Headers on a 6.2L with Stock Muffler/Cat-Back?

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ls1frc

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That's fine, 70 hp, 100 hp, still gonna be slow lol. I just wanted simplicity and some better throttle response and shifting. I picked the BTR stage 1 truck cam V2.

It's funny it seemed to get better MPG with DOD turned off. I hated that lugging feeling in V4 mode.
 

ls1frc

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Just drove it a bit more aggressively. Definitely has way more snap at 2000+ rpms.
 

992dr

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After you get a stall, it'll be a whole new animal.
I have a shift kit jr and a 2800/3000 billet stall now and it made a big difference. Especially for such a heavy vehicle.
My 2dr had a built trans with a 3200 billet stall. Hands down the best mods ever. It had a full exhaust, Thorley tri-y headers Magnaflow high flow spun cats and I made the rest 2.5" into a 3" dump over the axle.
 

ls1frc

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What happened to MPGs with stall though? Concerned about road trip efficiency.

Was thinking maybe gears instead?
 
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91RS

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That's fine, 70 hp, 100 hp, still gonna be slow lol. I just wanted simplicity and some better throttle response and shifting. I picked the BTR stage 1 truck cam V2.

It's funny it seemed to get better MPG with DOD turned off. I hated that lugging feeling in V4 mode.

A stage 1 cam will probably only get 30-40hp. That’s why I’ve decided to do an LSA supercharger instead. I did a torque converter in my old TBSS and absolutely hated it and I will never do that again. Fuel economy went in the trash but I really hated the way the TCC was either on or off.
 

992dr

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What happened to MPGs with stall though? Concerned about road trip efficiency.

Was thinking maybe gears instead?

Just like any other mod, it all depends on how you drive. Personally I haven't noticed any change in MPGs and I've daily driven every vehicle, 2dr went on a couple 800+ mile trips once with a 7x14 enclosed trailer slam full. My 07 has been on about 20 2 to 3 hour trips to the beach. Then we moved there haha.

What gears do you have now?
I did gears once, went from 3:73s to 4:10s and I was not happy. Around town was ok but highway was were it really suffered. 3:73 gears are the only gears I'll use for a daily/family hauler. These were all lowered street trucks.

These are just my personal experiences.
 

ls1frc

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A stage 1 cam will probably only get 30-40hp. That’s why I’ve decided to do an LSA supercharger instead. I did a torque converter in my old TBSS and absolutely hated it and I will never do that again. Fuel economy went in the trash but I really hated the way the TCC was either on or off.

Ya, but it will add a lot of torque in the low end. Stock form the 5.3 can't get out of it's own way. At least 1st gear feels snappy now with the headers.

Supercharger is def the way to go. Heavy vehicles need that flat torque curve.

Just like any other mod, it all depends on how you drive. Personally I haven't noticed any change in MPGs and I've daily driven every vehicle, 2dr went on a couple 800+ mile trips once with a 7x14 enclosed trailer slam full. My 07 has been on about 20 2 to 3 hour trips to the beach. Then we moved there haha.

What gears do you have now?
I did gears once, went from 3:73s to 4:10s and I was not happy. Around town was ok but highway was were it really suffered. 3:73 gears are the only gears I'll use for a daily/family hauler. These were all lowered street trucks.

These are just my personal experiences.

I have the stock 3.42s and 20" wheels. I challenged my buddy and his 2013 stock raptor to a little race, we shall see if I can keep up after the cam. Will be fun either way.
 

992dr

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Ya, but it will add a lot of torque in the low end. Stock form the 5.3 can't get out of it's own way. At least 1st gear feels snappy now with the headers.

Supercharger is def the way to go. Heavy vehicles need that flat torque curve.

I have the stock 3.42s and 20" wheels. I challenged my buddy and his 2013 stock raptor to a little race, we shall see if I can keep up after the cam. Will be fun either way.

