After a lot of research and worrying over what headers I wanted to go with, I ended up deciding on Speed Engineering. I'm on a budget build and thought these would be the best bang for the buck. I purchased them on Ebay for around $380 shipped. This post will be pic heavy but here goes. I am half way through the install at this point.


Old manifolds are out.


I had composite gaskets. I guess my car has a story, but I don't know it.





The new Headers arrived packaged well.


New MLS AC Delco gaskets



I bought this heat wrap


I wrapped the starter on one side. Hopefully it helps

 

The welds look fantastic


No garbage in the ports. Everything was de-burred


My rusty straight edge said, good.


Drivers side in. Plenty of clearance

Both headers fit perfectly. No steering shaft issues. The O2 sensors fit fine. Biggest issue was/is keeping the wires off the headers on the passenger side. Only one O2 sensor extension is needed (for the passenger side). I did fire it up open and it was LOUD. After I shut it off, I went to start it again and just got a click. I probably have a bad starter connection. Installation at this point has been a breeze. Both went in, in about 2 hours. That included putting the coil packs, plugs, alternator back on. More to come

 

For any aftermarket headers, PLEASE buy some MSD Spark Plug Wires Spiral 8.5mm that allow bend so they do not come anywhere close to the header. Throw away your stock wires.

 

Nice write up so far, great to have for anyone considering these. I should have done the same when I installed my TSP headers.
Agree on non-GMPP wires if the wires are too close. But I run them with the factory metal shields in my DD driven Z for 4+ years with no problem.

 

I did buy AC Delco wires and am using the factory heat shields. I could not get the 'heat sock' to fit over the wires properly so I did not use them. I may work on that a little bit on Saturday.

 

Glad you liked them. Hopefully I helped with some of your questions. Continue asking and I'll try to keep answering. My GMPP wires are chugging along nicely with this setup, stock heat-shields, no touching. The only wire that's pretty close is the forward-most passenger wire. It's close but hasn't moved or shifted yet. I also agree with your passenger side 02 wire problems, it was a bit tricky getting them to a spot I liked. Probably spent an hour or so checking and rechecking how I had them positioned. Many miles later and nothing has burned up.

 

You did help quite a bit. My big concern right now is the wiring for the starter and o2. Did you wrap your wires at all? Also, I only need an o2 extension on the passenger side. The driver side has no connection issues to the factory harness. I'm not sure where that myth started.

 

I did not wrap my wires at all, we'll see how that works out in the long haul. I periodically inspect them and they're holding up fine. I actually didn't need an 02 sensor extension for any of my front 02s. I have an 04Z so no pup cats, the wiring is just long enough, its pretty taut which made keeping an air-gap around it much easier.

 

I also did not heat wrap anything; starter, wires, AC lines. I intended to, but 4 years later still no problems (daily driven Z, we get up to 100F). Might still one winter.

 

I finished up my install this weekend. When using the X-pipe that comes in the kit, you have to cut your original H Pipe about 18 inches from the back. All necessary clamps and adapters come in the kit, so you technically don't need to buy anything. That being said, there are 8 clamps on the exhaust which for me is unacceptable. I will be taking the car to my local muffler shop to have the Xpipe welded up. I'm guessing it'll cost me about 100, but will be money well spent.

My final analysis of the Speed Engineering Header kit: I give the fitment and quality of the headers an A+. I had absolutely no issues with them at all. The X-Pipe I will give a C-. Does it work, yes. In hind sight, I may have call SE and ordered just the headers and either gotten a better Xpipe or had a shop make my pipes. I would definitely recommend them. Installation time was about 4 hours total with the help of one friend.

I have a feeling my car had headers in a previous life. When I took the old manifold off, I had aftermarket gaskets, and when I installed the headers, I am getting no check engine light. They must have tuned it out somewhere along the line.

The system sounds great with my Corsa sport. It's quiet under the hood, but a decent rumble out the back and when you give it some fuel, it really comes alive. Obviously this is a not a mod if you like a quiet car for road trips etc.