Are you contemplating installing performance headers on your car but aren’t sure whether to employ a manifold or headers?
If that’s the case, let’s equip yourself further with the pros and cons of headers to have the final word decided the best way!
Scroll down for more information!
What Are Headers?
Simply put, headers are the segments designed to address the exhaust manifold’s limitations on power and engine efficiency.
In terms of performance applications, headers are essentially upgraded aftermarket exhaust manifolds. Each cylinder has its steel tube, which is attached to a distinctive collection pipe.
Thanks to the smoothness and equality of the tubes’ lengths, the gasses from each cylinder can enter the collector one at a time
That’s how your engine can avoid back pressure caused by simultaneous arrival.
Headers are also an important part of every racing engine. So it is not tricky to understand why headers are in high demand
You might think of installing headers as unlocking the power of your engine.
After installation, the engine starts up and improves its breathing. Unlike running manifolds, which typically result in a 30% reduction in engine performance.
This component is quite good and the first mod you should try if you want to get more power out of your engine by investing in a full bolt-on.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Headers?
The benefits headers offer include the increase of horsepower, the reducement of back pressure, awesome sound and appearance, and long-lasting and lightweight quality.
What about the downsides? To be fair, there will be a list you would need to pay attention to, including expensive cost, bad emissions & reduced fuel economy and engine damage.
Pros
- Increase Horsepower & Reduced Back Pressure
The fact that headers reduce back pressure over stock manifolds would perhaps be the main advantage of headers. As aforementioned, the exhaust gasses can easily pass by with not only uninterrupted but also unrestricted passage.
Once done with the installation, you will notice your engine producing significant power. We assure you that the power after and before the headers will differ greatly.
Specifically, if you have a high-performance car, a quality pair of headers can give up to 50 horsepower and over.
- Headers Sound Cool & Look Amazing
An additional advantage of header bidding must be its aid in the sound and appearance of your vehicle.
Normally, it is stainless steel that manufacturers use to generate headers. That is why these components always possess a more enticing display.
The skill of the welder who created them is also a decisive factor that levels up their tempting appearance.
As soon as you open up your hood, there is no way you do not find top-quality bespoke well welded server-side header bidding extremely eye-catching.
Every automobile enthusiast in the area would be desperate to take a photo of your engine bay and have the same one for their own.
It is not just the external that can impress you. Their sounds are splendid as well! With headers instead of manifolds, a V8 is a completely different warhorse.
So, are headers louder than manifolds? Definitely not! Therefore, regarding header vs exhaust manifold comparison, the former are unquestionably the winner when it comes to sound.
- Headers Are Lightweight & Durable
As opposed to the conventional exhaust stock manifold, headers are relatively less heavy. They are made of stainless steel and are slimmer.
Additionally, headers are far more durable in the long run. They could last for years to come if correctly welded by a skilled welder, though can’t be comparable to manifolds, which are made of cast iron.
Cons
- They Are Expensive
Everything on Earth has its downsides, and headers are not an exception. The major drawback, in this case, is the price.
If you need custom headers for your car, it is inevitable to pay several thousand dollars to get the job done appropriately.
Depending on the welder’s requirements and skill level, the cost may range from $2,000 to $5,000.
The less expensive option is to search for bolt-on headers on the market. However, we are sure that these will always apply to your car.
This means that to make them fit, you will need to use some hammering to persuade them. Unfortunately, this will make them appear terrible. However, it is what it is.
Some headers also have their design specifically customized for a certain type of vehicle. Therefore, getting items measured meticulously for your car when purchasing would be advisable.
Depending on quality, you can expect to pay anywhere from $350 to $1,500 for these.
- Bad Emissions & Reduced Fuel Economy
The increased emissions that result from running headers are another disadvantage. As you know, the more power generated, the more gasoline burnt.
We are afraid that such a thing might not sound quite wonderful to the environment.
This will significantly cause harm to fuel efficiency as well. If you add headers, you should anticipate a considerable decrease in fuel efficiency and an increase in the number of trips to the gas station.
Chances are that you would also fail the emissions test in case you are in a state with tight emission regulations.
- Engine Damage
Engine damage is another risk you may take in this scenario of overtaxing your engine with the new headers. This is also a typical problem the Ford 4.2L V6 engine frequently encounters.
As such, components are under much stress from plenty of power. The life of these parts will be significantly shortened by this stress, and your engine may eventually stop working.
Difference Between Exhaust Manifold And Headers – Which Is Better?
What Are Exhaust Manifolds?
So what are exhaust manifolds and are headers better than manifolds?
Exhaust manifolds direct exhaust away from the cylinder head toward the exhaust pipe, which leads to the vehicle’s rear. They are generally made of cast iron and are in the arrangement of blocks.
Thanks to cast iron, these parts are pretty well-known as durable and long-lasting units to employ.
Cast iron’s dense structure also helps retain heat effectively, which is of great use for emissions and prevents heat from escaping to neighboring components.
However, because of the interior roughness caused by the iron casting and the thick walls, exhaust gasses have little room to travel through, which can delay their flow.
Thus, back pressure appears as a consequence of the slow gas flow, preventing the exhaust from being removed as efficiently as possible.
Because exhaust must exit the engine for new fuel and air to enter, which lowers the productivity and, eventually, the engine’s power.
The Differences
Now let’s come to the difference between headers and exhaust manifold. Why do people typically refer to aftermarket pieces as headers and the original equipment as an exhaust manifold?
Technically speaking, considering headers vs manifolds, they are both manifolds, but their fundamental difference lies in how they are built.
An exhaust manifold is often a single huge, equal-length cast-iron section with separate tunnels for each cylinder’s exhaust gasses to pass through before joining into a single, longer pipe at the collector.
Exhaust headers, on the other hand, are typically constructed of individual tubes for each cylinder that is bent into shape and welded into place.
These tubes then combine to form a pipe that exits into the catalytic converter (frequently) before continuing into the rest of the exhaust system.
Conclusion
When it comes to the pros and cons of headers, we’ve covered quite a lot of the spectrums in this article.
The proper order for you to grasp this stuff briefly is to first learn what a manifold and a header are, delve into their difference and finally decide whether or not you should choose one over the other.
Hopefully, our article can be of great help to you. See then!