Purchased JBA headers - install a nightmare

Titan Tough · 05-25-2005, 12:56 PM

I just purchased a set of ceramic coated JBA headers for my Titan. Has anyone had headers installed yet? I went by a high performance muffler shop and they said it would be a 7 to 8 hour job. At $70.00 an hour you would figure $560.00 install price $ 480.00 headers $1040.00??? The shop was reading the JBA sheets and on the install instructions the easy part was this and I quote" 7. Now remove the O2 sensor from the factory manifold. ( Cuss Liberally)
8. With the 02 sensor out of the way remove the heat shield. It will not come out easily. Extreme force may be required"

No joke and this is after lifting the 1". So my question is has anyone done an install and how did it go??

HavockWK · 05-25-2005, 12:59 PM

I know JetTech installed some on his 4x4 and it was not a fun and friendly install. You can find out more about his install over at the Club.

bestatchess · 05-25-2005, 01:10 PM

http://www.jbaheaders.com/images/dyno/04titan_dyno.jpg

23 HP gain for the JBA headers plus the JBA exhaust. Seems like a rather expensive 23 HP.

Titan Tough · 05-25-2005, 04:48 PM

Thanks for the info - what & where is Jet tech - Also the 23H.P. gain is expensive for a $1000.00.

the head · 05-25-2005, 04:53 PM

clubtitan.org
Jet Tech is a member there.

RockyMtnTitan · 05-25-2005, 05:14 PM

I see you have a 4X4, which is what JetTech has. I believe he ended up removing the front diff on his. He also initially removed the primary cats...secondary cats were already replaced with test pipes. Lost a lot of bottom end with primary cats out, so had them reinstalled. A nightmare of an install to say the least. Check out his thread over at the other site....lots of info and pics.

pciley · 05-25-2005, 07:31 PM

I bet MOST of that 23 hp came from the exhaust, not the headers. Another member (haven't heard from him in a while) Titan21 had the JBAs installed at over $1000 as well.
He said they were worthless, had little -if no- gains.
Most of the other header enthusiasts here are waiting on the Nismo parts, I think they are a long tube design. Will they ever come??

bestatchess · 05-25-2005, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan Tough

Thanks for the info - what & where is Jet tech

I don't know JetTech personally, but from reading many of his posts, he seems to be a very highly skilled mechanic. I think he is actually what his handle states: a high level tech that works on jets. So when JetTech says it is a difficult install, I would take heed, because it is not like your typical "two left thumbs" neighbor that can't start his own lawn mower telling you it was a difficult install.

Titan Tough · 05-25-2005, 07:56 PM

Thanks for all the info! Anyone interested in buying some JBA headers? Just kidding.....Looks as if I will be paying a 20% restock fee and spend the money some where else.

shailey · 05-28-2005, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan Tough

Thanks for all the info! Anyone interested in buying some JBA headers? Just kidding.....Looks as if I will be paying a 20% restock fee and spend the money some where else.

That will be your best move. After the install of my JBA Headers (in addition to the Cold Air Intake, Magna Flow Exhaust and Airraid TBS), I got a dyno done again. I gained a whopping 6 hp and 9 pounds of torque over what I had with the other modifications. Did I want to puke? Yep. I am pulling them off this week and putting the stocks back on. Off to Ebay for the JBA's, unles I can find a sucker around here.

bestatchess · 05-28-2005, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shailey

That will be your best move. After the install of my JBA Headers (in addition to the Cold Air Intake, Magna Flow Exhaust and Airraid TBS), I got a dyno done again. I gained a whopping 6 hp and 9 pounds of torque over what I had with the other modifications. Did I want to puke? Yep. I am pulling them off this week and putting the stocks back on. Off to Ebay for the JBA's, unles I can find a sucker around here.

Yuck, probably get more by folding in my Big Tow mirrors. What did you gain from the other stuff?

Armada · 05-30-2005, 02:18 PM

From an engineering stand point, "shorty" headers just don't make much sense for our type of engine when you look at the header design we already have.

While intake and exhaust mods may produce some modest gains (usually when done together), we will have to wait for some full length headers (which probably will not be emissions legal), for folks like me who are in states where there are no annual checks. Then, we might see some worthwhile gains.

The second place Baja 1000 truck in stock class, a Titan, ran NISMO full length headers which are not currently available to us. I keep hearing that they will be available in 6 months or so. Don't expect them to be street legal due to the pre-cat issues involved.

But it is going to take full length headers and some new cams (read: expensive) to really bump our engines up, or forced induction (read: even more expensive) to do the same thing.

Just one guy's opinion.

Cajun · 06-03-2005, 07:08 AM

I'm with you, Armada. We keep telling folks that money for headers is the most expensive dollars per horsepower that you can buy, for some reason everyone thinks they will gain these outrageous hp numbers with headers,, good advertising I guess??? We see an average gain of 4 hp with a set of headers,,,not enough for the hundreds spent. Now,,,stick a blower on a vehicle, then install a good set of long tube headers, then that air pump can really breath..we then begin to see the headers add 15-25 hp to a good blown engine. If you are not blowin air down the motor, save your money and time with headers.
DT

phillipyang · 06-04-2005, 02:43 AM

I'm pretty sure the headers we have installed now are pretty efficent in terms of other designs like the JBA one out now. There might be some improvement but not in the magical range of 10-15%.

Wait wait wait for the supercharger/turbo kits

shailey · 06-08-2005, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestatchess

Yuck, probably get more by folding in my Big Tow mirrors. What did you gain from the other stuff?

. I actually gained 24 hp and 39 pounds of torque at the wheel. I went from an original 271 hp and 314 lbs/torque to 295 hp and 353 lbs (after I took the JBA headers off). That was an average after 3 pulls. My peak hp was 307 (second pull) and peak torque was 358 (2nd pull). My 0-60 went from 7.49 best to 6.62 best. The only problem now is the driveshaft is clunking a little bit. I am now looking for an upgrade for my driveshaft. Anyone have any suggestions?