[cribbj]

The Chinese headers for the popular Japanese V8's such as the Tundra have finally found their place in the market, and the price has leveled out to around $150-$250 per set. Here's a typical set: m2 Exhaust Header 2000-2004 Toyota Tundra Sequoia 4.7L | eBay for $145, and that's including shipping, mounting hardware and gaskets!

These things are certainly not worth $1000, or even half that, but they're great headers for a $100 or two if you know their shortcomings up front and don't mind changing them every couple of years.

The 355 headers are obviously a much more complicated design, so they'll cost more to build, plus there probably aren't thousands of owners buying headers, like there are Tundra owners, so the economies of scale aren't favorable. Still, it's probably an OK product for $1000 or so, but surely not 3x or 5x that.

[wetpet]

do i see someones profit margins slipping?

[Monroe]

I have hed my F355 for about 6 months.
How do I know when the headers are about to fail?

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by Monroe

I have hed my F355 for about 6 months.
How do I know when the headers are about to fail?

Check engine light might come on, sometimes you can also hear a change in the exhaust note.

At this age though, they likely have been replaced. I would check to see if they are OEM (in which case they will likely fail again) or upgraded 3rd party.

[StefVan]

Originally Posted by Monroe

I have hed my F355 for about 6 months.
How do I know when the headers are about to fail?

Another way to check is at cold start. If you smell in the engine bay a strong smell of uncatalized enriched exhaust gases, you can be sure to have a major manifold leak. If such thing happens, don't start the engine any more and get it checked.

If you're not sure if your headers got upgraded, keep on eye on them (or rather an ear/nose ). Some years ago, I destroyed my F355 engine with failing headers and cats...

[m5guy]

Originally Posted by Monroe

I have hed my F355 for about 6 months.
How do I know when the headers are about to fail?

Trying to catch them right before they fail is tough work since the heat shield hides visual evidence of the impending tube blowout. You might look for shiny spots (hot spot) on the top of the shield indicating that the tube is bulging enough to touch the shield. But that might not be the impending location of a failure.

Alternately you could really put a lot of effort into the project and remove the exhaust system aft of the headers and try to find a video boroscope available to rent with a long enough probe on the end. Shove the probe through the collector and as far up each tube as you can.

[355]

Originally Posted by m5guy

Trying to catch them right before they fail is tough work since the heat shield hides visual evidence of the impending tube blowout. You might look for shiny spots (hot spot) on the top of the shield indicating that the tube is bulging enough to touch the shield. But that might not be the impending location of a failure.

Alternately you could really put a lot of effort into the project and remove the exhaust system aft of the headers and try to find a video boroscope available to rent with a long enough probe on the end. Shove the probe through the collector and as far up each tube as you can.

A good way to see if your headers are leaking is you will see the white insulation blowing out at some of the heatsheild openings. If you are not sure, just rub engine oil on your oil filter. Over time if your headers are leaking, you will find the fibers sticking to your oil filter.

[gothspeed]

Originally Posted by 355

A good way to see if your headers are leaking is you will see the white insulation blowing out at some of the heatsheild openings. If you are not sure, just rub engine oil on your oil filter. Over time if your headers are leaking, you will find the fibers sticking to your oil filter.

This is a very good method!! I have just replaced my headers recently and the random/intermittent CEL I was chasing for a while is now gone.

[3hi5]

What damage can be caused to the engine if headers fail? Is it possible the failing exhaust material end up going into the engine?

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by 3hi5

What damage can be caused to the engine if headers fail? Is it possible the failing exhaust material end up going into the engine?

It has been known to happen and it gets very ugly fast.

[StefVan]

On the 355, with a leaking exhaust manifold, you'll end up with burned exhaust valves. I've been through this very costly experience, required a complete engine head rebuild.

[bikz]

brilliant thread....guys the premature wear on the valve guides.....is this also a result from the manifold issue or its an issue all by itself?

[StefVan]

I think that was not related to the exhaust header issues but to the copper valve guides used on the first 355 versions

[bikz]

oh ok........how severe is that? because I'm looking at a 96 model....its easier to see if a manifold is going bonkers...but not the valve guides right

[a1exander]

A compression test will determine if valves are failling or have failled.

[bikz]

Originally Posted by a1exander

A compression test will determine if valves are failling or have failled.

thanks......

[Markp]

Just a few thoughts on these exhaust headers, it's clear that the failure is caused by two different things.

1. potentially excessive egt temps.
2. extreme differences in temperature coupled with the number of heat cycles.

I think one way to prolong the life of the factory headers is to throw a set of test pipes on the vehicle, but that poses it's own set of problems. Still it will drop EGT's considerably which will undoubtedly prolong the life of the factory header.

[NelsonPK]

My F355 Challenge also cracked the RH exhaust header (manifold), after much research from here in New Zealand, I bought a set of the wonderful Fabspeed headers, I am very pleased with them, they came with heat shields and a fitting kit, and they look good enough to marry!
However I see there are strange comments on this forum regarding them being made in China/Taiwan, it is true that the well made "lost wax" cast stainless flanges that are used come from the orient, the rest is made in the USA! Why wait for Tubi's or use trouble prone originals when these Fabspeed ones are available, at US$3000 a pair are affordable, and produce more power?
Just doing my bit to rid the world of it's excess hydrocarbon deposits

[Markp]

Originally Posted by NelsonPK

My F355 Challenge also cracked the RH exhaust header (manifold), after much research from here in New Zealand, I bought a set of the wonderful Fabspeed headers, I am very pleased with them, they came with heat shields and a fitting kit, and they look good enough to marry!
However I see there are strange comments on this forum regarding them being made in China/Taiwan, it is true that the well made "lost wax" cast stainless flanges that are used come from the orient, the rest is made in the USA! Why wait for Tubi's or use trouble prone originals when these Fabspeed ones are available, at US$3000 a pair are affordable, and produce more power?
Just doing my bit to rid the world of it's excess hydrocarbon deposits

Investment cast stainless from China or not, the fabspeed headers look very nicely made. I think their header is the best compromise between price and performance on the market from what I have seen.

You can buy a better header, but it will cost more and you can find something cheaper, but it is not as well made.

I think you made the right choice.

[StefVan]

Originally Posted by NelsonPK

Just doing my bit to rid the world of it's excess hydrocarbon deposits

Well you didn't because your so-said Fabspeed headers were produced 100% by Jim Technologies in Taiwan, shipped to Fabspeed in the USA (at 700USD), and shipped to you in NZ (at 3000USD)...That's a lot of shipping...

I hope you'll still be happy with these headers in 50.000km