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> From: Michael Clark <mclark@wt.net>
> To: dakota@ait.fredonia.edu
> Subject: The bad effects of Doug Thorleys...
> Date: Monday, July 14, 1997 11:45 PM
>
> I'm holding off on the headers for a few days until I can get some more
> information. I talked to a mechanic today and he said that for a daily
> driver street automobile headers is a BAD idea. The reasons he stated
> were that the underhood temps climb so high that before long the wires,
> belts, and hoses and all other heat sensitive components start to break
> down. He said be prepared to replace the starter motor about every 6
> months because the stock heat shield will have to be removed and the
> starter will get cooked. He said they will leak, rattle and that they
> are just a bad idea. He said for racing applications they are great but
> not for daily drivers.
Who's the mechanic?? He must not deal with DT much. Yes the
headers put off a bunch of heat. BUT, your truck (at least mine does), has
heat shields around the spark plugs, so your plug wires are fine. The only
other 'heat' sensitive items I had that were close to the headers were the
brake lines (coming off of the master cyl), and a wiring harness coming
close to the battery. I moved the harness (it was floating out there
anyway,
so I held it against another harness, and used an automotive type zip
tie (30 second job). On my brake lines, I merely bent the lines back
towards
the firewall then down (by hand, again 30 second job). My truck didn't
have a heat shield on the starter, and once the headers were in place
I actually had more room between the starter than with the stock
exhaust. A heat shield is available (it's for a Chevy, and you will have
to modify it) for other vehicles, but none is required with the Dakota
(at least with a 5 spd). Mine don't leak (except for the pressure
fit on the cross over pipe, which expands/seals after 5 minutes of
run time...as per the design). They don't rattle, except for a slight
'firing' sound you get through the pipes..sounds healthy, AND if
you follow the instructions on tightening the header bolts, you'll have no
problems. (tighten 1 day after install, then 1 week, then 1 month,
then every 3-4 months thereafter). I bought mine in Feb, and have gone
through the 4 times...only had 4 loose bolts (semi loose actually), and
they were the rears...again only 10 minutes to tighten (wear gloves!!!
you must tighten them while hot).
> I think I'll still probably do the headers but I just want to look
> before I leap. Does the stock heat shields need to be removed? Are
> they connected to the manifolds or the truck? What about heat shielding
> material for the wires and hoses? What about header wraps, I think Sam
> mentioned one time that DT says not to wrap or coat their headers.
>
> So has this guy got me paranoid or do the DT's put off that much heat?
> --
Yes, DT says not to coat them as it will void the life time warranty
against defects. With the heat held in the headers, the welds and such
can break. One GOOD side effect your truck will experience, is cooler
running temps... Oh yeah, about the heat. I just did 1000 mile drive from
San Diego->Yuma(AZ)->Flagstaff(AZ)->Blythe(ca)->El Centro(ca)->San Diego
2 weekends ago. Average outside temperature for everywhere except
SanDiego and Flagstaff (110 degrees F.) Imagine what the engine
compartment
was.... Plus I ran my AC the entire time... When I was stopped a few
times
(I went to the Dunes overlook at Glamis, CA.) and started again, my clutch
fan would kick on for 2-3 miles... But that's normal.
Sam '95 SLT Dakota
http://www.users.cts.com/king/s/samp/
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