Headers TBP's vs DUFFY

[Grasshopper]

Hello, I am looking at headers from TBP's or Duffs. There is a big price difference for the polished ceramic? Anyone have any thoughts?

279 from TBP's
399 from Duffs

 

[Timmy390]

If you think you might ever run P heads, I would go with Bronco Hut.

Tim

 

[SteveL]

I have the duffy long tube and they fit well. If you want em coated buy the plain black ones and send em to jet hot or something. I sprung for the coated ones and it was flaking off within a month.

 

[Builtnotbought0]

Which hedders can be used for start up and break in?

 

[DirtDonk]

You "can" use coated headers for break-in duties, but you need to make sure your tuning is correct right off the bat and don't run the 2500 rpm with the jetting too far off OR the ignition timing too retarded.
Retarded timing will overheat an exhaust primary tube like nobody's business!

In a pinch too, you can run the high-rpm break-in session in short segments. Run it up for five or ten minutes, stop and let things cool down, then do it all over again. I've done that many times for multiple reasons and have never had any trouble with the ceramic coatings. Or the cam!;D
Granted, it's not really recommended by most people to use your nice coated headers during the break-in. But it can be done.
At the very least you can get the discoloration at the ports. But you can get that just driving them too.
Some of the discoloration that's on the surface can be cleaned off as well, by using aluminum polish compound. It's probably a bit awkward on most head pipes, but a polish can make an old tired set look new-ish again.

And if a coated header is peeling and flaking that soon, unless it was from a break-in problem, the manufacturer will usually have some kind of guarantee. I would hope anyway. Even Jet-Hot only guarantees some of it's issues, but will usually give you the benefit of the doubt one time.
Not sure how often they will cover a set for their lifetime, or if they have any more riders than they used to. I haven't read their official warranty description in a long time, but it's been a pretty good one if I remember.
You pay more up front, but they're pretty confident in the product.

Paul

 

[Cortez]

Not to hijack but curious if anyone has run the Scott Drake long tube ceramic headers $340 at Summit?

 

[c0astie31]

I have the Drake off road headers and they fit great on my 351w. I also have the duff dual exhaust and made it work love the sound
I have Flowmaster 40’s on mine

 

[Cortez]

Thanks Coastie31 - I have the 351 and was wondering if they fit....sounds like you made it work.

 

[Monster Mike]

Thanks Coastie31 - I have the 351 and was wondering if they fit....sounds like you made it work.

We are working on a 2-1 exhaust kit using the drake stainless shorties on a 351W and they will fit but the PS #3 primary tube makes contact with the inner fender.

They designed them for just the 289/302. That's why the ps hits the fender. Other than that they fit good everywhere else.

We will be sending out 5 of these complete header/exhaust kits to customers with different trans and t case combinations to get feed back on fitment before we launch into mass production. We're pretty confident none of our exhaust kits will work with NV3550 transmission crossmember without modification.

 

[Monster Mike]

I have the duffy long tube and they fit well. If you want em coated buy the plain black ones and send em to jet hot or something. I sprung for the coated ones and it was flaking off within a month.

When did you purchase them? I can look into this for you if it hasn't been brought to our attention yet.

 

[Cortez]

We are working on a 2-1 exhaust kit using the drake stainless shorties on a 351W and they will fit but the PS #3 primary tube makes contact with the inner fender.

They designed them for just the 289/302. That's why the ps hits the fender. Other than that they fit good everywhere else.

We will be sending out 5 of these complete header/exhaust kits to customers with different trans and t case combinations to get feed back on fitment before we launch into mass production. We're pretty confident none of our exhaust kits will work with NV3550 transmission crossmember without modification.

Music to my ears - I really want a 2 into 1 exhaust. I have NP435, 351w and d20. Happy to participate if you need that combo

 

[bronconut73]

Wow a Duff 2 into 1 exhaust.

Virginia there "is" a Santa Claus

 

[Tiko433]

Nice Mike keep up y’all good work .... I could have used a test 2-1 a year back. ... I’m running a BH 2-1 with there Sanderson headers , fit great on P heads . Fits good with my C4 and also with my AX-15. Love the 2-1 system , long highway drive not bad and around town sounds good

 

[Monster Mike]

To answer the OP's original question as best as I can, the one major difference I noticed when I saw TPB's headers up close is they are either polished stainless or nickel plated. Duffs are ceramic coated mild steel. Ceramic coating does a very nice job of moving the heat out and away from the engine bay and there is a noticeable difference on the floor boards. With that being said, I can't say Tom's will or will not perform any different than duff's.