A stall will help greatly with that first gear leap and snappiness :)

Lookin forward to the cam install. It'll definitely be fun haha.
I saw a engine dyno video of a comparison between a stock 5.3 and a stage 1, very impressed with the gains. It was a high mile 5.3, ****** 1-7/8 LTs, TBSS intake, Fast 92mm TB, Fast 89lb injectors and Holley ECU.

Found it
 

ls1frc

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Cool video. 411 crank HP will be plenty for the family hauler. Just some passing power and some low speed grunt is all I want.


Should be fun. I am booking a day off next Monday to do it. Given I won't have frozen manifolds, I envision I can get the heads off very easily. Since shit always comes up, I am spanning it over 2 days just to be safe.
 

ls1frc

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Decided to pick up some fresh PRC 2.5 ls6 heads as well. I couldn't stomach pulling off the 140k heads and putting them right back on and since it's my DD, I can't really wait a few days for them to be cleaned up.

Hopefully it's a 420ish HP engine after this. Will report back results.
 

1BADI5

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Decided to pick up some fresh PRC 2.5 ls6 heads as well. I couldn't stomach pulling off the 140k heads and putting them right back on and since it's my DD, I can't really wait a few days for them to be cleaned up.

Hopefully it's a 420ish HP engine after this. Will report back results.

I'm also looking add the PRC heads when I do the DOD/LS7 lifters and cam.

Hopefully Friday I can finally get my TSP long tube headers and 3" catless y-pipe in.
 

ls1frc

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Cool ill report back my results.

Rusted exhaust and the oil pickup tube bolt have been the most time consuming. Everything else was just busy work so far.

Not expecting a miracle but I hope I can at least break a little traction in first after these mods.
 

1BADI5

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What I enjoy most about this thread...…..I don't think there are 2 members with the same set up. All systems mentioned are unique.

So here will be my set up as of Friday...…..if everything in the universe aligns right.

TSP 1 3/4 Long tubes
TSP 3" catless Y pipe
Magnaflow muffler 12259
Resonator deleted
 

ls1frc

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My advice would be buy a torch if you dont have one!
 

1BADI5

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Well its a southern truck...…...I've been good up to this point. The only manifold bolt that is broken is the very front bolt on cylinder 1.

I have hosed the manifold bolts several time with Kroil...…..so with the and the heat cycles I should be good. I did the same process on my 98 Yukon and everything broke free with a 3/8 drive ratchet. Fingers crossed it goes that way again.

I will be doing the work over at my buddies shop...….so I will have a plasma cutter, TiG and MiG on hand if shit goes sideways.
 

ls1frc

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Good luck. Will sound a lot more wild than mine for sure. My wife didnt even mention anything after the headers went in.
 

1BADI5

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Good luck. Will sound a lot more wild than mine for sure. My wife didnt even mention anything after the headers went in.

Haha. It's my daily so she doesn't really care. She made some noise when I did the muffler delete on the Rubicon.....but she's used to it now
 

ls1frc

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So headers with stock cam/heads was fine, no exhaust smell at all in the truck.

After the cam, exhaust smell started coming into the cabin. With the increased overlap of the cam (even though its the baby BTR stage 1), I believe the high flow cats have a tougher time cleaning up the exhaust. When the truck is really hot, there is no smell. But on cold starts and while it's warming up, I get that familiar catless cammed smell that sticks to your clothes. It's not egregious like an actually catless header setup, but enough where you'd notice it when you catch a whiff.

I know the exhaust leaks post cat at the slip fit connections, so I am going to try some super high temp RTV. But I may just be going back to manifolds. Not like it's a race car haha, we're talking a 16.6 1/4 mile stock that may have gone down to a low 15 with headers, cam, tune.
 
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91RS

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You should have no exhaust smell inside the vehicle. I've had ARH headers on 4 vehicles (2 of which were/are cammed) and Kleeman headers on a Mercedes and none had any sort of exhaust smell inside. If you have an exhaust leak in or under the engine compartment the HVAC will suck in the fumes so that could explain it.
 

kbuskill

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I agree... I have headers and no cats, but no cam, and i can't smell anything inside.

You must have a leak somewhere.
 

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