When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
OK, I’m not gonna cheap out on internals, but headers and other exhaust components are simply pieces of tubing. Also, ceramic coating is fine for preventing rust on mild steel headers, but it’s not needed on stainless steel. And if you think ceramic keeps thing cool, I’ve got my share of header kisses from them to put that to rest.
Forum members have used Speed Engineering headers successfully, and they installed them themselves. If you watch Mr Blacks YouTube channel, he does his mods in his garage, on the floor, just like any of us are free to do.
Like any cross section of groups, there’s those who have money to do as they wish. If you’re not one of those, you might just take a minute before shoveling out $3,000+ for headers. That’s a lot of money for 40hp(ish) and/or a lower exhaust note, especially when you can get a set of SE and bullet cats for about a grand.
I have Speed Engineering and outside of the clamps being garbage, I have no complaints. I am getting sick of smelling like exhaust when ever I drive the car so I looked into adding cats to the X-pips. A local shop quoted me $2-300 in labor to add the cats and completely weld the x-pipes. They also suggested the Texas Speed 3" high flow cats. Even with that cost, the Speed Engineering is still a good deal.
Insinuating that it's impossible to find a well built cheap header for these cars is just ridiculous. Many of the cheaper headers that have an actual name brand that work with these cars fit well and DO NOT have a reputation for just cracking or breaking off at the head lol.
That is just spreading BS IMO.
The number one complaint and I get it is that they don't come with cats. This is a correctable scenario for those that are not helpless.
I've owned fancy *** boutique headers several times in years past. Guess what, they don't do anything spectacular over a well built inexpensive header.
Finding out what works well for any giving vehicle out there doesn't take a lot of work to do a little research.
The only thing I will say and this isn't directed at anyone in this thread is to stay the hell away from the sub 300 dollar crap you see on Amazon and fleabay that have no names associated with them at all.
For those of you that want to spend 2k dollars on headers and overpriced cats for a 20 plus year old car? Good on you.
Is it, I have seen several in the shop with this happen. Couldn't tell you who made them because they are never labeled except for one set. I get emails all the time from companies overseas saying they have a Kooks look alike for $150 and less. So again, think about what you know about a set of headers. How much tubing goes into one, so call and price 304 stainless tube. How much labor to make them. If they are willing to sell them to me for $150 then what is it actually costing them to make them? Run real fast away from those, they also have no liability in that their company is in China. They also have look alike Corsa mufflers. How about that for the companies that spent thousands in designing and testing to have some overseas company copy it and then sell it here with no repercussions. You believe this is BS, then buy them and don't complain on here when you have issues.
Insinuating that it's impossible to find a well built cheap header for these cars is just ridiculous. Many of the cheaper headers that have an actual name brand that work with these cars fit well and DO NOT have a reputation for just cracking or breaking off at the head lol.
That is just spreading BS IMO.
The number one complaint and I get it is that they don't come with cats. This is a correctable scenario for those that are not helpless.
I've owned fancy *** boutique headers several times in years past. Guess what, they don't do anything spectacular over a well built inexpensive header.
Finding out what works well for any giving vehicle out there doesn't take a lot of work to do a little research.
The only thing I will say and this isn't directed at anyone in this thread is to stay the hell away from the sub 300 dollar crap you see on Amazon and fleabay that have no names associated with them at all.
For those of you that want to spend 2k dollars on headers and overpriced cats for a 20 plus year old car? Good on you.
Is it, I have seen several in the shop with this happen. Couldn't tell you who made them because they are never labeled except for one set. I get emails all the time from companies overseas saying they have a Kooks look alike for $150 and less. So again, think about what you know about a set of headers. How much tubing goes into one, so call and price 304 stainless tube. How much labor to make them. If they are willing to sell them to me for $150 then what is it actually costing them to make them? Run real fast away from those, they also have no liability in that their company is in China. They also have look alike Corsa mufflers. How about that for the companies that spent thousands in designing and testing to have some overseas company copy it and then sell it here with no repercussions. You believe this is BS, then buy them and don't complain on here when you have issues.
OK, I’m not gonna cheap out on internals, but headers and other exhaust components are simply pieces of tubing. Also, ceramic coating is fine for preventing rust on mild steel headers, but it’s not needed on stainless steel. And if you think ceramic keeps thing cool, I’ve got my share of header kisses from them to put that to rest.
