So I just bought a 2000 Jeep Cherokee and 1st on the list of mods, which is always first IMO, is EXHAUST! I just love hearing the beautiful symphony of a finely tuned engine and a good throaty exhaust. So Im starting with headers and as Ive been looking it seems that there is some sort of a difference between headers for '99 and older and the headers for a '00 & '01, am I correct?

Im interested in the Rusty's Flow Daddy's and aside from the obvious difference in design, for personal knowledge and education, Im just wondering whats the difference between what I thought was the same motor in the '99 and the '00?

Thanks!

 

Same engine, different heads.

The exhaust exits are slightly smaller on the 0331 head than on the 0630 head (break 1999/2000 on the XJ.)

Also, the 2000-2001 XJ 6-242 exhaust manifold has "pre-cats" - small catalytic converters that each service three cylinders before the main catalytic converter (wretched EPA...) This thing is not cheap to replace!

FYI - BOLO for joining the "0331 Club" - the 1999-2001 0331 heads are prone to cracking ~130-180kmiles, top surface, between #3 and #4 cylinders (visible from the oil filler cap.) A direct replacement will be the 2002-2006 0331 head with the TUPY foundry mark cast into the top surface - the Brazilian foundry did a better job with the casting than the one they were using previously.

 

The stock tubular exhaust manifold ain't too shabby (unless it's cracked).....it's that cork up the rear muffler that needs to go 1st.