I have a seen a few posts now from last year on these headers. How are they holding up a year later? Any fitment/leaking issues after a year of use? Did anyone integrate cats to their system? Last question did you cut your old flanges off your stock H pipe to mate up the axleback?

 

I'll copy paste my comments from another thread. I cannot comment on longetivity as it's been about 2 weeks, but my car doesn't see any salt so I'd imagine they'll hold up fine for many years. There is a video on youtube of a SE header post-install on a C5, that can give you an idea how it would mate to a stock axleback.

just installed some on my Z last week. Fitment was great, if you exclude the JOKE clamps they give you. Spend some money on clamps and you're golden imo. You WILL LEAK without new clamps, don't see how you wouldn't.

My car came with a Corsa X-pipe and Extreme mufflers so I wasn't able to use the provided x-pipe. Mainly because the stock H-pipe is the only piece that has hangars on the whole piece. I believe you can order without an X-pipe if you call them. If you have a stock catback, you'll be fine. No steering shaft interference, no spark plug boots melting, no bellhousing/body interference. They really fit nicely. Removed the alternator, coil packs and spark plugs on the drivers side. Passenger side required removing starter wires, and that was it. Pretty easy install, it's all the tucking of the wires and O2 sensors that stressed me the most. That and wondering how you make a clamp that just doesn't work.

Anyways, I mated my Corsa X-pipe to the collectors by hacking off some pipe that came off of the stock catalytic converter piece. Not the flanges though, the piece was modified previously so the only flanges I had were off the manifold and to the mufflers. About 10 inches on either side, clamped it to the Corsa and that was that. The quality of the metal is debatable, but if you're getting inexpensive headers, I'd recommend a quality coating. Too many of these guys spend $1K+ on quality metal pipes, just to spend even more on a coating that negates the purpose of buying quality metal headers. Coatings give you heat retention AND corrosion resistance. And it looks nice.

So put me in the "cheap header" crowd, I know it's not a popular opinion but the product Speed Engineering is selling is not 1/3 as good as Kooks, ARH, LG. It's a solid 9/10 of what the big brands are selling, at 1/3 of the price.

Honorable mention to TSP headers, sure they're decent as well, at a slightly higher but still reasonable price.

 

So did you buy speed engineering or TSP headers?

 

Speed Engineering.

 

I agree with Artclass completely, fitment was very good and the clamps are a joke. Every joint leaks from the poorly sized pipes. I was not sure if other clamps would take care of it so I'm welding some of the joints together. The others I'll have to try good quality clamps on. I did cut the old exhaust at the factory x that way you have the rear flanges and enough pipe to slip in to the new mid pipe.

 

A few concerns I have buying these headers.

1. Lack of high flow cats. This would be some custom exhaust work to get them installed.
2. The rear exhaust flanges not being present. I like the ability to reverse back to stock as well taking the exhaust apart in sections for serviceability.

 

I know I'm reviving an old thread, but I am knee deep in this project right now. I have the factory exhaust off the car. The SE headers and Xpipe are due to be at my house on Thursday. I have two questions. ArtShank, you mentioned you did not remove the starter, only the wiring? I have the starter off now, but if I can leave it in place, I will put it back in now. Secondly, I have a Corsa axle back. What am I looking at to mate their Xpipe to my axle back? Can I hack off the rear section of the original H pipe and use that, or am I just better off taking it to a muffler shop and having them finish it up?

Thanks in advance.

Rob

 

I would leave your starter off, and mock up the passenger side header first. Thread it loosely into the head then install your starter. Me and my two buddies did my install, they spent a helluva lotta time finagling the starter wires around the header, a full starter removal would have been easier if they had some foresight. But hey, free help, can't complain.(I just did) For the rear section, it's your call.

Check out this video.


He hacked his stock pipe pretty much right at the hanger. Notice the welding that was done to seal it up. I'd say you're best option would be to do what this guy did, then take it to an exhaust shop to get it welded up. Granted, if you manage to clamp those suckers in the right way you might not have any leaks at all! I recommend slip joint type clamps. Available at pretty much any Autoparts store. The whole Speed Engineering system is 3 inch until the neck down, which it then turns into 2.5 inch.

 

Thanks. That video helps a lot on what I'll be looking at to get it mated to the axleback. Did you use any heat wrap on the starter and/or wiring? Are you still happy with the headers?

 

I've been looking at these Speed Engineering headers.

My car is a 2000. The only mod is Corsa Xtreme axle back. I have the stock H pipe. Should I buy a Speed Engineering x pipe (if I buy SE headers) or will SE headers hook up without an issue to other brands of x pipes?

Also, I need cats. Does SE sell a catted x pipe? If not, which brand catted x pipe is best to hook up to both my Corsa Xtreme and SE header? Trying to eliminate welding if possible (or minimize welding as much as possible). Thanks.

 

Sign me up for a set, please shoot me an email.

info@tmodcustoms.com

 

I tried to buy them on amazon and from your website and I couldn't get them shipped to communist California. What a joke, prolly costing you some sales. Send me a pp invoice shipped to 92307 w\ the good gaskets and o2 extensions please.

 

I was expecting to have instructions from Speed Engineering to tell me where to cut the stock H pipe to connect the headers but to my surprise they could not tell me. Has anyone who's installed the Speed Engineering headers remember the measurement to where they cut the H pipe?

 

Try posting your question in the C5 General section a lot of people in that section have used those headers

 

I cut right after the H piupe then trimed as needed. There us quite a bit of room to slide back and forth to get them into the right spot

 

No Measurement. I just cut mine right next to the crossover of the "H" pipe. The "H" part goes away. Like Mc556 said, plenty of room with the supplied adapters for the fore and aft adjustment.
Sure would have been nice to have an option to add those pieces, rather cut your old exhaust. I know what your going thru on your thought process.

 

I agree I certainly would’ve paid extra for the pipes versus cutting my factory exhaust
It wasn’t a big deal but I definitely would have paid for a set. I was also going to comment on the supplied clamps. I thought I had done the upgrade but must have forgot . I’ve had the standard clamps on for about 200 miles of driving. So far no leaks. I think the people having issues may want to hit the bolts with some more torque. The clamps are functional but the upgrade is ideal and a better system.

So far so good though. I don’t have enough mileage to give them a golden review, but if they hold up and don’t crack then they are a great value.
Nothing against the top tier brands. Kooks makes a great product. However with C5 starting at $12k to mid to high $20k the SE make more sense.