Headers on 3rd gens

I have been toying with the idea of putting a set of headers on my 2018 CM. I already have a stillen intake and DD 10in stainless exhaust. I was wondering if any of my fellow 3rd geners have installed them. Can you give your opinion on them? Was it worth it? Not worth it? Any noticeable gains in power? What about sound.. did it change much or at all? Thanks guys!

 

Best power per dollar for NA...does almost nothing if you're boosted...

Search bar buddy...soooooo many answers to every one of your questions

 

@dirtydeeds

 

There's few of us done it, may be we should start a thread where all the LT headers guys can give their opinion.

I have Stainless works long tube headers, mostly cause I had seen those up close and like the quality, I chose the catted version but if I was to do it again, I'd go the straight pipe considered I still had to custom fabbing.

Was it worth it? absolutely, the power is very noticeable, you can definitely feel what many have seen of minimum 30whp and 50lb ft at the wheels.

Sound: If you want to wake up your neighbors or be heard at least a mile away, run headers + whatever cats or straight pipes you got and it'll sound like devil's chariot coming down, as it was, it was so loud that it was louder than my old track car by few folds.

Issues: It's pain in the ass to install, no shop near me wanted to do it, dealership quoted me a fair number but I thought, eh, what the hell, I can do it, it turned into a 2 days event, its not difficult, just tedious.

Another issue is aftermarket cats simply won't work with newer trucks, the O2 sensor codes was none stop after probably 8 different versions of foulers, and my truck stank with the aftermarket cats, it smelled like a 60s car, it was almost unbearable in traffic not to mention you can't hear your own thoughts above 3500rpm, so I had my exhaust shop fab up custom mid pipes with factory cats and x-pipes that go into factory TRD catbacks.

The results? it sounds like like a stock AMG V8, it's actually quieter than stock and no drone, it drives beautiful when in town, but you definitely hear the V8, it's hard to describe but if Lexus made a truck with F-sport option, I'd say it'll sound similar to this.

 

Thank you exactly what I was look for. I appreciate your time.

 

What would you estimate your total cost was for this upgrade including the custom exhaust?

 

$1800 on headers + $650 for the custom mid-pipes + x-pipe, so $2450.

If I had gone with the none catted version, I'd save about $500.

edit: I bought new gaskets off this forum for $40 as well.

 

What would one be charged to have them installed?

 

Dealer quoted me $800, a shop quoted me $900, both said needs minimum of 10 book hours + any other parts they need.

In short, I think they under quoted, if I do it again (which I may on buying another Tundra), I'll only DIY if I know there's no rust and after my lift is installed, because those damn nuts are very hard to get in, if you break the studs you will have to drill them out.