Peaches: The 10 ft lb torque on the header bolts IS almost certainly correct. I just read another article on the Supermax headers being installed into a 2003 Ram Hemi that i all aluminum like our SSR engines are, and the troque there was 15 ft lb. - probably because of the aluminum heads. The installers also warned people to use anti-seize on the bolts, because of the aluminum heads they are being tightened into.
cca05: My research on these headers brought to light a number of things about them, and all but one being VERY positive:
- The pricing seems high until you remember that these are all stainless, and INCLUDE two hi-flow cats, and a proper y-pipe, and factory type connections where needed to mate with the rest of the exhaust system
- Very good well thought out instructions.
- Easier than average install (one installer commented that it was the easiest header install he had done in 40 years)
- There were both torque and horsepower increases across the rpm spectrum on that hemi installation, and no dips anywhere.
The negative:
The horsepower increase was only about 17 hp or just a bit more than 6% on that engine's rear wheel power. (I edited these after my initial posting to correct them, as I had at first said 15 hp and 5%. Re-checked the article's data!)
However, the article noted that it was a very hot (92 degrees) and humid day. I have seen firsthand how dyno sessions on that kind of day do NOT usually let the engine perform to its normal potential, because although the dyno operator applies correction factors to compensate for the ambient conditions, in reality NO engine responds correctly to adverse ambient condtions, AND most engines will retard their timing under those conditions and load to prevent detonation. So, the dyno results were inconclusive in my book.
I need better data to convince myself that these are the way to go, but since everything else about them looks so good, I will persevere and see if I can find better data.
Jim G
