When it comes to modifying your exhaust or intake system, there are several components you can switch out. But, if you’re looking for the biggest performance improvements and power gains, there are some parts that deliver better results than others. Before you rush off to modify every last component, it’s important to know just how these parts work in order to decide what will deliver the best results. Here, we compare headers vs. manifolds to explain just how they work to improve your ride’s performance.
The Benefits of Exhaust Headers
Exhaust headers are one of the easiest bolt-on modifications you can make to your vehicle to improve your engine’s performance. Headers make it easier for your engine to push exhaust gases out of the cylinders. Your vehicle’s engine produces all of its power during the power stroke. During this stroke, the gasoline in the cylinder burns and expands to generate power. Once the exhaust gases vacate the cylinder, they end up in the exhaust manifold and then flow into one pipe toward the catalytic converter. The exhaust header helps eliminate the manifold’s back pressure. So, instead of a common manifold that all of the cylinders share, each cylinder gets its own exhaust pipe, and then they come together in a larger pipe called the collector.
Several brands craft performance headers that deliver maximum results, like Gibson headers and Bassani headers. These headers are made with the top-of-the-line materials and superior craftsmanship. Plus, they get the fumes out of your vehicle quicker, which in turn, gets your vehicle moving quicker as well.
The Benefits of Exhaust Manifolds
Exhaust manifolds traditionally funnel spent exhaust gas from the engine. Purely utilitarian, these heavy chunks of cast iron do their job adequately but don’t inspire performance. Horsepower and torque is sacrificed in the name of lower manufacturing costs and increased emissions, zapping acceleration from your ride. Even worse, some factory manifolds are prone to cracking, putting even the toughest trucks out of commission. A performance exhaust manifold, like the aFe BladeRunner Exhaust Manifold, wakes up your street machine with high-flow ductile iron or 304 stainless steel castings. This boosts your low-end grunt for towing and increases mileage when you’re just cruisin’. Performance exhaust manifolds are a great bolt-n-go part with very little maintenance needed, unlike headers that require periodical re-tightening.
The majority of exhaust manifolds currently on the road are more akin to tubular exhaust headers with attached catalytic converters. And unfortunately, poor reliability. Adding insult to injury, many drivers experience sticker-shock when the time comes to replace a cracked or failing factory manifold. Thankfully, PaceSetter Exhaust Manifold Catalytic Converters give you an affordable option to replace a damaged manifold. With 16-gauge stainless steel construction, these American-made manifold/catalytic assemblies outlast the best OEM has to offer. On top of that, PaceSetter Exhaust Manifold Catalytic Converters are designed to optimize exhaust flow, giving your ride better fuel economy and power. For a balance of leak-free reliability and a boost in power, a performance exhaust manifold can’t be beat.
The Benefits of Improving Exhaust Manifolds with Performance Headers & Intake Manifolds
A performance intake manifold is one of the most popular performance upgrades available. Playing an important role, an intake manifold provides the structural base for your vehicle’s fuel-induction system. When you feed your engine more air and fuel, it’s able to produce more power. So, when you set your ride up with a high quality intake manifold, you’ll notice a big boost in power and torque.
No matter how many go-fast goodies you bolt on your ride, a restrictive factory exhaust manifold creates a performance bottleneck, robbing power and MPG. All internal combustion engines obey this one rule: fresh air can’t come in if spent exhaust can’t get out. The solution is to replace those clunky, chunks of metal with a performance manifold, or a custom set of headers, that let your ride breathe freely. These high-flow gems crank out more juice than your stock manifolds, are built to last and often replace worn emissions equipment.
What Performance Part will Improve Your Vehicle the Best?
From long tube headers to short tube headers, and from Doug Thorley headers to Pacesetter headers, there are several choices when it comes to styles and brands for your new performance parts. Whether you’re after manifolds or performance headers, be sure to check out the exhaust headers reviews and intake manifolds reviews on our website to find out just what other consumers are saying about the various performance upgrades for your cat back exhaust or performance intake. We make it easy for you to compare popular brands, like Bassani headers and Pacesetter headers, to find out which ones deliver the best results.
