Pacesetter Headers

[j99xj]

Hey yall. I just completed the install of long tube Pacesetter headers on my Jeep. I just wanted to share some thoughts for those of you considering a swap.

Despite popular belief, the Pacesetter headers I got were quite stout from an engineering standpoint. The only flaw of the pipe was the cheap paint job which is flaking off as the pipes expand from thermal strain. The paper gasket supplied with the kit is suprisingly sturdy. And best of all, I found my headers with a complete down pipe assembly for $230 shipped on ebay.

The install wasn't that hard just time consuming. The only problem per se was getting some of the bottom bolts torqued properly.

Now the performance difference. I felt a gain in torque across the board, but the most difference from the stock manifold and down pipe was felt from idle to about the torque peak (~3000 rpm). This is exactly what should happen with longer primary pipes. After the torque peak, the torque gain wasn't as noticeable but the engine was much smoother than before. (probably because the primary pipes join smoothly into two seperate collectors, then, further down into one pipe, NOT slamming 6 primarys together into one pipe like the stock manifold and many other "performance headers" do).

The Pacesetter header is NOT the best header on the market, but I feel it IS the best header for the money. I considered lots of headers, but the Pacesetter had the longest primary pipes and came with its own mandrel bent down pipe, a far cry from the other "el cheapo" headers. Most of the headers out there connect to the stock downpipe which is foolish.

The stock downpipe is far too small to begin with and the stock bends are trashy looking. Some on here will undoubtably say that a bigger down pipe will reduce low end, but I have found that to be BS. My Jeep is very spirted off the line.

Sorry I don't have install pics, but I really don't think its necessary. The other good folks here on NAXJA have done some excellent writes ups. Here are the headers.
http://myspace-310.vo.llnwd.net/01184/01/37/1184877310_l.jpg

[XJawgi]

i just installed this header on my rig and i couldnt imagine trying to do it while the engine is inside the vehicle.

im curious to see what you did w/ the egr tube?

[XJawgi]

o and dont use that gasket, it wil blow apart within time..

[tealcherokee]

I just put the same set up on my jeep, i like it alot, for the price. i made a plug for the EGR tube, 7/8x18tpi :)

the O2 sensor is a bitch tho.

[XJawgi]

the whole install is a pain in the ass in my opinion, but you get what you pay for. i tell you what, i have a perfectly bent egr tube after 4 broken tubing benders from harbor freight.

[j99xj]

i just installed this header on my rig and i couldnt imagine trying to do it while the engine is inside the vehicle.

im curious to see what you did w/ the egr tube?

The stock downpipe has to be removed beforehand to install the header, it simply won't fit with the longer tubes.

I just put some muffler putty in the hole and called it good. Seems to be holding up so far. I have a 99 with no egr tube. I don't know why the header came with a bung for it, the advertised years were 94-99.

I thought the egr was taken to the gallows with the renix fuel management system in 1990.

[XJawgi]

oo yea your correct...its weird they still put the bung on there

i installed my header while my engine was out.

if you want a really nice upgrade, go w/ a car sound cat ( magnaflow).

[j99xj]

the whole install is a pain in the ass in my opinion

It wasn't "hard" but it wasn't "easy". Most of the work involved is just the tedious stuff just to get some room to work, ie the removal of the power steering pump/belt, and all the electrical and fuel delievery lines/wires.

But all this tedious work has to be done with any header swap.

[j99xj]

oo yea your correct...its weird they still put the bung on there

i installed my header while my engine was out.

if you want a really nice upgrade, go w/ a car sound cat ( magnaflow).

My entire exhaust has been swapped for aftermarket. I have a dynomax super turbo cat back, a dynomax cat, and now, of course, the pacesetter headers.

