OBX headers, quality? anyone have them?

[the great him]

Ok so I know generally you get what you pay for, but I have found what I believe to be a good deal on a set, brand new -just over $300. I'm only looking because I have a cracked manifold, so if I'm gonna be replacing it, I may as well go with headers...

I got two main questions from those of you whom have had more experience with them, and know more about the differences between they years. The set I'm looking at is for a 1999+ and I have a 1997. I know the newer trucks have dual cats, and mine only has the single. Also these headers appear to have a o2 sensor at the base of the collector in the "header" it self. Is that gonna matter?, I was thinking I could probably just block that off with either an old dead o2 sensor or just a simple block off plate.

What do you guys think?

 

[JayRolla]

OBX is a cheap ebay company that copys others parts and makes them with cheap materials. We used to run them a lot on our turbo 4 bangers and have made good power on them. Usually the cast units are not too bad but the tubular ones would crack real quick. Ive also seen the cast units crack but not as quickly or as much. In our low HP 4runners heat is not an issue as much as my 400whp talon was.

 

[5RUNNERZ]

I think you answered your own question there! "you get what you pay for."

 

[coinball]

I had bought a set of the OBX ones before I found a TRD set; while I can't comment on the durability of them, the construction seemed half decent. I sold them to a local user here in Raleigh and he had them ceramic coated and put on his truck. As far as I know he didn't have any issues with them.

The one nice thing about the OBX headers is the primary size is significantly larger than the TRD ones; I wasn't planning on going supercharged at the time otherwise, I would have stuck with the OBX ones just for the larger primaries.

In my opinion, if your hell bent on headers and want to stay NA, then go with TRD (assuming you can find them). If you're going to go boosted, TRD or OBX would be fine.

And be sure to get them ceramic coated before installing...I wish I would have done that on my TRDs, as I can't afford the downtime now...

 

[T4R2014]

Doesn't [MENTION=51127]Dous[/MENTION] have OBX headers?

I heard they are okay. I personally would shell out for Doug Thorley or TRD headers.

 

[Dous]

Doesn't [MENTION=51127]Dous[/MENTION] have OBX headers?

I heard they are okay. I personally would shell out for Doug Thorley or TRD headers.

Yep good call.

I don't like them. All the gaskets suck, I replaced the OBX gaskets at the manifold with OEM Toyota and they seal OK, but just. The flange isn't perfectly flat so it doesn't seal perfectly.

Just last week a gasket blew out where the driver side header meets passenger side (I am sure there is better terminology) I just sealed it with exhaust RTV and let it go

I will have the Doug Thorleys before too long, these things are the bane of my existence

 

[coinball]

Yep good call.

I don't like them. All the gaskets suck, I replaced the OBX gaskets at the manifold with OEM Toyota and they seal OK, but just. The flange isn't perfectly flat so it doesn't seal perfectly.

Just last week a gasket blew out where the driver side header meets passenger side (I am sure there is better terminology) I just sealed it with exhaust RTV and let it go

I will have the Doug Thorleys before too long, these things are the bane of my existence

It's been so long, I can't recall, did I sell you these OBX headers?

 

[Yoter]

Is someone looking for TRD headers? (not affiliated with seller etc..)
TRD Headers for 4Runner/Tacoma

 

[Dous]

It's been so long, I can't recall, did I sell you these OBX headers?

You may have sold them to Travoulous the previous owner, he is the one who installed them.

 

[coinball]

You may have sold them to Travoulous the previous owner, he is the one who installed them.

Yep, that was his username.

 

[Dous]

Yep, that was his username.

You wanna trade for the TRD's?

ound:

 

[Kurtis]

I had OBX headers on my 3rd gen pick up. The flanges aren't flat but you can make up that with a big fat gasket. Don't use the gaskets they come with. We also run a set on my wife's Honda. Their not too bad though. If I was looking for new headers I'd consider them.

 

[TegoXR]

Looking into these as well.

 

[r34sklnnsn]

I run OBX on my Chevy S10 with a 2.2 and the fit and quality was good. Been running it for over two years now. Had it ceramic coated.

 

[A.Wilson013]

Isaac, keep your eye on CL for TRD headers... As our trucks age I see them more and more... There was a set in eugene for $300 not long ago.

I'd steer clear of the OBX... I have read many complaints of them not sealing properly even with OEM gaskets.

 

[the great him]

if i did this i would pay to have the flanges remachined, especially the mating surface to the head itself(on the header), to make sure of a good fitment. i would also have them coated, their is a company called finish line coatings here in portland that i have seen some of their work, and yeah, they would be coating them for me, its kinda spendy but its top quality (and they look great too -not that you can see the headers on a 4runner/tacoma)

doug thorley made the TRD headers, so they are one in the same basically. the only differences is now the DT does not make the TRD specific headers, but all you are missing is the stamp on the header itself so yeah.

i guess my biggest concern is will the newer style of 99+ trucks and their dual cats affect me with my 97 and single cat. it looks to me like the outlet/collector pips has a different fitting on it. can any one who has a 99+ take a pic of their exhaust manifold collector where the down tube connects to the exhaust pipe and cat?

 

[blueblur1984]

I can't speak for the 4runner, but I had OBX headers and short shifter in my 10th anniversary edition miata and the quality was total crap. The shifter was so short it wouldn't go into reverse, the headers didn't fit quite right...you get what you pay for.

BTW anyone who wants to bag on me for having owned a miata I've had vehicles ranging from a porsche 928S4 to a 72 International scout...I'm a car guy, not a fan boy. Trash talking commence :lalala:

 

[Jon]

Did you pull the trigger on a set yet? I'm in the same boat with my 97. Just snapped a stud of at the down pipe flange. My excuse for getting headers! And it's my B-day. :rockon:

I ran some dirt cheap $50 headers on my old CRX way back in high school and everything assembled fine and it never structurally failed. That was being driven by a 17yr old that thought he gonna be in the next Fast and Furious! LOL

Edit: Just realized that the Y-pipe - to - down pipe flange is a two bolt flange on these 00-02 OBX headers where on my 97 I have a three bolt flange.