back yard that was full of garage ports and lifts. I dropped my truck off. Two hours later and $200 dollars later my truck sounded amazing. I have no idea what they did. I remember when I turned the truck on and heard the growl my pants got 6 sizes smaller. After that I bought the Vararam Grabber intake and installed it.

Anyway, there was my logic for the headers vs the manifold, but I haven't ruled out the BD Exhaust Manifold for the passenger side.

RUN AWAY FROM BBK PRODUCTS!!!!!!!!!!!

If you're replacing one side with something other than a stock OEM manifold, then you'll need both sides with whatever the new replacement product is (i.e. BD Diesel).

Use quality gaskets (Remflex) and quality hardware, too.

as @Wild one indicated, if you're going into this then consider long-tubes and be done with it.
Sound and performance

 

[tfotos77]

Well based off of the responses I will be going with the BD Diesel Manifold replacements and Remflex gaskets....at least until I can talk the wife into letting spend $2500 on some long tubes. I appreciate the feedback from all of you. I owe you guys a beer or bourbon. Hit me up when you are in Jacksonville.

 

[Nick@GotExhaust]

Dont cheap out when it comes to headers. SW Long Tubes are the way to go but if you want shorties then go AFE, if you want manifolds, BD Diesel is the way to go!

 

[Streetsport]

Don't buy BBK's,unless you like replacing them on a yearly basis,they're famous for cracking.If you're doing headers,suck it up and do long tubes,they give you more off idle torque and pull harder all the way through the powerband then shorties ever will. Shorties actually hurt off idle torque,as the exhaust system acts similiar to the intake system,long intake runners create torque when the manifold switches over to the short runners,they enhance the top end power,headers act the exact same,long primary tubes create torque / short primary tubes create upper end power,alibit shorties don't do much for creating top end power.
As stated above shave/sand the original manifolds flat,replace the bolts with new bolts and use a set of Remflex 6022 gaskets,and odds are you'll never have another issue with them.The Remflex gaskets are a thick graphite gasket,that has the ability to handle expansion and contraction better then a multi-layer steel gasket does.

What’s the best option for those of us that live in an authoritarian CARB state and require inspections? The way you make it sound is that shorties are so bad that you might as well keep the logs

 

[Wild one]

What’s the best option for those of us that live in an authoritarian CARB state and require inspections? The way you make it sound is that shorties are so bad that you might as well keep the logs

Shorties won't give you any real increase over the log manifolds,but if you're bound and determined to put a set on,spring for the AFE's,they're the only shorties with a decent rep for not cracking at the welds.
You could always move to another state
I live where you can delete diesals and run catless on gassers with no issues

 

[Streetsport]

Shorties won't give you any real increase over the log manifolds,but if you're bound and determined to put a set on,spring for the AFE's,they're the only shorties with a decent rep for not cracking at the welds.
You could always move to another state
I live where you can delete diesals and run catless on gassers with no issues

Would be nice, I’m envisioning shorties, custom y pipe and a performance cat back system where the cats are the only restriction, seems like that’d be the next best option to long tubes

 

[Wild one]

Would be nice, I’m envisioning shorties, custom y pipe and a performance cat back system where the cats are the only restriction, seems like that’d be the next best option to long tubes

The Y pipe is where you'll pick up the gain from if you have any gain

 

[Nick@GotExhaust]

Would be nice, I’m envisioning shorties, custom y pipe and a performance cat back system where the cats are the only restriction, seems like that’d be the next best option to long tubes

If you do shorties, then have an exhaust shop cut the stock crushed y pipe out and put in a new mandrel bent y section there, then do a catback or muffler kit with a straight through muffler design. That will give you the best flow while keeping the cats and not going long tubes.

If you would like a quote on anything, shoot me a message

 

[TomT]

I bought BD Diesel manifolds but haven’t yet had the time/money to get them installed. I believe the full kit comes with gaskets. You might as well replace the heat shields while you’re at it. I have those sitting here (along with a full set of spark plugs) ready to go when the new manifolds get installed.

 

[SpaceRanger1]

Anyone know of a good Muffler shop that'll cut out and make me a good y pipe in Phoenix Arizona.??

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Anyone know of a good Muffler shop that'll cut out and make me a good y pipe in Phoenix Arizona.??

This is one mod that you will immediately appreciate having done!

It made a huge improvement on my HEMI in terms of flow / proper breathing.
Make sure it's a mandrel bent y-pipe!