Bob,
No leaks, but I used a light coating of permatex high temp copper
silicone on the "ballend" dump flanges and copper coat on the manifold
flange gaskets. Its actually quieter than the stock manifolds, but at
3500 miles, they were leaking!
BKB
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Mankin [mailto:bob@cadpros.com]
Sent: Monday, August 17, 1998 3:04 PM
To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
Subject: Re:DML:R/T JBA header install
Bridges, Bruce wrote:
>
> 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.
Bruce,
Thanks for the post and keep us updated on what you end up doing for a Y
pipe.
My JBAs arrived today. Only got a quick look before I had to come back
to the office. I'll probably spend 15-20 minutes cleaning them up with a
Dremel, but overall I'm pleased with the workmanship. I know what I'm
doing Saturday morning, that's for sure<grin>. Did you have any trouble
with leaks after the install? The flanges are clean and flat, I just
worry about good seal where it connects to the Y pipe.
Now to get some dyno numbers done this week before the install.
Bob
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