Obx headers!!! Do not buy!!! Unless.....
Advanced
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
From: Lake Orion Michigan
Several of us on this board have installed our own OBX headers. I for one did not find the task overly difficult. It was time consuming, not for reasons related to the headers design - I spent most of my time fighting to get the AIR tube nuts loose from the original exhaust manifolds. As previously mentioned, I did have to dent one pipe to make clearance for a bracket. I view that as par for the course when installing aftermarket headers in a tight engine compartment. I notice that a lot of negative comments are made against OBX headers because they are made in China. I hate to break it to the nay-sayers, but these import headers are of high quality, and on par with what I have seen from domestic manufacturers. I think that the reason some here are so quick to knock OBX headers is because they payed far more for a product that is no better. Generally, most people want to get the best bang for their buck. Myself and at least one other gentleman on here saw the 1/4 mile ET's on our mostly stock LT1 Corvettes drop by 4/10's of a second, just by installing OBX headers. I still have the stock exhaust from resonator back. For a $490 investment, that's tough to beat. Back to the original topic, I don't think it would matter what brand of headers the original poster purchased - he would not be satisfied. Long tube headers simply are not a "direct bolt on".
Pro
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 677
Likes: 3
From: Metairie LA
I grabbed the Hedman Headers (the cheapies), put them on myself in the back yard, drove to the muffler shop. They put on 2.5" stainless duals with an X-Pipe and Magnaflow mufflers and added O2 sensor bungs on both sides.
Total cost - $550.00.
May upgrade to the Elites because they look nicer.
FWIW - did help a buddy put on OBX headers on his 2010 Mustang GT (smoking deal at $275 shipped with the H-Pipe). Took me about 12 hours without any custom fab. Had to completely remove the motor mounts to get them in. The headers are very nice. Made me appreciate the Vette and it's "component location".
Total cost - $550.00.
May upgrade to the Elites because they look nicer.
FWIW - did help a buddy put on OBX headers on his 2010 Mustang GT (smoking deal at $275 shipped with the H-Pipe). Took me about 12 hours without any custom fab. Had to completely remove the motor mounts to get them in. The headers are very nice. Made me appreciate the Vette and it's "component location".
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,599
Likes: 10
St. Jude Donor '16
The OP should have done his homework first. I did before i got mine . I pm girvin02 
and he graciously went out of his way to walk me through everything. Sent me pics ,gave me measurements for spacers etc. Me being an old fart and lazy took it to a local muffler shop. I had the spacers cut i my garage and ready to go. Cost me 150 to install. Of course i stood there and made sure it was done right.
and he graciously went out of his way to walk me through everything. Sent me pics ,gave me measurements for spacers etc. Me being an old fart and lazy took it to a local muffler shop. I had the spacers cut i my garage and ready to go. Cost me 150 to install. Of course i stood there and made sure it was done right.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,676
Likes: 751
From: NEwhere Ohio
I can vouch that TPIS long tube 1 3/4" headers fit my 93 well. No pounding, etc. required, though I went w/ aftermarket cats for better performance.
So I dont know how they would mate to stock cats.
All other brackets were cleared, spark plug changes are simple now, etc.
The TPIS ones (and from what I hear, the ARH ones) are the ones that fit w/o modification.
Though I cant speak about utilizing cats.
So I dont know how they would mate to stock cats.
All other brackets were cleared, spark plug changes are simple now, etc.
The TPIS ones (and from what I hear, the ARH ones) are the ones that fit w/o modification.
Though I cant speak about utilizing cats.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 2
From: California City Ca
I lucked out I was given my TPIS headers for free.
I made friends with the owner of the local NAPA store he had them on his Vett before he got rid it for a ZO6 C5 and he said they were lay in middle of Isle way an got tired of tripping on them so he gave them to me.
I made friends with the owner of the local NAPA store he had them on his Vett before he got rid it for a ZO6 C5 and he said they were lay in middle of Isle way an got tired of tripping on them so he gave them to me.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,129
Likes: 1
From: Pasadena CA
Just out of interest, how far away from the original cats do the new cats sit after installing headers (any mentioned)? I understand that the reason LT headers are not legal here in Cali is because they move the position of the original cats?
Could be talking out my **** here, but in theory if you can get the original cats to sit in the same position, it would pass an emissions inspection?
