TA Headers Installed!

[turbojimmy]

The point of this thread is not to drudge up the debate over 'ebay' headers or other headers. I'm not going to get into my decision as to why I bought the TA (ArizonaGN) headers or compare them to anything else. I just want to post my experience with them and offer a tip or two.

I got the mild steel with Jet Hot coating. The coating is very nice and appears to be very durable. They fit absolutely perfectly. All 6 bolts on each header start and can be threaded in with your fingers. You don't have to wiggle the header around to get them all in. I think this speaks to the precision of the design. The headers come down far enough so that the crossover is easy to install on both sides and they seal nicely. The slip-joint in the middle of the 2-piece crossover requires no clamp. Here are a few things I encountered:

1) the stock headers will come out without pulling the plug wires on the passenger side but you'll need to pull them to get the new header in
2) UNHOOK YOUR BATTERY. The header can hit the positive lug on the starter while you're trying to maneuver it in place
3) When I installed the cross over I put the LH side on first, left the clamp loose, and then installed the RH side. The fit is perfect but may require light tapping with a rubber mallet to get the crossover to mate tightly with the RH header
4) do yourself a favor and bend the rods on the clamps before you get under the car (pic below). This is the only way you will be able to get the rod through the end of the clamp and even then you can barely get the nut on. On the right side I had to use a pair of BFS (one against the frame and the other against the starter) to push the ends of the clamp together enough in order to get the nut started

The quality is great and as is the support from Nick.

Jim

 

[SGRIM]

Sometimes it is not about the $ it is about the quality of the product. I have bought the "ebay" headers to to look at. Compared to other products out there the craftsmanship speaks for itself. The componets, clamps, collectors, bends, etc..., make a big difference IMO!

 

[turbojimmy]

I forgot one other thing:

The included bolts are 3 lengths. It's not obvious so you have to pay attention. There are 2 long ones w/ washers for the 'shouldered' locations on the LH header - those are easy to see. There is one bolt that is slightly longer than all the rest that has a washer, too. I assumed that this one is for the front, lower position on the LH header where the bracket for the A/C compressor attaches to the header.

Jim

 

[Bweavy]

Nice right up Jim Glad we could help.

 

[DonnieShort]

I've ran the TA headers since November '05, I opted for the the stainless. Easiest set of headers I have ever installed. You can get a socket or wrench on every bolt very easily. Matter of fact, when I put mine on I didn't even have to remove the turbo from the bracket to get the passenger side on. I like Jim had problems with the V-band clamps. It took longer to get them on than it did to install the headers. But even the V-band clamp deal wasn't too bad. I was very surprised on how thick the tubing for the headers is. They out weighed my old TH headers by 6 pounds very beefy. Don't know if they picked up any performance over my old ones, haven't got to get any clean passes in with them on but I did put 606.6 to the wheels on the dyno January of 2006 and ran 125 mph on street tires on a troublesome tune at the Nats last year. They are very nice though and highley recommended.

 

[Clark6]

no probs so far

I also bought mine from gbody in the end of Dec. put them on & took my postons off theyre laying out back on the ground, i was trying to put them on the way the postons went & that was a no go-- i spent an hour trying to make the ta's fit BEHIND the starter like the postons were finally took a deep breath after complaining to myself what could be wrong and saw that they fit up front BESIDE the starter...

i didnt bend my rod bolts what i did also after having trouble with getting the v bands on since ive never used these before was took my channel locks & another set of pliers & spreaded the v bands slightly all the way around so that they would fit a little closer to the lips of the joints a little tighter & thats how i got my bolts started , then i snugged them up these 2 tips alone if youre not too careful will save you an hr on installation if you've never done these before switching from poston to these, i dont know about the stock transition maybe that would be in the first post..HTH:redface:

P.S after several trips down the track make sure you keep a check on the 3 turbo triangle flange bolts (16mm)to make sure they're tight or it will leak there every now & then epecially after high boost passes & it will affect your spool up. just check em every trip at the track with any headers really even the stock ones.

 

[turbojimmy]

I just took the car out for the first time since I put the headers on it. In addition to the headers I put a Turbonetics T70 BB Q-trim turbo on it. There is a HUGE exhaust leak on the driver's side. It's the #1 cylinder (front, left - correct?). The gasket was a little boogered up but I put it on anyway - that might be why.

The car sounds different to me - more bass perhaps? A little more throaty? It definitely seems louder. Can't tell if the headers contributed to any performance gains but even with the exhaust leak the T70 spools unbelievably fast. It's quite scary actually. When I shut it off I heard a noise like air whooshing through the 4" intake. I didn't think it could be possible, but it was the turbo continuing to move air after I shut off the engine. I guess the ball bearings allow that to happen.

