I remember somebody mentioned using the stock headers and bypassing the crossover as an option vs putting in headers. I'm both time and cash shy, and am thinking this might be a good option while I have my engine torn down to put the new heads in.

Here's what I'm thinking. Put a plate on the stock exhaust exit from the driver side cylinders. Put an elbow on the back of the existing driver side header pointing down. Take the existing crossover pipe, cut and weld it so the exhast is routed down. Fab up a 2 into pipe that connects to the two banks. Tie that into the existing pipe going into the cat.

I know, easier said than done, and there isn't a ton of clearance in there, but it seems like a resaonable fix for the dreaded crossover.

Few I know of have done it but those who have said it works. I would do it and if you want you can add the headers later. You will have to fab up some sort of crossover anyways.

i'm in the middle of that right now. I have a thread on yotatech http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.php?t=90037

Downey used to offer a kit for that. It should help the engine breathe easier and not cause the hassles of headers.

Thanks for the input. After looking at it, and reading the yotatech site, here's my plan. Plug off the crossover entrance to the driver side header. Cut the crossover pipe and welld a 90 into it, and graft it into the existing down pipe. That's the minimal amount of work and sounds like 1/2 decent improvement in flow. It still allows the passenger side rear valve to see more exhaust gasses than ideal, but I think the cylinder that gets the most abuse is the driver side rear.

Well I went the bypass route. Picked up a 2" elbow at Shucks, cut the crossover, coped the elbow, drilled a hole in the exhaust with a 2" holesaw, and welded it up. I tacked the elbow on the crossover, took it out to weld it up, then bolted it in place and welded it to the downpipe. Future disasembly will require some cutting, and welding place was an advanced course in mig work and cuss words. I used a flashlight to look for holes, and it appears I managed to get a complete weld.

I took pics, but my home puter won't boot, and I don't have the download software at work. Hopefully I'll get it them posted in the near future.

I simply plug welded the old end of the crossover on the driver side header. Now with that out of the way I can bolt on the driver side head, and see about completing my topend rebuild. Looking forward to getting my truck back on the road!