I am going to do a 99+ intake on my 97 Cherokee and I figure while I am in there I should do a performance header. Whats the best header for the money? I hear the APN header is a good one, pretty much an HD replacement manifold right?

yeah if your going to have the intake manifold off i'd take advantage of your time and put new headers on there too. i cannot say i know anything about the apn header but i went with the banks torque tubes with mine. they costed me like 440 bucks from summit racing. which is kind of a lot of money and i was under the impression that the price included the down pipe like in the picture...long story short, i love the header it looks and sounds great. if i could do it over again though i think i would go with the pacesetter performance header which is marginally less expensive and also includes a sweet down pipe that connects to the cat.

This caught my eye a while back if / when i get around to it >
eBay # 110459898890
eBay>>> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JEEP-...Q5fAccessories

HA! wonder what "part" caught your eye....

thought about that manifold as well...

i have that exact header from that exact company...VERY HD design AWESOME quality.....however it did crack but that was 100% my falt....why? because i had bad motor mounts and over time (it took 15K) it cracked....otherwise it wouldnt have failed...so IMO Motor mounts should be replaced when doing a header!!!!! very easy to do with the manifolds off. If you dont you will regret it!!!!!!!!!

i bought the rugged ridge header for my 97 , im really pleased with it and it was a fairly good price http://4wheelonline.com/jeep/Rugged_...s.50033.123299

i don't know why i spend so much money on the banks header

haha yea there pricey , i actually got mine on sale i paid like 160 shipped o and they screwed up and sent me the stainless one too lol

got hooked by the fancy ad and shiny header.....

i think i really paid 450 bucks for the "banks power" badge i have under my cherokee emblem just like you see on alot of powerstrokes and cummins. i just had to have it didn't i?

I think that Rugged Ridge header looks exactly like the APN header for $30 more. Anyone know anything else about the APN in particular?

APN is now part of Ineedparts.com
http://www.ineedparts.com/index.php?...roduct_id=1690

I had one on my stroker and loved it. Lifetime warranty and a much lower cost than the the Banks or borla model. Mine cracked and I got a replacement after shipping it back.

As with all manifolds/headers on a rig that is actually driven off road, I'd strongly recommend adding a flex joint after the down pipe to help prevent cracking.

My exhaust sound clip:

[GVIDEO]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3870295459207846118#[/GVIDEO]

add a flex joint in the down pipe just before the cat?

Right where it goes in front of the tranny.

The reason is because you bought the "Best One Made" for the XJ along with the best warranty, coating also you will have yours long after others have been long gone, rusted out, cracked/broken. Coatings are a big deal most you see on the cheap headers are just that a worthless coating in name only, a good ceramic coating costs money quite a bit anymore like from "Jet Hot" who had done all of mine.


Buy quality the first time and never look back, you made a wise decision for sure. People don't ***** and moan about poor fit, coating, warranty either do you? There's a reason and you found it out.