Interest in Custom built 4th gen V8 4.7 Doug Thorley Headers

Would you like the DT headers to have a Highflow catalytic converter?

  • Hell no! Open and loud.

    Votes: 35 9.1%
  • Yes, I would like to be legal.

    Votes: 283 73.9%
  • I don't care either way as long as I get them!

    Votes: 65 17.0%

  • Total voters
    383
Agreed, they don't increase the sound of the engine or exhaust much, if anything, it does 'smooth' it out a bit. I'm just glad the tick is gone.

I looked extensively and only found the DT's. It's a very tight fit but they work great. I felt a difference immediately and they sound great with the new cat back.

Good to hear. Many think it's going to be louder, but no, not to worry.

Doug Thorley 03-04 headers ORDER LINK

Doug Thorley 05-09 headers ORDER LINK

ALSO, I CAN THE MAGNAFLOW/FLOWMASTER CATS/MUFFLERS for anyone at great prices

Call/text me at 717-319-2100 to order over the phone, or to order online with a Credit Card, click below
 
Update:

All headers should be shipping today. Doug Thorley also had a price increase today august 1st, BUT, BUT I haven't changed the price on the website yet, so you'll still save a little off what they should be.
 
hey Guys,

I would to start off by saying thank you to all the individuals that have added information to this thread. With that noted, I feel that it is time to share my experiences with DT v8 headers.

Step 1, purchasing the headers: After doing a good amount of reading and deciding that tundra headers were going to be too much work, I started searching for a set of DT headers for the best possible price. What I stumbled upon was a company called Colorado Speed that was selling the 05-09 headers for $674 with free shipping. Needless to say, I ended up purchasing a set from them. I feel that its a good time to note that these headers are made per order and take 1-3 months to receive the product "absolutely worth the wait".

Step 2, Purchasing the little parts: due to the fact that I live in Wisconsin, utilizing that factory cats was not in my interest. As a result, I decided to run 2.5" .065 304L stainless tubing in the location of the cats. As most of you guys know, we still need as flange at the bottom of the down-pipes to tie back into the factory exhaust. This was a difficult item to find because A, I wanted 304 stainless and B, I needed a flange that would bolt up to the factory exhaust but also remain 2.5" for when I make my new exhaust. ACERACE parts ended up to be the perfect one stop shop; flanges, tubing, and gaskets all in 304l.

stainless.Ace Race Parts ? High Quality Fabrication Components

Step 3, Hardware: I don't think I need to go to far into detail on the headers hardware because previous members have posted the part numbers. This can also be found though your dealer for a premium price.

Step 4, Disassembly: Ohhhh the most dreaded part of the entire project. My truck has 110,000 miles so its just a baby. Needless to say, I was still worried about frozen bolts because all the difficulties other members were experiencing. To my amazement, there were no broken bolts or issues of any kind. "IMPORTANT" take your time with removal of the old header bolts. Find someone to give you a helping hand and make sure your socket is completely on the nuts/bolts that are being removed. I lucked out and had all 16 bolts extract with the nuts. I found that the top bolts were easiest to remove with a breaker bar that has a head capable of rotated a little past 90 degrees. The lower bolts I found that the best way to save skin on you hands was to put the 1/2" impact on and just give-er

Step 5, Welding and test fitting: Due to the fact that this is not an inexpensive project, I had my buddy TIG weld the collector and flange. This process was greatly enhanced by building a jig around the old headers and simply mounting the DT headers. By utilizing this process, Absolutely no welding took place in the cramped engine bay. Just to be safe, we tacked both headers and did a quick test fit to make sure all was well. I would like to thank the individual the gave me the great idea earlier in the thread. No problems with the jig, Joe was a happy guy.

Step 6, Final installation: Looking back, the final installation was the easiest and most gratifying part. Install the header studs, gasket, and slide in headers. The one thing that I recommend to you air injection guys 05-09 is to install that air injection bolts once the headers are in the truck. Simple and easy.

Step 7, Post pictures for all the guys that really hate reading.
 

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more photos.
 

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Love these picture.

Nice Tig welds as well.

Any undercarriage pics of them all mounted up? I am one emissions inspection away from not needing another on. I think I am going to go ahead and get it done and then just ditch all the cats and stock stuff.

Run a dual exhaust and dump it out before the wheels on either side.
 
more photos.


Glad the jig making worked out for you! I think the biggest benefit is that it can be welded 100% throughout 360 degrees. Welding on truck there will be blind welding that is confirmed by feel. The off truck method can be flipped over, taken off jig, ECT. Great job!
 
What kind of real world MPG gains are people seeing with these? I've got a set on the way and I'm really interested to see how much they make up for the MPG loss from a lift and 285s.
 
