LC Engineering header hell

[DesertDouglas]

After hearing all sorts of good stuff about LC Engineering's headers I decided to put one on my '90 Toyota PU. I enlisted the help of Jake Beggy to install it (he's done many great mods on my truck over the years). Everything looked like it was pretty straight forward--but that wasn't to be the case. Jake's documented this install from hell here: http://tacominator.com/htdocs/customer/bruce/lcengineering.html

If it weren't for Jake's great skills I'd be stuck with $400 LC Engineering ceramic-coated "yard sculpture". Now, I probably own the most expensive header on any 22RE out there.

PS: If LCE had just sent out a second connector free, and said sorry for the problem, that would have been fine; But having to buy another one, with overnight shipping--that really stung.

PPS: I really want to thank Jake for putting this link together and hope it helps out others who may be considering this modification--and supplier

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[Scott Brady]

Doug,

Your truck looks great. Any more pictures?

How did the performance improve after the header install?

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

I don't understand the stupidity of some companies regarding customer relations. It would have been so easy for them to have made this right.

 

[crawler#976]

LCE makes some of the best performance products available for the 4 popper's - I've had nuthin' but great service from them on all the junk I put on my BPOS trail rig. Sorry to hear you had a problem with the header. I've got the dual row timing chain conversion, dual metalic clutch, and header on my 22RE, and have had no problems with any of them.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I have an LCE header on mine, the stainless one like you. I used the end-to-end LC exhaust and it fit OK with one problem, the two hangers behind the catalytic converter didn't line up right to use the stock rubber hangers (I ended up using rubber sleeves, the system is essentially snugged up under my truck very tightly). When I called LC they sent me the intermediate pipe for a 4Runner, which is a bit different in that it's two pieces to adjust for length. This helped, but didn't solve it completely. My alignment wasn't quite as bad as yours and I'm surprised they treated you that way, so I guess even LCE isn't immune to customer service problems. The alignment on my system seemed to be because the flange at the end of the header itself was a little off, the pipes and exhaust seemed OK. My only real complaint is about how loud the LCE system is, so I'm gonna have a new exhaust system made someday anyway.

 

[Pskhaat]

Out of curiosity, do the headers provide that much better performance on the 22R(E)s?

 

[DaveInDenver]

Out of curiosity, do the headers provide that much better performance on the 22R(E)s?

Actually, yes, it made a noticeable difference in my truck on the highway. There are two types of headers out there for the R motors, the tri-Y and the 4-to-1. The LCE is a 4 into 1, so 4 equal length primary tubes join into a 4-way collector. Some of the others, like Northwest Offroad and Doug Thorley are a tri-Y, which has the primaries that join together in stages, so 2 and 3 join, 1 and 4 join and then the 2/3 and 1/4 tubes connect into a single point. Anyway, one is supposed to favor lower RPMs and the other mid/high RPM. The 4-to-1 is a higher RPM design and I did notice that the engine pulls better from about 3000 to 4500 RPM. The 22R-E is OK at 750 to 2000 RPM as far as under square small displacement engines go, but it makes it's power from 2500 to 5000 and so my theory goes that is where you should build your engine. When I drive up Floyd or Vail or whatever, when I get the gearing right (in my case 45 or 50MPH in 3rd) there is a noticeable pull. I can ever so slightly accelerate to 55PM. Before I'd have to hit the hill with RPMs and speed and hope that by the top I wasn't doing 30. If I loose my momentum, I can't get it back, but if I keep the engine above ~2800 RPM I have just a slight kick that wasn't there before.

 

[DesertDouglas]

Scott, I'll post some pictures of my truck soon (I just need tap Desert Rose to walk me through it). The truck has been an interesting and fun 17-year project.

The headers feel great; I'm glad I did it. I'm sure I'll get a better feel for the performance improvement in a couple months--I plan to drive up to Seattle. The noise level increase in the cab is noticeable, but not too obnoxious.

I'd heard alot of good things about LCE and their products--this just seems to be a case of them being a "fair-weather friend," as long as they work, great; but when they don't, too bad.