Anyway, I'm still happy with the headers. Just gotta see how to seal up that leak which means goofing around with that V-band clamp again which is no fun.

Jim

 

[gnxtc2]

Jim

I had that turbo mounted to the TA headers. The sound you are hearing is the same sound that I had when I was running that turbo. You are hearing the turbo spooling down.

I'm glad you like the turbo.

You should hear my Powerstroke w/ 4" straight pipe shutting down.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

[turbojimmy]

Jim

I had that turbo mounted to the TA headers. The sound you are hearing is the same sound that I had when I was running that turbo. You are hearing the turbo spooling down.

I'm glad you like the turbo.

You should hear my Powerstroke w/ 4" straight pipe shutting down.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

That's what I thought it was but I couldn't believe that there was so little friction that you could hear it wind down. The turbo is great, at least all 5 miles I've put on it so far. Once I fix the header leak it should be even better.

Thanks Billy!

Jim

 

[RUQWKNF27]

So basically after the header install your car sounds meaner? And people say all these cars sound the same!!! In which I disagree!

 

[turbojimmy]

So basically after the header install your car sounds meaner? And people say all these cars sound the same!!! In which I disagree!

I think so. My brother, who was there when I first fired it up, noticed the same thing. It's more noticable at idle, kind of like a deeper rumble. With the 3" pipes and dual mufflers it's always had a mean sounding idle but it's changed a little for the better.

EDIT: As I think about it, I did change the turbo at the same time, moving from a PT61 to the T70. I wonder if the bigger exhaust wheel in the 70 changes the exhaust tone a bit? I'd swear throttle response is better, too, but it might be the quicker-spooling turbo rather than a result of the new headers.

Jim

 

[SloGN]

I think so. My brother, who was there when I first fired it up, noticed the same thing. It's more noticable at idle, kind of like a deeper rumble. With the 3" pipes and dual mufflers it's always had a mean sounding idle but it's changed a little for the better.

EDIT: As I think about it, I did change the turbo at the same time, moving from a PT61 to the T70. I wonder if the bigger exhaust wheel in the 70 changes the exhaust tone a bit? I'd swear throttle response is better, too, but it might be the quicker-spooling turbo rather than a result of the new headers.

Jim

I didn't get the TA headers i bought the jdm motorz headers myself.


but i also noticed that the car has a diffrent tone to it @ idle and it also took away that damn dreaded 2k rpm drone.

The other thing that i noticed was the instant throttle responce that it now has and the spool-up is very instant. I think i could actually go down to a 2800 stall now over the 3200.

the stock POS headers are restrictive and it's mainly the pass side header.


I too can't wait to see what kind of mph and et gain i got from swapping out the headers.

i have run a best of 11.70 @ 113 @ 20 psi of boost and 16 degrees of timing with a 1.64 60ft

 

[turbojimmy]

The other thing that i noticed was the instant throttle responce that it now has and the spool-up is very instant. I think i could actually go down to a 2800 stall now over the 3200.

Maybe it wasn't my imagination. It felt like the throttle had more 'snap' to it. Even with the header leak. I can't wait to get that sealed up. I have a 3500 Vigilante that I probably don't need.

Jim

 

[turbojimmy]

Here's the problem right here. The new gasket blew out in 3 places on my 5-mile test run with the car. Like I said it was beat up by UPS, but compared to the FelPro there's not a lot of material on the edges. I never noticed this before - I wonder if the FelPros are actually a restriction?

I'm going to pop the FelPro gasket in anyway so I can seal it up.

 

[JOELO'S T-TYPE]

Keep us posted, hope you can enjoy your car soon!

 

[grocerygetter]

I wonder if the SCE coppers would actually fit better...they are a little bigger opening.

 

[tom h]

Do the TA headers require gaskets in order to properly seal ? After all, the OEM headers seal Ok without gaskets (unless they are warped).

 

[TurboBuRick]

Nice, I just got a set of the TA's too. Still need to put them on. This info will help alot. I also have a GTQ 70 to bolt on. Can't wait for some better weather.

 

[turbojimmy]

I wonder if the SCE coppers would actually fit better...they are a little bigger opening.

They might. Nick mentioned that they use copper gaskets on aluminum heads. I happened to have that FelPro laying around so that's what I'm going to use for now.

Do the TA headers require gaskets in order to properly seal ? After all, the OEM headers seal Ok without gaskets (unless they are warped).

They probably don't need them but I don't want to put it back together without a gasket, find it leaks, and then have to take it apart again. I know those FelPros work so I'm going to pop it in.

Jim

 

[SloGN]

the gaskets that came with the ebay headers are beefier that those and the felpros. they have the metal on both sides of the gasket. i don't remember seeing a name or part # on them either.



i'll try and contact JDM motorz about those gaskets.