AMC 304 with IN-FRAME Headers

Ok, i've been a member for a while but life has had me sidetracked and away from jeep stuff for some time.

so my jeep's been giving me the finger for months now, and i've decided to get back on with my projects...

i NEED to dump my fenderwell headers and get some in-frame headers. i've looked at the catalogs at a few different brands and i think i'm leaning towards the hooker full length in frame headers. BUT, i figured i'd ask around in here before i commit. FYI i don't want to drop the $500-700 on the thorely and other top end brands-just not in the budget.

so,
:?who has in frame headers on their v8?
:? what brand do you have?
:?do you like them?
:?anything else i need to know?

 

I have a Ford 302, but for what it's worth, I have Sanderson block huggers from Novak. The fit is great and quality so far is outstanding. I did need to go to a mini starter due to the header design, don't know if that'll be an issue with the AMC engine. In a CJ5, my personal opinion is that long tube headers are probably not too good. The lack of room for a good dual exhaust is the reason. With my shorties, I was able to wrap the Y-pipe forward around the oil pan and run a full 2 1/2 in exhaust all the way down the driver's side inside the frame.

 

I put the Edelbrock shorties on my 304 and I really like them. Good fit and finish, reasonable price, easy install (mates up to stock exhaust system), great sound, noticeable seat of the pants boost.

 

hmm, good point about the full length. i know i'm tight on space. i'm looking to do ANYTHING to get out of the fenders as my wider tires rub on them--->which means i'm not currently wheelin'.

i don't have stock exhaust so i need not worry about hooking up to that, whatever ends up there will be custom.

I'll give novak a ring and let them give me a little info.


anyone ever try using header wraps? i completely understand the benefit of both the scavenging and under hood heat reduction. i was wondering if it is really worth it or not really. seems about $100 of wrap would suit the v8 headers, if it is a CONSIDERABLE amount of heat reduction, seems well worth it. i am in san diego so it generally is already warm-hot when i hit trails (unless it is dead of winter and temp is in the 60's).

thanks for the help all. i'll get the next round of 's

 

I got a set of Doug Thorley tri-Y's off ebay. I spent some time talking to the dude that ran them. He really liked them and said they fit well. He killed his AMC and was going with a Chevy. They are inframe and fairly short.

I ran a try-Y on a suzuki 4 banger. I really liked it. Long tubes seem to kill the low end. The shorter tri-Y's seem to do a better job for torque. I don't have them in yet but it's at least another option.

 

ok, thanks for the info. seems like i should be leaning towards the shorties. those thorley's look killer, i just was tryin not to shell out the dough on them for now. then again, never thought about ebay.

still looking for any info positive or negative regarding header wraps.

 

As far as the wrap goes, I am using stock ehhaust manifolds on my ford 5.0 swap, but used the wrap on the exhaust from the manifolds to mufflers. I do notice a decrese i heat coming through the floorboards and have no worry about excess heat getting to the hydrolic clutch slave cylinder, fuel feed & return lines etc. I will add however that temps in the mufflers rose enough to cook some of the paint off the mufflers, but they are Thrush Chambered (Flowmaster clones) so being all steel there is nohing for the extra heat to burn out. I like it, and am planning on pulling the pipes out to coat the wrapped pipes and mufflers with a spray aluma-coating (same maker as the wrap) to help the wrap last longer. I will also probably wrap the manifolds in the future to protect the starter, as well as reduce the under hood temps.

 

I run http://store.summitracing.com/partd...4294908280+4294907261+400143+115&autoview=sku (think that is the right one)

to do over I would coat them much better before I put them on. Dealing with the snowmobile I have have learned the importance of heat retention and would probably go with ceramic coating of some form. I have a fiberglass body and the heat transferred into the floorboard is horrendous! Running the exhaust pipe off of the headers was also a challenge. Not a lot of room around the transfer case on the right side. My installer also got a pipe in the way of the rear bump stop but that was just a mistake on his part. All in all I am very happy with it, but in the future I would consider manifolds first.

Chris

 

I have headers on mine ( don't know what brand, the PO had them installed ), along with a custom exhaust system. It fits very nicely, and what I like about it is, whenever I do any work under the jeep, , the exhaust is not in my way. I have changed the rear main seal, changed motor mounts, changed tranny and TC, etc., and the exhaust has never had to be removed. That's pretty convenient.

 

thanks for the help guys. I was thinking about those hedman's as well...i'd like to get my hands on some of those tri-Y's, but the budget is not there.

rixcj- any chance you could post or send me some pics of your exhaust? you sound like your pretty happy with how it's routed. i'd like to see that. i can give you my email if you need.

 

I like my edelbrocks on my 304.