I am seriously considering getting a set of TRD headers for my V6 Tundra. I would like to get another brand, but apparently no one makes one that is CARB approved for the Tundra. I know that the pipe leading into the 1st cat has to be cut and a flange in the kit welded to it to allow bolt up to the header. I want to install the header myself, but I am not a welder. Obviously, if I bolt on the header, I cannot start the truck to drive it to the muffler shop for the welding.
My question is, what does the flange look like? Is it just a flat plate with a hole in the middle and two bolt holes? Or is there a cylindrical piece that slips over the cat pipe? If there is a cylindrical piece, could I temporarily pop rivet this into place on the cat pipe so that I could then drive the truck to the muffler shop to have the flange permanently welded in place?
Please respond if you have knowledge of the TRD header setup. Thanks.
Just drive it! You might be able to wrap it with a tailpipe repair kit that would reduce the leakage for the drive to the shop.
The shop might have to tack weld it in place for alignment, then remove it for complete welding. You might also see if there is a local welding shop that can TIG weld it for you. They'd likely do a better welding job.
Ken
__________________
You get what you inspect
Not what you expect.
S&S Long Tube Hi-Torque Headers
TRD/Eaton Limited Slip Differential
Gibson exhaust system
Hellwig Rear Antisway Bar
Sylvania Xenarc H.I.D. X1010 Auxiliary Low Beam Driving Lights
Schaeffer Engine Oil, ATF, Differential Oil
Racor LFS22825 full-flow transmission filter
Towing a 21' Bigfoot trailer using a Hensley Arrow hitch, Jordan brake controller, McKesh mirrors
If it's not sealed, your truck may sound like crap on it's way to the shop. Also, your CEL may come on. PM herbicidal, he had a Toyota master mechanic install his and herbicidal is located in Auburn.
The TRD headers for the V8 have the flanges that need to be welded. I do not believe that the V6 headers have a flange that needs to be welded. I think the V6 headers are a bolt on installation. I have a set for sale that is still in the sealed box from TRD. I will open it tonight and look at the headers and the install instructions. I had Muffler Tech in Sacramento install the V8 headers on my 2002 Tundra. They charged me $300 for the install versus the dealer who wanted over $1,000 to install the headers.
Rick,
Thanks for the information. I hate to have someone else install the header, I like working on my truck, but $300 is not bad. Let me know what you find out about the flange. PM me about selling the V6 header. Sounds like you are not too far from me.
I was wrong about the welding. I opened the box and looked at the instructions. There is a Y pipe that connects to two header tube sections together and then needs to be welded to the catalytic converter. This looks like less work than the V8 header install which needs to have both sides of the headers welded to the catalytic converters. I think you should be able to get it installed for less than $300. Contact Muffler Tech in Sacramento. They are located near the corner of Madison and Auburn. They do good work. I will sell the headers I have for $550 if you are interested.
Rick and all,
I had them installed today by Muffler Tech (good people to deal with). I arrived a little after 8:00 and asked if they could work me in, and because another header install appointment did not show up on time, they started my install immediately. It was a tough job. It took almost 4 hours, and the tech looked like he had been through the wars when he finished. I tipped him $10 for beer and bandages.
First impressions: The seat of the pants accelleration seems much better and there is a nice growl coming from up front. They definitely make more noise than the stock collector. There is also a noticable vibration at idle and my wife commented on it when we were stopped at a signal. There is a drone around 2000-2200 rpm if I lug the engine. None of these things are necessarily bad, they are just characteristics of the new pipes. I probably should have sent them out for ceramic coating, but I could not wait. Because it was pouring down rain on my drive home, I took it easy. I will add more impressions after I have done my daily commute for a week.
I went to Muffler Tech at Madison and Auburn Blvd. I took it back today for the header retorque. It took about 15 minutes. Good people. I'm definitely going to have them install my Spin Tech.
TRD Header install question
Linear Mode