I wouldn't expect to see much in terms of MPG gails. The stockers are pretty efficient. The scavenging effectiveness here should help, but it won't be much. Smoother power and crisper response should be noted and especially if you clean up the exhaust and ditch the cats.
 
Just skimmed through the thread really, but seeing the pics, I seen not one pic of someone using flanges for the header and cat connection, they are all welded together instead. Why is that? Not enough room for flanges in that area?

Would be much easier to remove the cat for any reason after the install. Instead now you have to cut and re-weld.
 
I can't answer that question until I ask my guy at DT. I'm sure there's a good reason.

SALE ends MONDAY, 12/5. For those on the fence, get em now and install later when you can. Also, in January DT prices are going up again, so this price is prob best you're gonna see...

Doug Thorley 03-04 headers

Doug Thorley 05-09 headers

Also, the Gibson catback, which pairs great with these headers, is also on sale!

Gibson 4th Gen exhaust

I can do any and all DT headers at a deal, not just these, just call or text 717-319-2100 for anymore questions.
 
Last edited:
Just skimmed through the thread really, but seeing the pics, I seen not one pic of someone using flanges for the header and cat connection, they are all welded together instead. Why is that? Not enough room for flanges in that area?

Would be much easier to remove the cat for any reason after the install. Instead now you have to cut and re-weld.

I don't understand it either. I don't know why thorley didn't install them either...

I requested to have them put on mine on the intial group buy, but I don't guess it was available on that set.

Anyway, Looks to me like there's plenty of room. I'll be doing a 3 bolt flange or a high quality v band clamp on mine and I'll build a 2.5" catless y-pipe.
 
I don't understand it either. I don't know why thorley didn't install them either...

I requested to have them put on mine on the intial group buy, but I don't guess it was available on that set.

Anyway, Looks to me like there's plenty of room. I'll be doing a 3 bolt flange or a high quality v band clamp on mine and I'll build a 2.5" catless y-pipe.
Please take pics if you do the flange's. Would love to buy these when I have the funds available, but not if I can't make it a bolt on connection.
 
Last bump on the headers deal. Ends tonight at 12 midnight pacific.

For those on the fence, get em now and install later when you can. Also, in January DT prices are going up again, so this price is prob best you're gonna see...

Doug Thorley 03-04 headers

Doug Thorley 05-09 headers

Also, the Gibson catback, which pairs great with these headers, this is on sale for a few more days.

Gibson 4th Gen exhaust

I can do any and all DT headers at a deal, not just these, just call or text 717-319-2100 for anymore questions.
 
I know I was late for the black friday sale, but just placed an order with Jason B and cant wait to get a set of these on my '04!!!

I will most likely be getting the high flow cats and everything else i need from him as well when the headers are done being built.
 
Made some progress on my jigs today. There's quite a bit of slop in the bolt holes so hopefully centering them up works fine.

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c3be59b65d0996ae047c18cd8ec8061a.jpg
 
Just skimmed through the thread really, but seeing the pics, I seen not one pic of someone using flanges for the header and cat connection, they are all welded together instead. Why is that? Not enough room for flanges in that area?

Would be much easier to remove the cat for any reason after the install. Instead now you have to cut and re-weld.

Honestly for me it was easier. The new cats have no flange. So you would need a flange welded on cat and header and the have to line up to meet the point on jig. With the jig I used, the cat was cut into to make the angle so no filler metal was used. Also the flange on my 03 that connects to y pipe was completely rusted. And the jig isn't perfect per say so the angle of the cat to the y pipe is off a little so muffler shop chopped off some y pipe where old flange was and welded the connection to cat with a couple inches of filler pipe. Hopefully the high flow cat will never go bad and if it does it will just be placebo cat for looks. So thats home mechanic. If your paying a shop to do this make the above mentioned all their problem and have flanges put on. Also not one muffler shop in my area had flanges that would fit, so one more thing you need to order and to do that you need diameters of cats and headers, which mine where different by 1/2 inch or so, so angling the cat on the header filled that gap. These are my analytic afterthoughts. Before though I didn't know how the hell this was gonna work. For the MagnaFlow cats you need like a reducer pipe going to header because the diameter is so much bigger you can't fill with a weld. Or find cat with same diameter.. my last thought as I write this is weld it up and then cut it apart and add flanges. But is that really worth it. If I personally need to remove cats I will cut where they connect to y pipe and take out with header. And since the new cats won't have a flange I'll just pay a shop for a direct weld again instead of paying for a flange weld (I have no welder). Anyways those are my thoughts- it was easier and needed no parts or thoughts or alignments or constant installing and removing header to adjust angles and fit.
 

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