headers for a 6.2

[Dvldog8793]

Howdy
I am going to put headers on my k5 6.2. Question is: How much time does it take to remove the manifolds? I have a friend that is a local wrench and he looked it up, 3.1 hrs per side!!! I looked at it and it seemed fairly simple, there must be something that I am missing....or maybe the all-data listing is including service center mandatory breaks....;-)
Thanks in advance!

[DmaxMaverick]

It must be combined with some other repair, or it's just wrong. It's no more difficult than it looks. Maybe they're counting on every bolt to seize and strip? Even then, it might take that long.

[AKMark]

If it has A/C it can be a real pain, otherwise it's pretty easy.

[joeq]

I've never heard of anyone putting hedders on a 6.2. Is it worth doing?

[Dvldog8793]

I have no plans of puting a turbo on this truck...so I am doing everything possible to make it run as good as it can NA. Includes- 4911 pump, injectors, open plane intake with big air cleaner fresh air system(copy of Dr. Lee), and then headers and open exhuast. I am thinking it should run pretty good.

[06SILVERADO]

I would check to see if the headers could take the EGT's from the motor, I would not suggest buying used ones at any cost. I had a set of Doug Thorley Tri-Y's on my 82 gasser work truck for 18 years no problem. When the motor went I did not replace the headers and they cracked. They had a long life never had a problem with them.

I jacked the front end as high as I could took about three hours. Doug Thorley recommended putting copper gasket sealer on both sides of the gaskets and let it dry then install. Never had to replace the gasket in those 18 years

[Dvldog8793]

The headers were made by Stan at "Headers by Stan", he made the same recommendations and also said that he has never had an issue with any of his headers and EGT's....but he is the saleman. The ones I got are industial chromed and I am going to ceramic coat them. We will see how they work. I will post some pics when I get it done.

[06SILVERADO]

My first set were industrial chrome and no flaking in the 18 years, the second set (2007) were also a Tri-Y with industrial chrome and I had the insides coated some call it jet hot coating, I believe it is some sort of ceramic coating. No issues yet just keep tightening the bolts every month or tie wire them like the race cars, lot of work to do that and wish I would have. You can buy pre-drilled bolts if you search for them.

Stans sounds familiar, Doug Thorley had parted ways with his partner around the time I had purchased my second set.

[Edahall]

I've got a set of these Stan's headers on my 82 Suburban. I've had them since 1996 and they've been trouble free. It's a good product and worth every penny if you plan on keeping the vehicle. With the price of diesel these days, you'll eventually pay cost of the these header in fuel savings.

[joeq]

Are the stock manifolds that restrictive? I was under the impression hedders benefited an eng. in the upper RPM range, which most 6.2s don't operate. My truck was originally a true dual exhaust truck, but I converted it to single, due to the PTO for my Holmes 440 winch, needed the clearance. And never in my life have I gone from 2 to 1. But it didn't bother me cause I didn't think it would hurt performance. So has anyone actually recorded an increase with hedders? Are we talking 1 mpg, 3, 5? I'm sure it depends on many variables.

[Edahall]

Are the stock manifolds that restrictive? I was under the impression hedders benefited an eng. in the upper RPM range, which most 6.2s don't operate. My truck was originally a true dual exhaust truck, but I converted it to single, due to the PTO for my Holmes 440 winch, needed the clearance. And never in my life have I gone from 2 to 1. But it didn't bother me cause I didn't think it would hurt performance.

To get the full benefits of headers, you'll also want a free flowing exhaust. The less exhaust restriction, the more power. To answer your question, I got a very noticeable bump in power especially in the lower rpm range after installing headers. It did help the upper RPM range some but not as much as if I had installed the Banks Turbo. I have driven vehicles with both setups. With headers, it feels like it has more power off the line but doesn't have quite as much high rpm power as if it were turbo'd.

[joeq]

Good to know. In my case, the truck has 4.10s in the back, so pulling from a start isn't too much of a problem. Acceleration is nothing to write home about, and the truck is a serious dog pulling at hi-way speeds. I need to get a tach, to see where the RPMs are, but I'm sure it's high. At the same time, at 55-60, I'm looking for the OD.

[sybloc]

Edahall do you have any datapoints for actual mpg increase from the headers and exhaust alone?

Are you using a cross-over pipe somewhere?

Thanks in advance!

[Dvldog8793]

Howdy
I put the stan's headers on my truck. I also installed OPEN 3" pipes out the side, an open plenum intake, a double size air cleaner with a ram air and gave the pump 1/8 of a turn. This gave me a NOTICEABLE seat of the pants increase in low end go. Top end not so much, I don't know about the mileage because my driving habits in that truck don't give reliable mileage results....:D

As a comparison....my neighbor has a M1028 with a banks and my son has a 84 C30 dually with an ATS. Both of those trucks are like night and day compared to my N/A 6.2. If you have the money then the turbo set up is by far the best thing you can do for the 6.2
....but I am happy with both my N/A 6.2s....they do what they were designed for fantastically. Especially my van....26-28 MPG in a full size van.

[Edahall]

Edahall do you have any datapoints for actual mpg increase from the headers and exhaust alone?

Are you using a cross-over pipe somewhere?

Thanks in advance!

I made a bunch of upgrades at the same time including timing gear, J code intake, head porting, etc. They all probably helped with fuel economy and power. Power was enough to maintain 65mph up the long 6% CA Grapevine pass in direct drive, 3.08 axles which tached around 2000 rpm's,

My cross-over pipe is before the mufflers.

[joeq]

I've heard of turbos on the N/A 6.2s, but don't see how they could be reliable. I blew almost 5 head gaskets in 5 yrs, pulling excessive loads with my truck, and with the compression at way over 400lbs per cylinder, don't see how I could keep gaskets on a turbo-ed 6.2. I'm pretty sure the 6.5s have lower ratios for the turbo.

[Dvldog8793]

Headgaskets should be upgraded to the newer more reliable ones...Head bolts MUST be replaced EVERYTIME. felpro is the best gaskets, I think. Also a head stud kit is nice. My neighbor with the banks has pulled some heavy loads and my sons truck was a horse trailer rig for several years. No head gasket issue with either.

[MajMike]

I've heard of turbos on the N/A 6.2s, but don't see how they could be reliable. I blew almost 5 head gaskets in 5 yrs, pulling excessive loads with my truck, and with the compression at way over 400lbs per cylinder, don't see how I could keep gaskets on a turbo-ed 6.2. I'm pretty sure the 6.5s have lower ratios for the turbo.


The Banks turbo for the 6.2 was actually available as a dealer installed option, and when GM went to a turbo it was that design they used. It only increases the pressure about 10-14 psi, and with good gaskets it shouldn't be problem, I've heard of folks having them for well over 100,000k without a problem. (all info from TDP books, I highly recommend them).

[TrenchFoot]

While I'm going to use a Banks turbo on my Jeep, Stan's Headers is going to build the exhaust. I toured the shop with Stan as my guide and I can tell you it was an incredible place and he's a heckuva character. Talk about craftsmanship. Their custom work and in-stock replacements looked amazing. I didn't look at 6.2 headers but they have a bin with dozens of 6.5 crossovers onhand.

I couldn't tell you what the performance difference is between headers or a turbo (I still haven't fired the engine yet). But I can tell you that anything that comes out of Stan's shop is gonna be top notch stuff.