[Alan Roehrich]

Ed,
Step headers and merge collectors are similar to 4-2-1 headers, you need to do a serious amount of tuning and probably cam testing. When you use either, or both, you significantly alter your exhaust tuning, with an exhaust lobe that is large enough for a set of single diameter headers and a merge collector, it is very likely that you can create a serious "over scavenge" condition. If that is the case, you can see what happened with the right dyno data. The solution most often is a smaller exhaust lobe, as much as 4-6 degrees. You may also need to spread the LSA a degree or two. But what you may gain from all of that is the ability to run a large(r) intake lobe.

The short version of that is: if you have a correctly matched and tuned set of basic headers and collectors and cam, it is likely you will find no power gain, or a power loss with a set of stepped headers and merge collectors.

So, when/if you buy a set of stepped headers and merge collectors, and you spend $1500+, expect to buy at least one cam, and maybe spend money on a couple of dyno sessions and a track rental, so another $2000 is easily possible. It's just another example of "HP cost money, how fast do you want to go?"