I'm looking to get a performance header to make my xj (already has magnaflow cat-back exhaust) even louder. I've read only good reviews from both gibson and banks, but upon doing my research on this site, concluded both are quiet. maybe different models are quieter, and its just coincidence i only read about those?
any advice and opinions are appreciated

 

why not just a glass pack instead? Plenty loud.

 

Seeing as cherokees already come with a "header", you won't see much of a sound gain!
I know when switching from cast manifold to headers, you get a sound change..even if its shorties. You get a deeper sound out of them. Which is probably what you mean...But we got headers from the factory, not cast manifolds! Anyway look into a APN, its a good strong header, runs about 150, worth a few ponies..but not much of a sound change like your after.

 

Have you upgraded your pipe size when you put in that cat back? bigger pipes make more sound too.

 

Im still in the learning process (have been since I got the jeep in december) so is 2.25" bigger than stock? I am aware that I probably should have gone with 2.5 or 3"

 

Thanks, I'll look into an apn. Since my manifold has a small crack I figured it was time to upgrade

 

For the record, 2000 and newer 4.0's had cast manifolds. But for your 99 XJ, a tuned header may be what you're looking for if you can even find one for a 99. The stock headers are not tuned, they're only slightly better than a cast manifold, but still perform pretty good for what they are. The catalytic converters on your 99 will kill the sound quite a bit, so it's gonna be hard to get the deep throaty sound you're looking for.

 

My cat-back exhaust has a nice deep tone with the high-flow converter, and I'm mostly just looking to get a bit more noise from the header (cause its right under the hood).

 

i have a 96 xj and i just went with a cheap header seeing as its only my beater anyways, i went with a header because my stock header had large cracks in it, as you say yours does, and i love the tone of the header, its not much louder but its deeper by a lot, didnt notice much in the way of power gains, maybe minimal, but no more exhasut leaks under the hood

 

What kind of header?

 

Loud does not make power.

 

it was just a cheep one off ebay, i had to trim up a little on the intake manifold to make it fit but it wasnt too hard, just took a file to it, it cost me about 130 with shipping, just a stainless one that was polished, didnt need or want anything too expensive.

 

True. I would just prefer loudness over power on this one particular part

 

 

I went with an APN header for $150 it's supposed to be a banks knockoff. No complaints and sounds good.