Hey DML,
Got my JBAs on Thursday (CA delivery) and installed on Saturday. The
install took me about 4 hours (2 beers) and was a piece of cake! The
header quality was good with some popcorn and a little burr on the
collector to flange joint that I knocked off with a file. All other
work looked about like my Hooker super comps only with more material and
thicker welds. I also found that my stock 3500 mile old factory
manifolds were leaking at the center ports !! (No gaskets is NOT a good
thing in my mind) Now that the headers are on my engine compartment is
quieter!! The left side was the easiest header instll I have ever done,
with everything accessible. The right side requires removing the airbox
(on the 5.9 l R/T). The only problem I encountered was on the right
side. The rearmost collector bolt ends up directly behind the O2 sensor
making it impossible to install a socket on the nut. Im sure this is a
regular Dak with one sensor at the Y vs. R/T with sensors at the flange
difference. If the flange was rotated 10 degrees either way it would be
easy! As it is I used a tiny wrench and a lot of patience to tighten
it. Since I dont have many mles on the truck I reused the stock flange
bolts and their handy anti rotation keepers (hot tip for loner
installs). Or you could remove the O2 sensor and use a socket (the best
way). I left the center studs in place contrary to the directions which
made the install of the headers a little tough (added 5 minutes to the
job) but kept it "more stock" for going back if I ever want to. Why, I
have no idea right now... Watch out for the sharp heat shields on the
right side!!! Ouch!! so far my butt dyno says : Definite driveability
improvements! Still feeling it out with a track session next weekend!
All in all I love the headers, the install was as easy as any, they fit
perfect with no mods at all required with lots of clearance to all heat
sensitive things AND they are quieter instead of louder. Take a good
look at your stock manifolds. They are Logs of the first degree! good
for low end torque only! Now its off to JBA for a good look at the head
pipes. After spending so much time under the truck Im not sure how much
more improvement Im gonna get out of head pipes, but well see what they
say but Ive got some even more radicle "ideas"...
Bruce K Bridges
98 R/T CC JETII, RABB, JBA headers.
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