American Racing Header Install and Review

I wonder how much power you lose by only getting the headers and not using their catback? I would love to buy the headers but an additional $1800 for the catback is crazy. Does anyone know how efficient the TRD PRO exhaust is?

 

Great write up man!

Are you in Houston? Wanna install my headers?? I'll pay offcourse.

 

Yeah I am in Houston. Which headers do you have? Honestly, i did not even want to install the ARH's after going through the JBA install just months prior. But after I got an $1100 quote for the install, it became a more attractive option to do it myself.

 

Exactly, the $900 to $1100 install prices I was getting kinda just turned me off on the headers.
I have yet to get the JBA or ARH.

 

This gives me allot to think about since LT headers and catback are my next upgrade.

 

Yes... I want to know how much power is gained with their Direct Connect LTs exiting through the factory exhaust.

 

Probably really good but you might lose some torque down low.

 

Truck goes to the shop tomorrow. I wanted the system w/o cats and got cats. Depending on what Nick says, I may just go ahead and install it as is. Don’t want to wait another 2 weeks for a replacement

 

ARH did not make a jig for the shorter mids, so buyers will have to get the mid pipes shortened.

 

How much are they going to charge you for the install.

 

Where are you getting this info from? They used my truck to make a jig for the shorter mid pipe. You cant just shorten the midpipe anyway. It would end up a hack job if you did.

 

The folks at DAP contacted ARH to confirm that they had made the jig, the answer was NO.

I am going to either save up for a SC, come up with a cat-back that works for me or leave it as is, and I am leaning towards leaving it as is now.

 

Weird, that is not what they told me. Not sure why they would go through all that trouble and not make the fixture for it. Regardless, you arent just going to shorten this and have it look like anything you would be happy with at this price point.

 

The honeymoon over on this install ? Curious how you like the difference if any over JBA and more so over stock for us folks

 

10/10 if I had to do over I’d pick the ARH’s every day. To be fair, the mids on the ARH make a ton of difference over the stock mids and JBA’s. I suppose a more apples to apples comparison would be the JBA’s with custom 3” midpipes. But then you are getting pretty close to the cost of the ARH. I still have not been tuned, but that is coming. Whenever I removed the O2 sims from the JBA’s the CEL came on for catalyst efficiency, so you’ll either need sims or tune it out.

 

Awesome thank you for the feedback, especially around the CEL. Curious if SIM install would cure that. I'm still planning to pickup a set of these in 1 3/4 just because the quality looks great and install sounds a tad smoother since I'll be doing my own wrenching. ARH make nice products even if Nick's marketing takes them down a notch...

 

Sorry, to be more clear i did have the O2 sims installed already when i installed the ARH. I removed them when i was planning on getting tuned and the light came on.
Just out of curiosity, what about Nick's marketing takes it down for you? I did have some (likely) similar sentiments, but he did come through everytime i needed something addressed.

 

his lame video and lack of dyno charts is a huge negative for me. Although I havent made up my mind yet

 

What he said ∆

That's why I directed it towards marketing only. They are a few efforts away from really standing out in this niche market for our trucks.

 

I had an issue with the sensors reaching the upstream bungs and Nick's people overnighted extensions. He also overnighted catless pieces to replace the cats he sent since I didn't want any cats. CEL popped not long after the install and I got a hold of him - he personally called me right before he was to go on vacation. Told me he left instructions to make everything right on their end. I ended up replacing the sensor with a Bosch which was a bad idea and ultimately put a Denso in which cured the problem. Nick is A++ in my book.

 

Did you remove driveshaft when you install header on driver side?

 

I know I'm a few years late here but just read every word here while trying to decide on headers.

Anyone know if these are now a direct bolt on with a catback system other than their own? I reached out to ARH directly as well, but figured I'd check in with y'all here.

 

Yes they are made to bolt onto our stock exhaust catback. Since your RCSB you would want the TRD mid pipe option. This thread outlines the orgin of that for proceeding customers. When I received my kit they sent the wrong mid pipe for 2009+ and promptly provided the TRD mid pipe which was perfect for my 2008 RCSB.

 

Gotcha. Glad I asked cause I definitely wouldn't have chosen TRD otherwise.

 

Just in case you want a visual on the difference- https://www.tundras.com/threads/just-another-arh-lt-review-pic-heavy.72677/