PPE V8 Headers GS, LS, SC
Ok exhaust is done, ran into a couple of snag's but got it done.
So 1st major problem was that the driver's side header, wouldnt fit due to it hitting the steering shaft. This was not a issue with the S&S. So just removed it & cool where in. Then got it in & saw that the freekin O2 sensor bung was on the damn top. Which wasnt gonna work at all. So we had to drill a hole in my brand new header & weld in a new bung. This had to be a manufacturing fail, & no one caught it. Not very happy, but its done. Then the header flang was hitting the tranny dipstick tube. So got the big pry bar out & relieved its symptoms. Passenger side zero issues. These were harder to bolt down, meaning harder to get to the nut without having to use a 14 wrench manually, well at least the bottom anyway. So far I feel Ive got more bottom end torque, but wont know how much till I dyno it. Driving in 100 degree temp with the a/c kickin full blast, kinda hard to tell where she at just yet. But im happy, no more exhaust leak sound & a little quiet'r. One of the cool things that I did do. Was the flange's at the bottom of the cat are clocked for the tranny/cat bracket. Well I clocked them for easy access, to unbolt them & then just modified the tranny cat bracket to fit. I dont have any pics of that but from the 7th pic you can see that, it would be more shaped like a W now.
So 1st major problem was that the driver's side header, wouldnt fit due to it hitting the steering shaft. This was not a issue with the S&S. So just removed it & cool where in. Then got it in & saw that the freekin O2 sensor bung was on the damn top. Which wasnt gonna work at all. So we had to drill a hole in my brand new header & weld in a new bung. This had to be a manufacturing fail, & no one caught it. Not very happy, but its done. Then the header flang was hitting the tranny dipstick tube. So got the big pry bar out & relieved its symptoms. Passenger side zero issues. These were harder to bolt down, meaning harder to get to the nut without having to use a 14 wrench manually, well at least the bottom anyway. So far I feel Ive got more bottom end torque, but wont know how much till I dyno it. Driving in 100 degree temp with the a/c kickin full blast, kinda hard to tell where she at just yet. But im happy, no more exhaust leak sound & a little quiet'r. One of the cool things that I did do. Was the flange's at the bottom of the cat are clocked for the tranny/cat bracket. Well I clocked them for easy access, to unbolt them & then just modified the tranny cat bracket to fit. I dont have any pics of that but from the 7th pic you can see that, it would be more shaped like a W now.
Last edited by spdrcr771; Jul 13, 2011 at 01:18 AM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,124
Likes: 32
From: Texas
Wow, more work than expected.
Nice to have it working.
Hard to be sure but I would think the small tube tri-Y style S&S would have the edge on low end torque over the slightly larger tube PPE with the big 4-1 collector. No hard data other than what would typically be the case.
Remember that Peak torque on the 4.3 was at 3400rpm and a dynojet is not going to measure that low on a full power pull due to the trans shifting but you may get a reading from 4000 up. The way it FEELS should indicate your low end power change. Of course in the heat of the summer the power is not as high as it will be in the colder months.
Good work and congrats!
Nice to have it working.
Hard to be sure but I would think the small tube tri-Y style S&S would have the edge on low end torque over the slightly larger tube PPE with the big 4-1 collector. No hard data other than what would typically be the case.
Remember that Peak torque on the 4.3 was at 3400rpm and a dynojet is not going to measure that low on a full power pull due to the trans shifting but you may get a reading from 4000 up. The way it FEELS should indicate your low end power change. Of course in the heat of the summer the power is not as high as it will be in the colder months.
Good work and congrats!
Man guys, now that Ive got to drive the car a few days, & tonight I had to help a friend with a flat on his SC on the side of the highway. I got to play a little not in 105 temp with the A/C kickin. Wow this new exhaust is MONEY. Man ive got so much more bottom torque & hell it feels like it just pulls harder all the way to redline. Dyno will not lie, but its probably gonna be at least a month, before I can get that done. It was well worth the money & time I spent. Man if we had a 60 degree day here Id have to put it in SNOW mode just to keep the tires from braking loose at the red light lol. JK. Thanks again John.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,124
Likes: 32
From: Texas
Man guys, now that Ive got to drive the car a few days, & tonight I had to help a friend with a flat on his SC on the side of the highway. I got to play a little not in 105 temp with the A/C kickin. Wow this new exhaust is MONEY. Man ive got so much more bottom torque & hell it feels like it just pulls harder all the way to redline. Dyno will not lie, but its probably gonna be at least a month, before I can get that done. It was well worth the money & time I spent. Man if we had a 60 degree day here Id have to put it in SNOW mode just to keep the tires from braking loose at the red light lol. JK. Thanks again John.
You can now continue to spread the word about the importance to driving FUN that low end and mid range torque are and how a properly designed exhaust system can make all the difference.
You and bcsc400 have taken the needed effort that others can look towards... now, even more than before... I will probably have to figure out how to help others with the design. Especially those that hacked up their stock system mistakenly thinking it was a problem.
its still gonna be a minute....i got a few other things in front of it not to mention i still need to buy my new O2 sensors. i just re-bought my OEM header gaskets as i bought them awhile ago and seem to have lost them somewhere 
i will be lucky to....i got so many new suspension parts from FIGS to go on, my tranny cooler,remote mount,skid plate, freshly shaved/painted bumper with TTE lip all to do before hand
i will be lucky to....i got so many new suspension parts from FIGS to go on, my tranny cooler,remote mount,skid plate, freshly shaved/painted bumper with TTE lip all to do before hand
1. PPE Headers = $600
2. 2 Magnaflow High flow shorty cats = $79ea (ebay free shipping)
3. PPE Cat flanges = $40 (shipped)
4. 6 Mandrel 45's = $129 (less shipping)
5. 2 2ft pcs straight pipe @ $4.50 a ft = $18 (less shipping)
6. 3 1ft pcs straight pipe for custom Y Pipe = $14 (less shipping)
7. Fabrication of custom Y Pipe = ??? cost me ($75)
8. Top Speed Mid pipe resonator 2.5" = $50 (shipped)
9. Rear Y Pipe = $69.19 (less shipping)
http://www.mandrelbendingsolutions.c...pes/Categories
10. Total Install = ??? cost me ($300)
Approx grand total = $1453.19
I know for sure there was another $75 in shipping charges. I saved alot on building the Y pipe myself. The $75 was for the welder guy. My exhaust guy is a real good friend & he spent 6hrs fabing mine. Any other person asked him to do what I did & it would be $400-500. LOL Damn kinda scary when I put a pencil to it. Headers cost me $400, so My total cost was, $1328.19.