99+ intake manifold and header

DBenz

NAXJA Forum User
Hey guys,

I recently bought a 2000 TJ intake manifold off of ebay and was waiting to install it until i get a header. Yesterday, we got some hail and I got a bit of damage, but was figuring on using the money towards a Banks header. My question is, should I buy a header for a 97 (my Xj's year) or do I need to get a header for a 2000 4.0L, because of th eintake manifold? I don't believe it matters whether it's XJ, TJ, or ZJ, because all of those intake manifolds are interchangable, and I figured the exhaust manifold was as well. Thanks in advance.

Derek
 
get a clifford dual outlet header with the ceramic coating, I've got more faith in it than the banks, I'm personally on my 4th banks and it sounds like its cracked now too.
 
to the best of my knowledge, the part numbers should be the same for 91 on.
 
Ok, I did some searching on the dual outlet Clifford header. I see consistant replies fomr Old/Man saying that they are awesome (his word is worth more than most), and then I read posts jsut saying the guy is crazy. Form the way I read it, it sounds like they have a passion for their business, nothnig wrong with that. What I want to know is:

Why is the dual outlet bad?

It says on their site that they make thme liek this so that when you put the X or Y pipe on it, that pipe will fail, not the actual header. So you would have to replace like a $40 thing instead of a $400 thing. I would go with the Y pipe for sure, because duals look funky and serve no purpose on an XJ. It also is the cheapest header with ceramic coating (plus $75 or $100 can't rmember) on the market, and I'd like it to last, not look like the stock manifold in 6 months. Opinions? Thoughts? Suggestions? Please no more "These guys are crazy", I've already read that.....in every single clifford header thread.....
 
DBenz said:
Ok, I did some searching on the dual outlet Clifford header. I see consistant replies fomr Old/Man saying that they are awesome (his word is worth more than most), and then I read posts jsut saying the guy is crazy. Form the way I read it, it sounds like they have a passion for their business, nothnig wrong with that. What I want to know is:

Why is the dual outlet bad?

It says on their site that they make thme liek this so that when you put the X or Y pipe on it, that pipe will fail, not the actual header. So you would have to replace like a $40 thing instead of a $400 thing. I would go with the Y pipe for sure, because duals look funky and serve no purpose on an XJ. It also is the cheapest header with ceramic coating (plus $75 or $100 can't rmember) on the market, and I'd like it to last, not look like the stock manifold in 6 months. Opinions? Thoughts? Suggestions? Please no more "These guys are crazy", I've already read that.....in every single clifford header thread.....

Yeah, I've read every header thread I can find too, here is what I've come up with. The Clifford meets the specs I want the best- it has the longest primaries (better for torque), ceramic coated and what appears to be good construction. The downside is you have to buy that stupid Y-pipe or run dual exhaust. I'd but the Y-pipe.

The only other header I have found that I like (again, I like torque and overall performance gains) is the Mike Leach header, but it's a distant second imo.

Borlas and Banks seem to have popular headers but I don't see them being tuned for a performance application like the Clifford and Leach, so I'm not going to plunk good money and time on a header that won't give me as much as another of the same cost. I'm still running stock now, the header will go on this summer when I put the new head on, I'll replace as much at once as I can while I have it all torn apart, I'm doing a polished-ported head, milled to get 9.25:1 and a header all at once. I've done the intake, cat and muffler already.
 
Hooker actually stated making one (you can get it ceramic coated from them too) that's actaully an equal length header, which is I believe the only equal length out there for the 4.0.
 
On the Clifford header. You would have to put flanges on the Y-pipe, correct? It would take a bit of fabrication (or money to a muffler shop), but I think it'd be worth it over other headers. Too many people have said that their Banks have crakced, and I think it'd be nice to get some nice performance gains as well as a coating that lasts if I'm going to drop money on a header. Hopefully others chime in also...

As for the Hooker Header, do you have a link? Price?
 
