So, as many of you know, I've been in the market for LT's for quite a while now. Considering my leaky manifolds are getting worse, I'm getting even more serious about it.

OBX...blah, blah, blah...you know the drill. Everybody says they're a great set. Fine. So that's the direction I've been looking. Until now, every set I've seen that is specifically listed as fitting my 5.4 4x4 has been a set that includes cats and/or resonators, y-pipe, etc. Of course with my new true dual setup, I don't need no steenkeeng y-pipe, etc. Here's a linky to the aforementioned kit: clicky

Now, I located this kit on ebay and instantly thought, 'Perfect! This is just what I need and it's much less money!' Then when I saw the '2WD' specification, I was pretty bummed.

However, I found what LOOKS to be the same, exact item as in the second link on this website , but as you can see, it CLEARLY specifies this item as fitting 'ALL 2004 -2006 FORD F150 2/4WD 5.4L models'. So I'm golden, right?

Still, the 'all sales are final' policy made me want to be absolutely certain. So I finagled and sweet-talked the gal at eracingzone into giving me her phone contact info for OBX (this gal wasn't going to make any fitment guarantees herself).

Long story short (kinda), I spoke with some feller name of 'Peter' (yeah, right!) at OBX, and informed him of my quandary. After telling me he was going to go check it out himself to be sure, he came back and said that the kit at eracingzone 'should fit just fine...no problem'.

Again, I'm cautiously enthusiastic about this. Knowing so little about such things, my best guess is that the major difference between headers that will only fit 2WD or 4WD has to have something to do with the length of the collector and it's relation to the transfer case.

I'm wondering if any of you guys have been in this situation, and if so, did you get the 'headers only' kit that I posted in the second link? If so, any fitment issues? Is the aforementioned collector length the main difference between most 2WD versus 4WD fitments or am I missing/overlooking something else?

Thanks in advance.

P.S. I am on a budget here. So, the much more expensive sets are, unfortunately, out of the question for now.

 

I bought the 2 wd harley version obx headers for my 02 f150 5.4 4 x 4 and the only problem that was had was the passenger side hit the frame a little bit and the cross over pipe didn't work. So if you can just find a set without a cross over (cheaper) then get it. But this could be different for your year truck.

 

Thanks for the input! I feel quite certain that it will be different with my truck (different frame, etc). If it only requires relatively light modification to work, I'm sure my exhaust guy can work it out.

 

Ya more then likely someone with your body style truck or more knowledge then myself will help you out.

 

I think it has to do with the length of collectors and the transfer case. It will "fit" but you might have to do some work.

 

Thank you, Father. I think I may just take the plunge on this and see how it works out.

 

I believe I will need a set myself, developing a passenger side gasket leak... Aside of the transmission, my '04 ran circles around this '07 truck.

 

Really? Your '04 ran that much better? Dang, man. That kinda sucks.
Are you running your Gryphon? Maybe when you get your exhaust all buttoned up that'll help. Was the '04 an extended cab?

Hey! Got an idea! You get the set that includes just the headers and gaskets and let me know if they fit.

 

Well not so much ran better, the engine/trans in the '07 seem much better. I am running the gryphon and it is solid, tight, and very healthy running. Its mostly body wise I think it the '04 model held up better, my wiper cowl can't sit level for the life of me, the frame on this one is pitted, door handles felt cheaper compared to my textured '04s ( though I noticed the difference immediate when I got PTM '07 FX4 handles on it ). Now my truck on start up sounds like a Dodge with a gasket leak, sucks. Good excuse for LTs though. It is a much better truck than the '04 was, but some things that go wrong, I guess nothing is perfect!

I'll get right on that!

 

What's different about the 4X4 fitments is the limited space you have from collector to the Y or Mid-Pipe radius. The mid-pipe has to center in the channel between the t-case and crossover - pretty close to perfect. There's not much elbow room between the two. That makes it tight on the drivers side; leaving just enough room to squeeze a high flow in there.

With the 2WD's, you have more room to play with. No T-case in the way.

 

on the 3v's the there is a MAJOR difference in the 2wd and 4wd kits. The primaries run RIGHT where the front drive shaft goes. I ran into this problem a few years ago on a friends truck.

 

What, you tried installing 2wd headers on a 4wd ?

I don't think that's what we are talking about here. (?) Why would yuh ?

 

Got an email from a feller name of Danny from Sparktec. It reads as follows:

'Jason, I'll match the price for you. I never ordered this part before so I don't know my cost but I should beat anyones cost. I'll take it back for a full refund if any issues, just make sure not to use them and keep original hardware, etc.'

This is in reference to this set.

Sparktec didn't list this set with just the headers and gaskets. That's why ol' Dan said he'd have to order it.

Looks like I may be onto something. At least if they DON'T fit, I have a written guarantee that they'll take them back.

 

I see what you mean. They say the same set fits both 2wd/4wd trucks. But, they are making them a little different I've noticed.

They're using the 3" collector set ups now. The flow transition should be smoother when running compliant convertors. I believe before all that was offered was 2.5" collectors.

 

Not quite. He ordered the 4x4 set, got the 4x4 packaged box, but the contents of said box were not the 4x4 set. He was the first 3v 4x4 (on here anyway) to put the obx's on his truck.