With all this exhaust work and my intake stuff (bored throttle body, K&n filter) I'm pushing 220 hp and 270 lb-ft at sea level. But here in Colorado at 5000 feet those flywheel numbers are reduced to 187 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque, so in a sense I've "regained" all the lost performance that the high altitude took. I now have a modified Cherokee that performs at 5000 feet like a stock Cherokee would perform at sea level, so to speak.

[traitor5150]

damn that sucks. You need a turbo or supercharger to make that air a bit more dense

[j99xj]

damn that sucks. You need a turbo or supercharger to make that air a bit more dense

In order to do that Id need to make my wallet more dense. :roll:

Anyway peformance at high altitude is lower for all normally aspirated vehicles. (So the playing field is level). In other words, at 5000 feet EVERYBODY with a normally aspirated engine takes the same horsepower loss of about 15%. (3% for every 1000 feet).

About a year ago when I had only a cat back, k&n, and throttle body spacer, the best quarter mile time I could manage was 18.55 ET at about 75 mph. (Also keep in mind that I'm lifted with bigger tires so that doesn't help either).

[CartsXJ]

I did this swap a couple of weeks ago and I agree with what j99xj said, great low end performance across the board and this is coming from a banks header user. I did a full swap, pacesetter header, super 40, and rusty's tailpipe, all in one night, man that was a long night. For the EGR tube, this kit also works on 86-94 landcruisers, I used a 1/2" or 3/4" brass pipe plug, that I coated the threads in copper RTV, seems to be holding so far. And the brass won't hurt the 7/8x18 threads. Talk about an odd ball size, I search and searched the internet for a bolt that size and came up with nothing. Was going to turn a plug, but the guys in the machine shop said to try a brass plug. Hey if it doesn't work, at least I just take it out and swap in a custom plug.


For the record, this combo, sounds deep and mean, almost V8'ish. Was very surprised.

[XJawgi]

deep and v8ish is crazy. im running a 4.6, pacesetter header, a high flow cat and a magnaflow muffler and it doesnt sound anything like a v8.

Thats another thing i dont understand w/ pacesetter....they sell a header that works w/ the renix and the HO...the egr tube is a mile off for the renix and then the HO people have to worry about plugging it. what kind of company does this...they need to provide a plug or just flat out remove the hole for the HO and then relocate the bung for the renix a inch over... it cant be that hard...so much bullshit for such a simple fix on the mfg's side.

[tealcherokee]

just a note, if you lower your jeep, they y pipe hits the driveshaft

[j99xj]

just a note, if you lower your jeep, they y pipe hits the driveshaft

Yea I just found that out the other day. But mines lifted and it hits when I bottom out. I'm thinking about adding a couple more hockey pucks for longer bumpstops. Or getting a little hammer and trying to bend the pipe out of the way because the driveshaft just BARELY hits. It's not like I'm going to cut off half the flow of the exhaust pipe like the stock "pinch" did.

[CartsXJ]

deep and v8ish is crazy. im running a 4.6, pacesetter header, a high flow cat and a magnaflow muffler and it doesnt sound anything like a v8.

That has alot to do with the type of muffler you are running. I am running a Super 40, not your standard 40, it is a much larger case and deeper sound. The difference is definately noticeable from my buddy's regular 40 on his TJ. And it has a different sound than a local guy with the Magnaflow system on his ZJ. If I had to do it again I would have gotten Flowmasters offroad muffler, I might still, I'll see how long this one lasts before I beat it on some rocks.

[j99xj]

I've run a flowmaster, cherry bomb glasspack, and a dynomax super turbo. And the dynomax is the best performing of all of them and its the best sounding. Doesn't sound like a v8 but its nice and quiet on the highway but gives a good growl at lower speeds.

[XJoshua]

Ive got a DynoMax S/T on mine with Banks Headers, and a test pipe. I love the sound, but Ill probally go back to a cat since i get some back firing when I play in the hard RPMs and let off the accelerater fast when about to shift. Hope it sounds just a nice when the stroker goes in.

Also the DynoMax S/T sounds better as the packing breaks in.