DBenz said:
Hey guys,

I recently bought a 2000 TJ intake manifold off of ebay and was waiting to install it until i get a header. Yesterday, we got some hail and I got a bit of damage, but was figuring on using the money towards a Banks header. My question is, should I buy a header for a 97 (my Xj's year) or do I need to get a header for a 2000 4.0L, because of th eintake manifold? I don't believe it matters whether it's XJ, TJ, or ZJ, because all of those intake manifolds are interchangable, and I figured the exhaust manifold was as well. Thanks in advance.

Derek

The intake manifold shouldn't have any bearing on what header you need. The HEAD will dictate which header is appropriate. From what I can tell you need a header for an H.O. engine, ie, 91+

Matthew
 
I was just double checking on the header. I've heard of people having to grind on their banks somewhat for it to fit. Plus, if I remember correctly, msot headers are for 91-99 and then the 00-01 are different? It may be 91-01 o some companies (like clifford), not sure....

I still need to hear the negatives of using a dual output header. Please chime in. This thread is labeled wrong, but I suppose it's just more in depth.
 
I don't know that there is a negative for the dual output, thats what the 00-++ are running from the factory, but they have a two piece flange too. the front three cyllindars to one on one flange the back three into one on the second flange, then they have a y pipe if you will.
 
I think the Clifford is available in a single outlet also. The Ceramic coating is very reasonable at a additional $75-100. The downside to Cliffords is they don't come with a down or crossover pipe. One will ahve to be made. Not a big problem.
Tom
 
75SV1 said:
I think the Clifford is available in a single outlet also. The Ceramic coating is very reasonable at a additional $75-100. The downside to Cliffords is they don't come with a down or crossover pipe. One will ahve to be made. Not a big problem.
Tom

I don't know of any crossovers for the XJ being mass-produced. Wranglers are all over the place, but not the Cherokee.

I wouldn't worry too much about the dual outlet, they sell a Y-pipe to get it down to one and you gotta weld up a downpipe anyway, just do it all at once and takeit for a ride.
 
There is someone on E-Bay who use to sell a complete setup for the Clifford single outlet. Artssounds out of Miami.
Tom
 
the guys at clifford told me to go with the dual outlet over the single, they said the single would crack.
 
That's what I've been reading, is that the singles will crack over time, because of the stree on them, but if you do the dual outlet with an x or y pipe, thne that pipe will fail instead of the header. Sounds reasonable to me....?
 
The dual outlet is a good idea...the ceramic coating is a great idea...if it doesn't get scratched up, it will last for life. I have a Clifford on my Heep and it works well....and it fit well....

As an aside...for those who may have read some of my comments about Clifford in the past...they still stand....nothing wrong with the stuff I got from them...ONCE I GOT THE CORRECT STUFF....EVENTUALLY...we are talking 6 months and a pile of phone calls because their sales staff couldn't find their collective arses with both hands...they got my money...and i had to fight to get my parts....this is not bashing, this is plain fact. Jack Clifford must still be spinning in his grave.
 
I'll be setting money aside to pick up one of these and redo my exhaust system. thanks for th einput guys, it's nice to see positive feedback, as well as a bit of the other side without saying someone is crazy on the phone. I appreciate it.
 
When I bought my Clifford header, they only had the daul exhuast one available. It didn't matter to me then as I planned to run my exhaust down the drivers side. I've since reconsdiers doing this. I hadn't heard about the singles cracking. They did send my lifters I hadn't ordered and some extra exhaust gaskets. They were meant for the guy who ordered my header. I sent them to him. I think the lifters were for a straight 6 Ford. I think the reason they sent them to me is I had talked to them about a windage tray for the 4.0L and wondered if the windage tray from the Ford motor would work. Kind of wierd. Hopefully, I'll get to work on my Jeep this weekend. I spent some time underneathe it last night. I'm still trying to figure out the mounting of the tranny mount for a NV3550. I'm thinking of unbolting the inter-brackets for the tranny cross mount and switching sides. OK a bit off topic. Hope the header situation works out for you. Also, figure on a hiflow muffler. They usually help the header perform better. I have a Magnaflow upstairs waiting.
Tom
 
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