Some other facts about Duff's that I do not know is the same or not about TBP.
-Duff's headers are hand built and ceramic coated in the US of A
-Duff's headers come with a supporting DIY exhaust system
-you can install both kits mentioned above in your garage
-we don't provide an O2 bung in our longtubes but we do in the stainless short tubes we are about to offer. Be available April 15th.

Music to my ears - I really want a 2 into 1 exhaust. I have NP435, 351w and d20. Happy to participate if you need that combo

That combo may be on our list to test.

We know it will work with a 351W/C4/D20

We are really hoping it works with AOD, 4R70W, C6, NP435,top loader 4 speed and possibly a NV4500. I'd like to add the AX15 and NV3550 but the darn crossmember on those sits so low I'm afraid it will just be more trouble for the customer than its worth. If I ever get my hands on a Bronco with that trans I can stare and compare to a C4, (attempt to install) and see if there is a happy medium.

Transfer cases we want it to work with(as well as the D20) is the 205 and the atlas. Doublers in those are also welcome.

The 302 with C4 and C6 combo are also a concern as far as fitment with the drake shorties around the trans dip stick tube and cooling lines.

I am also making it so this shorty header works with our dual exhaust kit and I am going to offer the 2-1 with adapters to the stock manifolds work as well.

 

[Monster Mike]

Wow a Duff 2 into 1 exhaust.

Virginia there "is" a Santa Claus

Ha ha Thanks Steve. You making it back to Super Celebration this year?

Nice Mike keep up y’all good work .... I could have used a test 2-1 a year back. ... I’m running a BH 2-1 with there Sanderson headers , fit great on P heads . Fits good with my C4 and also with my AX-15. Love the 2-1 system , long highway drive not bad and around town sounds good

Appreciate the praise, we're tryin'!

 

[bronkenn]

I have the Duff's long tube ceramics and they are real nice. They fit really good and would highly recommend. I have a 302 block. I would like to put a 2 into 1 on it but don't know if they make a kit for the M5OD trans.Ken

 

[Monster Mike]

I have the Duff's long tube ceramics and they are real nice. They fit really good and would highly recommend. I have a 302 block. I would like to put a 2 into 1 on it but don't know if they make a kit for the M5OD trans.Ken

Thanks for the vote for Duff's Ken!

This is a good point to address about the Long tube headers and 2-1 exhaust. It is not impossible to combine those two but Duff's does not offer a 2-1 exhaust that will work with long tubes and will not be anytime soon.

If you want to run a 2-1 exhaust kit from Duffs it will have to be with the shorty headers we are offering come April 15th or with stock manifolds. Keep in mind you can also run our dual exhaust kit with the shortys. You just cant run our long tubes with the new 2-1 exhaust kit we are working on.

MM

 

[jbawall]

We are working on a 2-1 exhaust kit using the drake stainless shorties on a 351W and they will fit but the PS #3 primary tube makes contact with the inner fender.

They designed them for just the 289/302. That's why the ps hits the fender. Other than that they fit good everywhere else.

We will be sending out 5 of these complete header/exhaust kits to customers with different trans and t case combinations to get feed back on fitment before we launch into mass production. We're pretty confident none of our exhaust kits will work with NV3550 transmission crossmember without modification.

Mike you had me excited until I ready your last sentence! I have the NV3550, and will have to keep working on an alternative. Glad you are expanding your line up though. Good work!

 

[Monster Mike]

Mike you had me excited until I ready your last sentence! I have the NV3550, and will have to keep working on an alternative. Glad you are expanding your line up though. Good work!

Yeah I am also totally bummed about that!

Appreciate the praise & encouragement. We will continue to adapt and evolve when the opportunity presents itself!

MM

 

[377]

Mike,
Will your new 2 into 1 exhaust work with WH shorty headers? I was getting ready to order a 2 into 1 exhaust but if you guys are releasing one in the near future I'm waiting!