Has anyone else used the steel shorty headers from JBA. I bought a set and had them installed along with MBRP off road exhaust, k&n cold air intake and Superchip flashpaq. I figured it would help with the 35" tires that I'm luging around. Do to the excessive heat being generated it started burning up my plug boots. After discovering what was going on, I tried all the different methods for thermal protection the fiber sleeves thermal tape, sometimes doubled up on each of them, but to avail. I finally gave up and took back to the off road place we have to have the original manifolds reinstalled. Sorry this was so long, but I'm not a big gear head and just wanted to be descriptive. I was thinking of giving the RIPP mods long tubes a shot at the title, but I don't think those will play well with the superchip. Any suggestions and thanks for any advice.

 

Give Ripp a call. They will be the best people to talk to about compitability.

 

If you take the headers to a third party powder coater they can coat them with a thermal barrier coating such as black satin or cermakrome. This will significantly reduce pipe and under hood temperatures. Also, if your headers aren't stainless, it's better to run with cermakrome as it does a better job of inhibiting rust than black satin. The powder coating shop I use will first apply the black satin and follow it up with cermakrome so steel parts won't rust.

What you can expect from the coatings is about a 20-25% reduction in the surface temperature of the headers and a 50-75 degree drop in under hood temperatures.

Last item, do not get coated headers from the manufacturer. A third party can do a much better job and be sure to have them coated inside and out.

 

I would definitely spend the extra money (over the manifolds) and get the RIPP. Why spend $$ on the manifolds when they are just going to crack again? That was my thinking.

I put them on mine a few thousand miles ago and have not looked back. No problems with plug wires, uses the original heat shields, and the extra torque and HP gains are really more than noticeable. You can get one with a Diablo tuner and custom (to the JK) tune, and sell your superchips online to get some of the money back (if it doesn't work with the headers).

That's my opinion, whatever you choose, good luck!

 

Great info JPOP - however our experience with the header in question is the flanges warp, the hardware stretches and they lose power. But the info on the coating is correct...

RIPPTECH

 

I know folks who have used Jet-Hot in high performance engines with success. Google them and check it out.

My honest opinion is that headers on a Wrangler 3.8 are a waste of money.

 

Everyone has an opinion, but the data shows a 80 ft lb increase in torque and a 50 hp increase. The butt meter can't believe the change in driveability. Plus now I don't have to wait for another manifold crack. My opinion is it was the best money I've spent so far

 

I use a special sleave for the boots on our race truck. The wires actualy touch the headers, and they don't melt or burn. But I cant remember what they are called. I will be in the shop tomaro so I can check on their name to let you know

 

One of the primary reasons I bought my headers was so I could reduce under hood heat. I could have done so by having the exhaust manifold coated, I just couldn't afford to be without the Jeep while getting it done. As for power, no not much but definitely a broader power band as one would assume with various length tube design. Definitely a moderate amount of power gain and what initially caused some lean conditions to remedy. I attribute this to better exhaust gas evacuation and scavenging.

Modest fuel mileage increases, broader power band (this isn't likely to be found in equal length long tubes, although greater low end torque) and a bigger window of gears to choose from maintaining highway speeds. No, not a ton of power just overall better and smoother use of it.

This is how we get into trouble. Overstating power gains and successes. A tenth of those gains are even a stretch for shorties and long tubes might show a tenth of those gains at a relatively low rpm. There are certainly efficiencies to be found and modest amounts of power, but those types of gains would suggest that headers alone can increase volumetric efficiency from below 80% to near 100%. There just isn't a way to get there and even if it were obtainable, it would take a lot more than headers.

 

With all due respect JPop, this is not an overstatement, these are actual numbers that were generated on the dyno at RIPP before the headers were added, after the headers and before the tune, and again after the tune. Check out this thread.

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...blo-Tune-Video

Also, I'm telling you that the butt meter agrees with it. I've added Magnaflow exhaust, claiming HP gains, I may or may not have noticed a difference. Then I added a cold air intake, also claiming HP gains, again I may, or may not have noticed a difference. Finally I added a Jet stage I chip, again, I could have noticed a difference, but it could have been my imagination. This modification, there was absolutely no question at all. This is a very big change in performance for a naturally aspirated engine.

I could go on, and would like to, but I feel I'm starting to sound like a Rep from RIPP.