Say no to pacesetter headers
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,155
Likes: 44
From: If you wanna live life on your own terms, you gotta be willing to crash and burn Florida
Say no to pacesetter headers
Hi everyone, listen to this. I finally received my shorty headers and today I dropped off my car to get them installed. They take all out that is needed to install the headers all to find out that Pacesetter has sent me the 97 c5 headers instead of the 2001 that I needed. I have been waiting 2 months for this Corvette challenge at a near by race track and now my car is in pieces at the shop and I am stuck driving a nissan altima until tuesday.
Pacesetter/Distributor says they will take the header back, but are not paying for the almost 8 hours of labor for the put in and the take out and the extra parts needed to put back to stock. Not even the rental car.
Could I take these shmucks to small claims court over this.
Also I am looking for shortys that bolt right up to the Ypipe what is the best brand?
Please no get long tubes, I do not want them or hear about how much better they are. thanks.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Orlando Florida
I think you may be out of luck with the installation and rental car. Pacesetter will tell you that you should have inspected them first and verified that they were indeed the correct item purchased.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 21
From: Marlton. Increasing performance one speeding ticket at a time! NJ
Well,
The vendor certainly messed up. But I always check everything to verify that what was sent is correct, especially before paying others to install. It's easy to tell the difference, 97-00 models have the air tube on the last port, 01-04 are on the 3rd port.
The only difference is the air-tube location. You can:
1. Get a replacement air tubes for 97-00 models.
2. Run custom tubing to the new air inlet.
3. Wait and get the replacements.
Certain brands of headers (LG, for example) only make 01-04 style, so you have to deal with the replacement air tubes.
Sorry for your trouble, but I doubt you'll be able to get the vendor to reimburse you for labor to temporarilly put the car back to stock. You my be able to get them to pay you for replacement tubes, but that's about it. And the rental car??? No way.
The vendor certainly messed up. But I always check everything to verify that what was sent is correct, especially before paying others to install. It's easy to tell the difference, 97-00 models have the air tube on the last port, 01-04 are on the 3rd port.
The only difference is the air-tube location. You can:
1. Get a replacement air tubes for 97-00 models.
2. Run custom tubing to the new air inlet.
3. Wait and get the replacements.
Certain brands of headers (LG, for example) only make 01-04 style, so you have to deal with the replacement air tubes.
Sorry for your trouble, but I doubt you'll be able to get the vendor to reimburse you for labor to temporarilly put the car back to stock. You my be able to get them to pay you for replacement tubes, but that's about it. And the rental car??? No way.
Last edited by nj02vette; Feb 15, 2008 at 08:34 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
8 hrs labor for essentially an exhaust manifold change?!? 
That is ridiculous.
Incorrect. The 97-99 flange connection to the mid pipe is different too. Disregarding the AIR tube location, they still will not "just bolt up".
That is ridiculous. Incorrect. The 97-99 flange connection to the mid pipe is different too. Disregarding the AIR tube location, they still will not "just bolt up".
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,179
Likes: 2,306
From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
Hi everyone, listen to this. I finally received my shorty headers and today I dropped off my car to get them installed. They take all out that is needed to install the headers all to find out that Pacesetter has sent me the 97 c5 headers instead of the 2001 that I needed. I have been waiting 2 months for this Corvette challenge at a near by race track and now my car is in pieces at the shop and I am stuck driving a nissan altima until tuesday.
Pacesetter/Distributor says they will take the header back, but are not paying for the almost 8 hours of labor for the put in and the take out and the extra parts needed to put back to stock. Not even the rental car.
Could I take these shmucks to small claims court over this.
Also I am looking for shortys that bolt right up to the Ypipe what is the best brand?
Please no get long tubes, I do not want them or hear about how much better they are. thanks.
If I recall you can just extend the tube?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
Shorty headers are sold in 3 different versions:
97-99
2000
01-04.
In 2000, the flange connection to the midpipe (cats.H-pipe...whatever you want to call it) changed...it changed to what is the same as the 2001-2004, but the 2000 still retained the old AIR tube location, making 2000 exhaust manifolds a one year only oddity.
Long tube headers only need to make a distinction between 97-00, and 01-04, because they do not connect to the stock midpipe flange like shortys do.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Shorty headers are sold in 3 different versions:
97-99
2000
01-04.
In 2000, the flange connection to the midpipe (cats.H-pipe...whatever you want to call it) changed...it changed to what is the same as the 2001-2004, but the 2000 still retained the old AIR tube location, making 2000 exhaust manifolds a one year only oddity.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,055
Likes: 0
From: Jax Florida
It's unfortunate that they sent you headers for the wrong year, but it's up to you to ensure you are installing the correct equipment. Pacesetter sold you parts in a box and you received them. That is all they are responsible for.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Sorry to hear about your troubles, I learned long time ago to check the parts before I start, I am sure you are out of luck in taking them to court, They sent you a product and it was up to you to check it out.
Again, Sorry, I know what you are feeling.
Bill K
Again, Sorry, I know what you are feeling.
Bill K
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,136
Likes: 24,733
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
If you really want a set of shorty headers for your car instead of long tubes, go with the B&Bs.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: Guess it & Win a Rock, s&h only $4.95 New Mexico
Got new windows this year, dead of winter. "Oh, it will only take our guys two days to take the old ones out and install the new ones."
Here comes the truck with the new windows, out goes the large plate glass in the living room. "What do you mean that one did not make it on to this truck", Sorry, looks like it's gonna be two weeks to get that one in." We can put up cellophane and caulk it, it will be just fine.
Did I say I love my Pewter C5?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 860
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Florida
First off, you can take anyone to small claims court but you will not win...especially here in South Florida. The vendor sent you the wrong part and it happens every day. They are obligated to send you the correct part but that's it.
Whoever your installer is he is not only derelict because he did not mock up the parts or verify the part number or even glance at it before disassembly or he would have immediately noticed it was the wrong A.I.R. tube setup but also bending you over for the 8-hour labor time...
That is a 3-hour job MAXIMUM and shouldn't run you over $300...especially with shorties. That's what I paid for full Longtube install and plug/wire change. Hate to say "I told you so" but I did tell you who to call to avoid this very thing...
Whoever your installer is he is not only derelict because he did not mock up the parts or verify the part number or even glance at it before disassembly or he would have immediately noticed it was the wrong A.I.R. tube setup but also bending you over for the 8-hour labor time...
That is a 3-hour job MAXIMUM and shouldn't run you over $300...especially with shorties. That's what I paid for full Longtube install and plug/wire change. Hate to say "I told you so" but I did tell you who to call to avoid this very thing...
