For those of you that have recently recieved your headers, it is possible that a leak at the air tube fitting may exist. This was discovered on a install at the shop and by several customers that had a small "tick" they could not identify. It is not the flange that is leaking as some have suggested, but where the air tube is welded at the flange, which makes it seem that it might be the flange. For those of you that have not installed them yet, you can check them in the following manner:

Cover the air tube hole in the primary tube with your finger
From the air tube flange side, spray a colored liquid(such as penetrating oil) into the tube.
Observe around the primary tube at the flange for a leak.

If you have a set that is leaking, please give us a call and we will send a call tag to have them picked up.

If you already have them on the car and have a small "tick" noise under load from the engine compartment, that is where it is coming from. Once again, please call and we will get you out a new set as soon as we can correct the issue.

We are very sorry for any inconvenience this has or may cause any of you. I believe we caught this early on as there are only a few sets left that are not accounted for, and we will get this fixed as soon as possible.

Dan Bills
Operations Manager
Finish Line Performance

 

Dan,
Thanks for being a "stand up" vendor. I'll check mine in the next couple of days but I don't remember any ticking.

Great product as far as I'm concerned.

thanks,
later,

 

This only pertains to headers sold this March.

 

Dan,

Thanks for posting this information. I have already spoken with Mitch and we have determined that my set has this defect, they are not installed yet. Mitch has informed me of the "call tag" and that they would be picked up this Friday. Mitch was professional, understanding and easy going. I am sure he had already received several angry calls and emails, but he still treated me politely and with respect. I did not want any of this to happen. I thought I would be installing my FLPs this weekend, but these things happen sometimes. After everything is said and done, thanks for stepping up like "this" and taking care it...

Sincerely,
Scott Snyder
(SideStep)
:cheers:

 

I do not have a set but I was wondering about the guys who have a defective set and have already installed them. What about the expense of R/R them?

 

i have a set of FLP headers and they rock no problems here at all........it is refreshing to see a company take notice of a possible problem and handle it the right way.......................many companys out there would charge you for another set and inspect the returned goods ..then decide if they will give you a refund on the 2nd set ............great job FLP :party: :party: :seeya

 

Installed mine first of the year and love them, glad to see vendors communicating directly with customers to stand behind their products, seems to be a lost art in this country anymore.

 

FLP responded to the public after being "outed" by a customer who posted a thread about the poor customer service he received after purchasing and installing defective headers. This is not the first quality issue I have seen regarding FLP, nor is it their first customer service issue. I am currently in the market for a set of LT headers, but I will monitor the outcome of this situation carefully before voting with my dollars.

 

Good job Dan on stating the problem .
It is a manufacturing QC issue plain & simple.
This was a concered since looking at my headers from day one....
I sent you guys the info.
I looked mine over close, not a problem at install or now.
From my install page

I do have a concern on the "curfing in" of angled pipe & the jigging job done on the flange alignment(s)...... inside the flange is not a smooth transition zone for the tube to flange weld. Not a clean "fairing in" job.
The welders gotta "pay attention to detail" Been there........... :cheers:

 

Based on this picture where is the problem? I just bought a set and did a little test to see if it leaked ( put finger over one end of the hole poured a little water with food coloring in it to see if it leaked and nothing seemed to come out). Can you indicate where the problem would be ? I just recieved these headers this month and was going to install them after the dealer fixes my sticky clutch issue.

Thanks

 

JWilson, to answer your question. The leak is around the weld where the airtube is welded to flange.

For those that already have them on the car. Here's a little test you can do. Ensuring the car is cool. Take some dish soap and coat the weld where the airtube is welded to the flange. Start the car. If you see bubbles then you have the leak. Note: the headers heat up in a hurry so you may have to do the drivers and passenger sides at different times. Also, look around the primary pipe that the airtube is welded closest too. You may see a light brown residue around where the primary pipe and the flange come together. That is your second indicator. If you have these signs, you have the leak. I just spoke to FLP and they confirmed I have the problem. Mine are already installed so I will have to wait until April for a new set. I do have to say I'm a little upset this problem wasn't found and I now have to wait a month for a new set, plus going through the hassle of a re-install. But at least they are admitting the problem and getting the new parts out to customers with the problem.

 

This was how I found mine. (Actually the air tube is welded TO the primary, not close to it), and the carbon formation is on the front of the primary at the flange, which made it look as if it was coming out between the flange and the primary tube. I took pictures of it last weekend and sent them to Mitch. He told me that he was 99.9% sure the air tube to primary weld had a pinhole leak, and that he would send me a new passenger side as soon as he gets some in.

I put them on myself, and it should only take about 1 hour to swap out now that I've installed them once, so that's not too bad. I know that FLP didn't do this on purpose, and I'm sure they are a bit embarrased by this...so I for one am not pissed at them by any means.

Fact is, if these systems weren't so popular then they would have extras laying around to send out as replacements..........except for this slight setback I'm extremely pleased with the system. :auto:

 

Mitch,

Thanks for the fast turn around on replacing the defective set! I am taking your word on them not leaking and going to install them. This set is scratch free and much more pleasing to the eye!

Forum members: I encountered no problem with getting FLP to correct the issue and worked with Mitch in resolving this quite quickly and with no expense to me! If there was a previous customer service issue they have changed for the better and more in tune with customer satisfaction!

:cheers:


However I do feel that members that have installed the defective set should receive the install cost so that they are getting wacked twice for an install that shouldn't have had to be redone due to production defect! Whats fair is fair!
:nono:

 

Funny you should mention that.........
I had to install 2 Arrow remanf. starters on my 74' ford 390 cid P/U before I got a good one. Bench tested proved ok, but..........I had headers and it was a PITA. The local dealers said, "you will never get the labor cost .
I wrote a letter for $35 ........got the funds............ in 1987 and have done so since then w/o issue from OEMs when they know they have a QA problem.
Suggest you discuss it privately with FLP and agree on a reaonable labor fee.
The worst they can say is NO, but you must ASK THEM DIRECTLY to hear YES :thumbs:

 

:iagree: 100%! Keep up the GREAT WORK FLP! :cheers:

MTI 427 Roadster f/k/a Nitrovette :smash: :crazy:

 

ALLTHROTTLE&NOBOTTLE,

Thanks for posting the pics... :D

:cheers:

 

I agree-how do we recoup the install costs? I will be out $400 to put them in twice....???

 

Always a good idea...

FedEx just picked my FLPs to return to Finish Line Performance for replacement... :seeya

good luck to all


:cheers:

 

Ok Mitch we have a major issue with the SECOND set of headers I had installed yesterday...I suggest you contact me asap as I have left a voicemail yesterday!

:mad

 

I just got off the phone with Mitch @ FLP a little while ago. I installed a set of FLPs that I've had lying around since December, and after a week and a half of driving I heard a ticking sound underneath the car yesterday morning. I brought the car down to my shop, and put it up on the lift. Upon disassembly, I found that the driver's side tab that bolts on to the bottom of the torque tube near the collector had completely pulled off, leaving a hole in the header. Before disassembly I had seen some black soot around the area, but as soon as I removed the bolt the piece completely fell off. I explained the situation with Mitch, and he stated that he had none in stock right now. So I have to send back my setup, and wait for the new ones to arrive. I applaud him for making the effort, but I wish I would have had these on for the next Corvette Challenge event this weekend.