These are the most affordable 304 stainless steel, TIG-welded, block-hugging LS swap headers you can buy for a Ford Ranger LS swap.
No exaggeration, no filler. If you are building a Ranger, this is the part that usually costs the most and holds up your project the longest, and we solved it.
If you are LS swapping a Ford Ranger, headers are one of the first parts that stops you cold. The factory manifolds do not clear, the frame is tight, and most of the "universal" stuff either hits the rail or hangs down too low. We ran into all of it on our own 1993 Ranger, so here is exactly what we use and why.
Why headers make or break a Ranger LS swap
The Ranger engine bay was never meant to hold an LS. Once the 5.3 sits on its mounts with the correct passenger-side offset, exhaust clearance gets tight fast against the frame rail and steering. A header that is designed for a different platform will fight you the whole way. You want something built around the Ranger swap from the start.
What we run: Down For Mobbing Stainless LS Swap Headers
These are the headers on our truck right now, not something we pulled off a shelf to review. They are 100% stainless steel and fully TIG welded, built for the LS swap application.
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Key Features:
- 100% Brand New – Never used, ensuring top quality and reliability.
- T304 Stainless Steel – Corrosion-resistant and built to withstand high temperatures.
- TIG Welded V-Band – Ensures a precise, leak-free fit.
- Flange-Mounted Design – Provides secure installation with optimal exhaust flow.
- Inlet / Outlet Sizes: 1.79" / 2.52" for improved exhaust efficiency.
Compared to the other Ranger swap headers on the market that run north of $800, these come in at a price that actually leaves money in the budget for the rest of the swap, which is usually where builds stall out.
Where headers fit in the full build
Headers are one piece of the swap. On our 1993 Ranger they pair with a 5.3 LM7, a TH400 built by Culhane's Transmissions, and the cooling and adapter parts we cover in our other build posts. If you are starting from scratch, this is the order most of the pain shows up in: mounts, then adapter and trans, then exhaust, then cooling.
We also have a lot of Youtube videos about our LS Swap below
Ready to order
If you are at the exhaust stage of your Ranger LS swap, these are the headers we trust on our own truck - DFM Headers!