Could be talking out my **** here, but in theory if you can get the original cats to sit in the same position, it would pass an emissions inspection?
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 327
Likes: 2
From: se iowa
My father and I installed my hedman longtubes in his garage and it wasn't bad. I bought header bolts and had no intention of using the stock ones. Our biggest fight was the starter but I didn't have to dent anything our modify brackets. Headers and copper gaskets-I'm out $200. When they rot I will pony up for nicer ones.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 291
From: MA
I would like to thank crzydrumer14 for his experience with the OBX headers. Too many people are giving him crap about how he should have known that the headers need some fabrication to fit.
I went through aftermarket parts not fitting properly back when I had my '83 Z28 Camaro. It was highly modified by me and I became well versed in fabricating brackets and every other part of the car.
The problem is the aftermarket makes some great products that fit perfectly and too many that don't (requiring lots of fabrication).
So I applaud crzydrumer14 for letting us know!
Lets not bash him for his candid experience.
I went through aftermarket parts not fitting properly back when I had my '83 Z28 Camaro. It was highly modified by me and I became well versed in fabricating brackets and every other part of the car.
The problem is the aftermarket makes some great products that fit perfectly and too many that don't (requiring lots of fabrication).
So I applaud crzydrumer14 for letting us know!
Lets not bash him for his candid experience.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,871
Likes: 0
From: sterling va usa
My TPIS fit perfect. The easiest headers I ever put on!
Banned Loser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 53,424
Likes: 250
From: They say you learn from your mistakes, I must be a genius
2017 Corvette of the Year
2016 C4 of Year Finalist
Creator of the "Original" whining and crying thread
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
I would like to thank crzydrumer14 for his experience with the OBX headers. Too many people are giving him crap about how he should have known that the headers need some fabrication to fit.
I went through aftermarket parts not fitting properly back when I had my '83 Z28 Camaro. It was highly modified by me and I became well versed in fabricating brackets and every other part of the car.
The problem is the aftermarket makes some great products that fit perfectly and too many that don't (requiring lots of fabrication).
So I applaud crzydrumer14 for letting us know!
Lets not bash him for his candid experience.
I went through aftermarket parts not fitting properly back when I had my '83 Z28 Camaro. It was highly modified by me and I became well versed in fabricating brackets and every other part of the car.
The problem is the aftermarket makes some great products that fit perfectly and too many that don't (requiring lots of fabrication).
So I applaud crzydrumer14 for letting us know!
Lets not bash him for his candid experience.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 544
Likes: 0
From: Atco Raceway in between Pa & Nj 13.073 @ 106 MPH
To assume that because a cheap set of chinese headers require the customer to perform additional modifications in order to get them to fit properly - ALL other header brands must require the same amount of tweaking as well, is nothing more than an excuse made by someone trying to defend a shoddy product. 
For the record, there was absolutely no tweaking/bending or hammering of any sort with my AR header install. They practically fell into place. Best fitting headers I've ever run on any car I've ever owned and I've installed more headers than I can remember.
- and a little off topic, but you spent how much to install your OBX's? $800? Wow.
Your mechanic must have seen you coming from a mile away. Even at an hourly rate of $100/hour (I'm guessing) - that would have meant he spent 8 hours to install your headers?
Either he ripped you off, or those little obx headers required a lot of screwing around/additional parts/modifications to get them to fit properly. Either way, sounds as if you got dealt the short end of the stick.
For what you spent total out of your wallet, you could have bought the entire ARH system system (headers/xpipe/cats/intermediate pipes - basically an entirely new exhaust system besides mufflers) and installed it yourself in your driveway in about 3-4 hours with simple hand tools for nearly the same cost. That's 3-4 hours for a novice mind you, if you've done a header swap on these cars before, install time would be much less than that.
Live and learn, I guess...
To the OP, sorry to hear about your troubles with the install. You're right, a product should always perform as advertised. If additional modifications need to be done (no matter how small), it should be stated in the advertising so there's no surprises for the customer. I hope you figured it all out and your car's ready for the road again. Best of luck with it.
For the record, there was absolutely no tweaking/bending or hammering of any sort with my AR header install. They practically fell into place. Best fitting headers I've ever run on any car I've ever owned and I've installed more headers than I can remember.
