Headers

[1974RUNNER]

So my stock 22re exhaust manifold is cracked and now the header pipe is broken too. Knew this day was coming. Any thoughts on best headers, keep it stock? Get headers? Best brand? My secondary air injection pipe is looking a little worked too. Looking around i don't see anyone making the air injection pipe for their headers. I want to keep it california smog legal. Thanks for the input fellow 4runners.

 

[KidVermicious]

I really liked the Thorley I had, it definitely added a little grunt at the pedal. I couldn't tell you anything about silly California smog laws though, I don't live there and never will.

 

[Quatre Coureur]

Thorley, LCE, TrailGear. I hear Thorleys are the best. Mine cracked. Welded it. That was 10 years ago.

 

[MT Tatman]

For a daily driver, I say stay stock.....I'm not convinced that any minimal gain is worth spending extra money on.....Stock ones seem to have pretty good flow to me, see what costs less.

 

[1974RUNNER]

Thanks for the input. I'm still on the fence as to what i'm going to do, so she is resting in her parking spot. If anyone has any more input i'm listening

 

[KidVermicious]

Thanks for the input. I'm still on the fence as to what i'm going to do, so she is resting in her parking spot. If anyone has any more input i'm listening

Just go with whatever's easy. If you have a couple extra bucks, an LCE or Thorley header will give a little extra kick and make the truck a little more enjoyable to drive. But modding the 22RE for more power is a slippery and expensive slope, and once you start reaching for extra HP it's hard to know when to stop, so if you think you're the type that will have trouble leaving well enough alone, get a replacement manifold from the wrecking yard and forget about it.

 

[papawhellie]

So the gains from a header are not too significant? I am planning on running 50/55 mph with 235/75/15 tires. Thought about trying to get headers to be installed when the engine goes in. If I could gain all around 5mpg improvement with that and a supra AFM mod I would be happy with the 500 cash drop. I will have to rewire a Cressida one or something else as the 82 AFM's don't exist in Georgia. Whats the scoop??

I would be wasting money to pay to install headers before installing my engine and out the 300 plus for headers? I also intend on running 2.5 exhaust out. I have met people who were more smoggy than a 22RE.

 

[RAD4Runner]

I would be wasting money to pay to install headers before installing my engine and out the 300 plus for headers? I also intend on running 2.5 exhaust out. I have met people who were more smoggy than a 22RE.

If you plan to install headers anyway and you need the truck running, might as well install headers now. You can alwys transfer to new engine, correct?

I also heard good word about LCE headers.
Re: Exhaust diameters, I think most people go for 2.25", not 2.5" - something to do with back pressure.

 

[KidVermicious]

So the gains from a header are not too significant? I am planning on running 50/55 mph with 235/75/15 tires. Thought about trying to get headers to be installed when the engine goes in. If I could gain all around 5mpg improvement with that and a supra AFM mod I would be happy with the 500 cash drop. I will have to rewire a Cressida one or something else as the 82 AFM's don't exist in Georgia. Whats the scoop??

I would be wasting money to pay to install headers before installing my engine and out the 300 plus for headers? I also intend on running 2.5 exhaust out. I have met people who were more smoggy than a 22RE.

A good header will definitely register gains on the butt dyno, but you will not magically turn into a race car. AFM mod is ok, but unless you port the throttle body and manifold it's not going to help much. Restriction is restriction, and 2.4l is 2.4l.

I don't know that I would pay $400 for a brand new header. Definitely worth it if you can find one used though.

 

[MT Tatman]

As I understand it, you will be trying to increase the exhaust flow, but without increasing the flow of the Intake, you will gain nothing, simply a matter of CFM going through the engine,even if you improve intake then your throttle body becomes the pinch spot. Also, more air requires more fuel. You will burn More fuel, not gain 5mpg.
Peformance mods eat up fuel.

 

[91'4bee]

If you have to replace an exhaust manifold get headers. Got to rip out the old one anyway, so replace it with something that has the potential to be built off of in the future.

Not to sure how much a 22re header costs but i cant imagining it being more than $300. My 3vze headers cost a hair over double that. And the 22re has only one side for exhaust.