Headers for a 5.9L

mudcrewsr

mudcrewsr

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2012
Location
Wilmington NC
Hey guys I am in the process of doing a 5.9 motor swap on my 01 TJ. One thing I was looking at was switching from the cast iron manifolds to a set of headers. Has anyone done a swap similar to this? The motor is a 5.9L out of a 2003 dodge durango. I have seen online the headers from JBA, Gibson etc but I have no idea on what to do. The jeep is and will continue to be a DD for a while so I need plan to keep it emissions/street legal. Any input or suggestions is appreciated.

thanks

Randy
 
The motor swap may have already shot the "legal" part of it in the foot, but...

If you want headers, find some long tubes that will fit. They'll give you a higher power gain, most notably, torque. Shorty headers aren't worth much over a factory manifold in most cases, unless you just want something besides the ugly exhaust manifolds. It may not be easy (or possible) to find long tubes that will fit such a motor swap, but you could find some inexpensive non-coated ones and make them fit more than likely.
 
I ran the stainless shorty OBX brand headers on my 97 2500. I had a cracked manifold and I hate exhaust leaks. I did not feel a difference in going to the shorty's from the manifolds. The long tubes that are out there would be pretty tough to fit, and making a set would be pretty expensive. Honestly id rather spend the money somewhere else.
 
IF you're up for it, you can always buy a handful of mandrel bends off of Ebay or something and make some headers! I've always wanted to do it, but I lucked up and found a set of long tubes that would fit my Silverado with the SAS and only required a small amount of modification.
 
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