I don't know if that's true, just was told that's when the manufacturing changed/improved...

PS I have always liked the KE Header[/QUOTE]

I have over 10yrs of hard running on 2 sets of KE headers with no issues ever. They are now called thunder n lightning headers as panther mentioned above. Best value and perf you can get from my experience.

his outboard runs cmi also, the 557. wonder how these will hold up?

Will they attach easily to a 525/600/700 engine or are modifications required?

[QUOTE=neva satisfied;4030012]This might help. These are 2011 CMI's

[QUOTE=PARADOX;4030041]Collector Box

Haven't ordered them yet (new long blocks just got in and getting ready to trailer them down to Florida tomorrow). Going to go with CMI gen x. That's what we went with in the Donzi, hopefully they hold up better being ordered direct through CMI and not through Merc

[ATTACH=CONFIG]512846[/ATTACH]

They new arrival is baking away and due here in 7-8 weeks. We are as excited as we can be and he is kicking and moving all around. Just very very cool!

The headers from Teague are about as good as you are going to get and if Ron isn't a dealer give me a call and I will have them drop shipped down there with your boat. These are what you need as a replacement...

http://teaguecustommarine.com/gen-x-headers.html

and Merc lists headers for 525, 600, & 700's NLA (no longer avail.) but if I remember right they were 8K a set retail. You should be able to use your tails with these and Ron can check but this is about all there is out there any more.

Since i have already bought two sets of cmi's i am going to go with the Hardin marine ones hopefully they are better

[QUOTE=neva satisfied;4030012]THe old.. old... style had double tubes all the way to the flange. Then the co. was sold, changed to the "cool collar" and then the Gen X came out, ALSO with the cool collar design. Prior to the Gen X the collar was the same as the Gen x as shown on the pic. CMI does make a military header, no "cool collar" bs. That's the way to go if you can get a set.

What about the Stainless Marine gen.3 BB manifolds for a 525 application ??

The top gun we purchased this summer has Hardin marine headers on 525's. They are 2 yrs old, I am rebuilding top ends this winter they have 450hrs on them. I will have the headers pressure tested to make sure they are ok. My mechanics talk nothing but good things about the Hardin marine headers.

I have 2 sets off 2011 700's with 34 hours. 6k for both sets. like new

[QUOTE=39 Unlimited;4030300]Yes - thank you! That helps me. I'll need to check mine this weekend.

Thanks!

[QUOTE=PARADOX;4030380]Thanks. I'm not looking for a set (yet...), I'm buying a 2011 boat w/525's and 35 hours. Just trying to understand the whole CMI thing and hoping I don't need to worry about this for a couple years...:pray:.

I've had the old style and the new style CMI's and have problems with both on 525 motors. I forget the number of sets I've gone through. On the next boat I used Stainless Marine and they've worked for me. I won't buy any more CMI's.

Diamond Performance makes them now, you'd need to call and ask Bill about that. I think you need to do a mod to the heads to make them work. I know he was working on that.

Congrats!!

Agreed!

It's just a simple rule of physics and basic metalurgy... Heat, cycling, flex, constant differences in temperature, welds, tubes, bends, collectors, bungs, more welds....... It WILL happen to any header over time.

It's just my opinion but everyone gets focused on the bling... Even Mercury finally went with a manifold design on their new turbo engines... Stainless Marine went into the business of manifolds because they started out as a stainless header company. I applaud them!

Just call Hardin Marine as they have a direct replacement for these headers but they are made in a better material than the CMI's are and they are far superior.

So are the pics posted by 39 Unlimited of the old style headers? I thought the new ones had a rubber hose connecting at the bottom of each tube??

All of the headers are junk. Welds will never hold up, heat difference between pipes bad design. Look at all new mercury motors they are using cast manifolds for many reasons. Buy stainless marine manifolds you will make the same power maybe more, Jerry who owns stainless is a really nice guy, and builds the best manifold available.

I had a 38 Lightning semi-stagger with 525's that I bought new in 03 and used till 2011 when I sold it. I never had any issues at all with the headers. The boat was in fresh water only and averaged about 25 hours per year. I read on here just after I bought the boat that running them on a hose with low water pressure would cause the headers to fail because of heat from not enough cooling so I was careful to only run it on the hose only when needed and made sure of good water flow. Was I just lucky? I did pressure check the headers a couple of times during the time I owned the boat. I now have an 08 38 Lightning with 700's and I did check them this past spring but sounds like I better check them every year.

Think they're new style. Off of a 2011 700

Dana Marine ( Aluminum Manifolds )

Fully water Jacketed, full Primary's....No Welds to crack later

http://www.danamarineproducts.com/Gr...1-02a292f7a40c

Originally Posted by David H

So are the pics posted by 39 Unlimited of the old style headers? I thought the new ones had a rubber hose connecting at the bottom of each tube??

Think they're new style. Off of a 2011 700


Correct Gary, If they have the gap between the flange and the tubes versus tubes connected directly to the flange, that is the newer style. I only know this bacause I bought the new style for my boat.

Would there be any way to start a poll to see how many people have had a header issue and with what brand ? Or see how many people have not had any issues ? I am just tringto get a grasp on how BIG this issue is. Thanks

That is a great idea.

Hey please forgive me but this was not my original reason why I starting this thread. I would like to keep my thread on options not finger pointing please.


Can we please get back to the options thank you.

Theres a brand new set in the box on Facebook powershop for $8K..

Wow! thats more like it.
Thank you.

Only one problem I am not on Facebook.

Lol.

Good example of what your headers endure; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fin2...e_gdata_player

Yep thats about rite

If anyone is looking for the Stainless Marine 525efi/600sci/700sci exhaust kits we have them on sale for $2699.00
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o54699-en.html

g,
I know I will be in the same boat here 1 of these days are you are now, and I think I'm going to mod my heads on my 600 SCi's to accept the KE headers I have sitting in my garage. I just have a real hard time sending good money after bad, (Replacing CMI's with CMI's) The SM mod likes the next best deal to me.....

Well I have put almost 7 years and a lot of hours on this boat and can't complain about performance or looks in the engine compartment.

I believe the quality of the product is there and also the closer to stock I leave the boat the more its worth on the open market. Hell if I want to bit** about it why don't 700sci last loner than 300 hours without freshing up thats every bit $5000 a motor if you get it done rite.

that's my thinking may not be everyone else's.

Think I am going to stay with CMI for those main reasons.

Thx TC

correction; 2 sets at that price... probably figured that.

Laszlo on here is the guy that's selling them...shoot him a PM...

With CMI's, its just a matter of time before they fail. I would equate it to holding a grenade with the pin out. I have run a set of Stainless Marine, Genlll, since 1998 with a supercharged single engine in a Sutphen. Walter Collins,TKO Sutphen, ran 10 years with Stainless Genlll's. Pete Nopper, Nopper Marine , Has 10 years on his 26 Sutphen race/pleasure boat. They are fairly light and make working on the engine easy .