Just a FYI "header" is a term that indicates steel tubes welded to a flange. Exhaust manifolds refers to the heavy casted exhaust manifolds. There are cars that have "stock headers" Yours does not headers on it. In most cases we use the term "exhaust manifold" on ANY stock configuration and the word "header" on just about ANY after market steel tube manifold.

The orignal question itself should be "Stock manifolds or headers?" Stock exhaust manifold do crack from time to time but it is pretty rare. Much more common is the gasket between the head and the donut at the bottom of the manifold. Also rusting bolt sometimes break off and allow a leak.

 

Oh will replacing my "Intake manifold" with the one from the pontiac 3.4l hi output "sorry if the numbers are off" really enhance intake performance?

 

+1 to Gorn.

Headers and exhaust manifolds, while doing the same function, are not the same. A he said, headers are aftermarket, lighter and more free flowing than their manifold counterparts.

As for your intake question, I don't think swapping for a 3.4 H.O. intake would make much difference. I do believe some switch to the 3.5L intake? Not much of a V6 guy in terms of knowledge, but I do recall reading people doing that.

What ever you end up doing though, get it ported and polished. That'll help a lot too.

 

Intake manifold is the cast part that is bolted to the motor. I do not think there are any other intake manifolds available. The only intakes I know of are FWD and they would be backwards.

Are you talking about the Cold air intake. The sheetmetal or plastic part that goes between the air filter and the throttle body?

 

No I actually mean the intake manifold. I know my part names. =)

 

My bad for not knowing you knew all the correct names of the parts on your car.

 

.Ftw.

 

Whoa, fencing match!



To the OP's original question. If you are planning at any time to do further mods such as a good exhaust setup, CAI, or any other further work at all go ahead and get headers. However IDK the effects on a v6, when combined with a good flowing exhaust setup the headers are a good addition and only benefit.