- and a little off topic, but you spent how much to install your OBX's? $800? Wow.
Your mechanic must have seen you coming from a mile away. Even at an hourly rate of $100/hour (I'm guessing) - that would have meant he spent 8 hours to install your headers?
Either he ripped you off, or those little obx headers required a lot of screwing around/additional parts/modifications to get them to fit properly. Either way, sounds as if you got dealt the short end of the stick.
For what you spent total out of your wallet, you could have bought the entire ARH system system (headers/xpipe/cats/intermediate pipes - basically an entirely new exhaust system besides mufflers) and installed it yourself in your driveway in about 3-4 hours with simple hand tools for nearly the same cost. That's 3-4 hours for a novice mind you, if you've done a header swap on these cars before, install time would be much less than that.
Live and learn, I guess...
To the OP, sorry to hear about your troubles with the install. You're right, a product should always perform as advertised. If additional modifications need to be done (no matter how small), it should be stated in the advertising so there's no surprises for the customer. I hope you figured it all out and your car's ready for the road again. Best of luck with it.
You not being a "novice" are trying and I mean trying to tell me you can install long tubes on a LT1 in less than 3 hours in your driveway. I want what you are smoking.We have 60 minutes in one of our hours, there must be twice that in Canada. 
Last edited by c4speed; Nov 29, 2011 at 10:46 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Just out of interest, how far away from the original cats do the new cats sit after installing headers (any mentioned)? I understand that the reason LT headers are not legal here in Cali is because they move the position of the original cats?
Could be talking out my **** here, but in theory if you can get the original cats to sit in the same position, it would pass an emissions inspection?
Could be talking out my **** here, but in theory if you can get the original cats to sit in the same position, it would pass an emissions inspection?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 301
Likes: 17
From: Toronto Ontario
We have 60 minutes in our hours too, I assure you. I don't know what me living in Canada has to do with the subject, but you seem to have a knack for ignoring the issue at hand and resort to posting ignorant comments to try and sound funny.
For someone who had to pay someone else to work on their car for them, how the hell would you even know how long a header install takes to question my statement and call me a liar?
I, unlike you, actually do all my own work to my car and yes, swapping out my old EM Long tubes for the AR headers took less than three hours.
First you claim obx is on the same quality level as the high-end brands (in another thread) despite not actually having experience with any of the higher end brands - now you refuse to believe that your mechanic overcharged you on labour.
You're the one who agreed to pay $800 to install headers on a sbc. If anyone here is smoking anything, it's you.
Good day sir.
Last edited by LT1*C4; Nov 29, 2011 at 09:33 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 544
Likes: 0
From: Atco Raceway in between Pa & Nj 13.073 @ 106 MPH
We have 60 minutes in our hours too, I assure you. I don't know what me living in Canada has to do with the subject, but you seem to have a knack for ignoring the issue at hand and resorting to dumb-@ss comments to try and sound funny.
For someone who had to pay someone else to work on their car for them, how the hell would you even know how long a header install takes to question my statements?
I, unlike you, actually do all my own work to my car and yes, swapping out my old EM Long tubes for the AR headers took less than three hours.
Once again, you're in denial. First with your claima that obx is on the same quality level of the high-end beands (in another thread) - now with your refusal to belive your mechanic screwed with labour charges.
You're the one who agreed to pay $800 to install some headers. If anyone here is smoking anything, it's you.
Good day sir.
For someone who had to pay someone else to work on their car for them, how the hell would you even know how long a header install takes to question my statements?
I, unlike you, actually do all my own work to my car and yes, swapping out my old EM Long tubes for the AR headers took less than three hours.
Once again, you're in denial. First with your claima that obx is on the same quality level of the high-end beands (in another thread) - now with your refusal to belive your mechanic screwed with labour charges.
You're the one who agreed to pay $800 to install some headers. If anyone here is smoking anything, it's you.
Good day sir.
oh yea how is Corvette Mike did he put Ghost flames on your headers for you.
Last edited by c4speed; Nov 29, 2011 at 01:11 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 544
Likes: 0
From: Atco Raceway in between Pa & Nj 13.073 @ 106 MPH
These header brand threads are getting old, l could not do mine myself due too health reasons so I had to pay to get them installed and don't need a Mr GoodWrench telling me his comments about me paying for it