Forum members have used Speed Engineering headers successfully, and they installed them themselves. If you watch Mr Blacks YouTube channel, he does his mods in his garage, on the floor, just like any of us are free to do.
Like any cross section of groups, there’s those who have money to do as they wish. If you’re not one of those, you might just take a minute before shoveling out $3,000+ for headers. That’s a lot of money for 40hp(ish) and/or a lower exhaust note, especially when you can get a set of SE and bullet cats for about a grand.
I agree with this, use of Ceramic on Stainless is crazy, you lose the awesome properties of stainless and the ceramic will get hot if you drive the car. I don't know who the Speed direct headers are so I am not talking about them, they could make their own header and maybe they are not using 304 stainless which will save a ton of money. They could also mig weld which will also save a ton of time which drives the cost of production down.
I have discussed this with my mechanic who specializes in all things Corvette. He has also owned and driven 3000HP drag cars. He knows what he's talking about. When I finally do get headers, I'm going to get a set of the speed engineering headers, and he will weld a set of cats into the x-pipe. The clamps on the Speed Engineering setup are crap. He will weld a high quality clamps on instead. When all is said and done, it will still be cheaper than buying expensive headers, but with the same quality result. Now, it does require a lot more labor that installing a more expensive set. However, if you're a skilled welder, or have a mechanic that won't charge an arm and a leg, you can save yourself some money with speed engineering headers.
I have discussed this with my mechanic who specializes in all things Corvette. He has also owned and driven 3000HP drag cars. He knows what he's talking about. When I finally do get headers, I'm going to get a set of the speed engineering headers, and he will weld a set of cats into the x-pipe. The clamps on the Speed Engineering setup are crap. He will weld a high quality clamps on instead. When all is said and done, it will still be cheaper than buying expensive headers, but with the same quality result. Now, it does require a lot more labor that installing a more expensive set. However, if you're a skilled welder, or have a mechanic that won't charge an arm and a leg, you can save yourself some money with speed engineering headers.
Ditto.
Im going the same route after the cam. Only difference is I’ll install them myself. It may be more time than the Diamond Jim brands, but I’m retired and have plenty of time.
Going bullet cats, and there’s plenty of guys around here to handle that aspect.
Im going the same route after the cam. Only difference is I’ll install them myself. It may be more time than the Diamond Jim brands, but I’m retired and have plenty of time.
Going bullet cats, and there’s plenty of guys around here to handle that aspect.
👍
Bullet cats are exactly what my mechanic suggested.
OK, I’m not gonna cheap out on internals, but headers and other exhaust components are simply pieces of tubing. Also, ceramic coating is fine for preventing rust on mild steel headers, but it’s not needed on stainless steel. And if you think ceramic keeps thing cool, I’ve got my share of header kisses from them to put that to rest.
Forum members have used Speed Engineering headers successfully, and they installed them themselves. If you watch Mr Blacks YouTube channel, he does his mods in his garage, on the floor, just like any of us are free to do.
Like any cross section of groups, there’s those who have money to do as they wish. If you’re not one of those, you might just take a minute before shoveling out $3,000+ for headers. That’s a lot of money for 40hp(ish) and/or a lower exhaust note, especially when you can get a set of SE and bullet cats for about a grand.
Please come back here and let us know what happens when the crack in the header weld causes a a valve to break. How does that effect the expensive internals?
Please come back here and let us know what happens when the crack in the header weld causes a a valve to break. How does that effect the expensive internals?
I'm not trying to argue with anyone but I'm curious. How does a crack in a header weld cause a valve to break? I don't see the correlation.
Please come back here and let us know what happens when the crack in the header weld causes a a valve to break. How does that effect the expensive internals?
Back in the day I had mild steel headers and during a practice run one of the header pipes blew out of the flange! No damage to the engine though. To be fair this was in a boat and we were crashing through swells at high speed placing a lot of strain on the flange joints. When we got home, all it took was a little welding and she was good as new.
I have not experienced any engine failure due to headers failing, nor even heard of it from all my racing buddies over 40 years. My gut tells me we’d be ok with Speed Engineering headers driving around town. Who knows though, maybe a header weld will grenade the engine and that will be the ticket for an LT4 swap!
01-29-2023, 09:44 PM
