Ive got a 2000 XJ that I am replacing the 0331 head on, and if I am going to go with a new exhaust manifold, now is the time...
Anyone with a 00-01 running this?

 

Yes, I'm running a set of Banks Torque Tubes on my stroker. If you're running them on a stock motor, you won't see a whole lot in actual performance gains, but they sound amazing and can add a lot to the seat-of-the-pants feel of the Jeep. They are an unequal length header with a combination of short and longer tubes, which gives it more of a rumble than equal or close to equal length tubes. It does a lot to remedy the "lawn mower" sound the 4.0L sometimes gets. Unequal length headers are supposed to improve torque (but again, doubtful it actually does it on a stock motor). You'll probably want to upgrade your exhaust as well to get the most out of it.

And before anybody says it, sound is important, even when the mod doesn't actually add any power. There's more to the enjoyment of a vehicle than 0-60 times. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a mod that adds to the visceral aspect of the driving experience.

 

right on. thanks for your response extrashaky.
Someday this will be a stroker. Might as well have some of the parts ready to go ahead of time.

Do you find it necessary to have them ceramic coated?
I have heard a stainless steel header will rot out?

 

If you want a good header that won't crack and fit good its worth the money.

 

We get a Lot of compliments about how or 98 sounds w/Banks and 2.5" pipes
Pretty much everyone really likes it, She say's it's noisy -Why is it so loud....

 

Thanks guys, I am probably going to go for it.
Gotta talk myself into spending the money now...
Summit has them on sale for $438.24 right now.

 

It's not necessary, but I had my header and downpipe coated at Swain (I have the EPA version without the catalytic converters in the downpipe). I did it for two reasons: 1) to hold the heat in the header to make it as "live" as possible and 2) to help with under hood heat. I can't prove it's really accomplishing either goal, but I do know I haven't had any issues at all with heat soak since the stroker swap when this header went in. Could be the coating; could be the higher flow injectors for the stroker.

Swain does a fantastic job but is quite expensive. Jet-Hot is good and not as hard on the wallet, although it's not as thick a coating as Swain.

A good stainless header will last a while without being coated, and Banks is a good header. The ones that are more likely to rust or crack are the cheap Ebay headers that use a cheaper grade of steel.

Additionally, if you wrap them in heat wrap, you're asking for trouble, since the wrap can cause uneven heating and cooling and can trap moisture from condensation right up against the header. So either coat it or don't, but stay away from heat wrap.

 

Looks like $376.28 plus $5 shipping here:

http://jdautoandtruck.com/banks-torq...-0l-51306.html

 

Coating the header is a good idea as it prolongs the life of the header and reduces heat under the hood. I have coating my race car headers since the 90's.


I first started seeing it at the race tracks Drag Strips where I was racing and NASCAR races knew they had to be onto something. At that time I was paying 6-$800 a set for Hooker Super Comps then wrapping them but that caused rust also.


When I went to a few of the Pro Stock drivers crew chiefs that knew what was going on they all told me to use Jet Hot Coatings and if you looked close you would see their stickers on the cars. I did my complete 3 1/2" Dr. Gas X-Pipe system that NASCAR was using.


They are a bit higher in cost than most but worth the money to me in performance (Heat! keeping it inside the header) and prolonged life of system.

 

I have not saw any of their products or stickers on any race cars. BTW it's not always the thickness of a product like this that gauges performance. It is by the way it reduces the heat and how much it takes to do the job.


I would like to see some of their work though.

 

That doesn't surprise me, although I know a lot of the guys racing Subarus and BMWs are using Swain. They are quite expensive, and a lot of people are not willing to spend the extra money when Jet Hot is "good enough."

There's also an aesthetic factor. It only comes in gray, and the color is kind of ugly. That shouldn't be a factor in a race car, but it definitely is a factor on street rods. Since a lot of guys who race also build street rods, they probably use a pretty coating on both.

Subie people don't care, since you can't see their headers anyway.

Theoretically the thickness of their exhaust coating insulates better than the thinner coatings. It's also a molten ceramic process that is supposed to be good to 15,000° F, rather than 2000° paint. Swain bead blasts the work pieces to ensure that the coating adheres properly, and it's supposed to resist damage better than Jet Hot.

Jet Hot would have been good enough for my purposes, but I had the money and decided to step up a level.

There are lots of pics on line. I wish I had taken some pics of mine before they went on the XJ. My brother has used Jet Hot on his Chevelle and Corvette, and in person you can visually see the difference in the surface material. Jet hot looks like paint, whereas Swain makes it look like the whole piece is made of ceramic.

 

You saved me $80 with that link.
I owe you a beer, or two.

 

Glad to have helped. I just did the exhaust on my '00. CA Emissions. Was getting a P0432. Did from the dual mini cats back. Needed a new tailpipe and muffler anyway. Was wondering how nuts to go. Was considering the Banks and a Borla muffler and tailpipe. So I have been looking at the pricing for those things for a bit now. Kinda of one of those well while I am here things. But could not justify the cost for a DD with a stock motor. Believe me I tried to talk myself into it. Went with stock Walker parts. Bought a new intermediate pipe and rear cat too. Said screw it. I did paint everything with POR 15 High Temp Paint. See how that works out in the long run. I even did the inside of the tailpipe.

 

What would be the benefit of painting exhaust pipes? Other than looking great for a while.

 

Another thing to do while you are in there is replace your motor and trans mounts. I think a lot of the cracked exhaust manifolds happen because of worn out motor mounts.

BTW...Go Chiefs!