Crack in Breathless Header
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,473
Likes: 5
From: Brooksville Fl
Crack in Breathless Header
Has anyone ever seen this before? I thought I blew a header gasket, then I saw this.
They are about 1 1/2 years old, made by Breathless.
I am in the process of removing it but had to take a pic for your thoughts.
Header out, Added More Pics
They are about 1 1/2 years old, made by Breathless.
I am in the process of removing it but had to take a pic for your thoughts.
Header out, Added More Pics
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: Burlington ON
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It looks like the mild steel under the coating has started to rot and then crack in the high stress areas. You might be able to get em welded up but I bet its not long until another tube does the same thing unfortunately.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,473
Likes: 5
From: Brooksville Fl
Throughout the years I have had many a header and this has never happened. I would not mind as much if I had paid $100 for a cheap set on a 71 Nova. (Which BTW are still going strong after five years).
But to pay $1300.00 and this to happen 1 1/2 years later!!
Well unhappy is an understatement!
But to pay $1300.00 and this to happen 1 1/2 years later!!
Well unhappy is an understatement!
Race Director
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From: Lackey, my own dragstrip VA.
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Sorry to see that IVO, I agree with Matt.
The other issue is if they were not correctly welded and a little imperfection was in the exhaust stream this is exactly what they do.
Definetly a heat effected zone defect.
Good luck with the fix, do you have someone lined up to try the weld repair? or have you talked to Ernie @ BPP
The other issue is if they were not correctly welded and a little imperfection was in the exhaust stream this is exactly what they do.
Definetly a heat effected zone defect.
Good luck with the fix, do you have someone lined up to try the weld repair? or have you talked to Ernie @ BPP
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Fishing Somewhere Cold
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15
You can see that the crack is not across the welds and it looks like bad fit up job to me from the get go made worse over time by the stresses of heating and cooling cycles.
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Race Director
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From: Lackey, my own dragstrip VA.
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Originally Posted by IVOZO6
Well my header is on its way to sunny Florida.
Spoke to Ernie at Breathless and he wants to see the header before sends out a replacement
Spoke to Ernie at Breathless and he wants to see the header before sends out a replacement
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,473
Likes: 5
From: Brooksville Fl
Hello, I just received a brand spankin NEW replacement header.
Ernie and Breathless Performance are top notch.
There is nothing I like more than great customer service.
Well got to get to work now.
Ernie and Breathless Performance are top notch.
There is nothing I like more than great customer service.
Well got to get to work now.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,394
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From: Melbourne FL
Originally Posted by IVOZO6
Hello, I just received a brand spankin NEW replacement header.
Ernie and Breathless Performance are top notch.
There is nothing I like more than great customer service.
Well got to get to work now.
Ernie and Breathless Performance are top notch.
There is nothing I like more than great customer service.
Well got to get to work now.
Race Director
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From: Lackey, my own dragstrip VA.
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Originally Posted by IVOZO6
Hello, I just received a brand spankin NEW replacement header.
Ernie and Breathless Performance are top notch.
There is nothing I like more than great customer service.
Well got to get to work now.
Ernie and Breathless Performance are top notch.
There is nothing I like more than great customer service.
Well got to get to work now.
That should give you 1/10th off in the 1/4 mile...........working on a NC 1/8 mile track rental
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 209
From: Lake Mary Florida
I am glad to see Ernie at Breathless took care of the issue. I am in the process of having my dealer's "performance center" install BPP headers at their suggestion. I have not seen much support for BPP headers on the Forum, so I was getting a bit concerned. Plus the BPP headers are very "pricey" compared to the competition. Also, I chose the coated (inside and outside) mild steel version over the stainless.
Hopefully I will have no problems, but s**t happens and it is good to see a vendor stand behind his product.
Hopefully I will have no problems, but s**t happens and it is good to see a vendor stand behind his product.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 209
From: Lake Mary Florida
Just got my car back from my installer. Unfortunately, the BPP headers did not meet my expectations for quality. Three problems:
1. Hard contact between one plug boot and the header tube.
2. Right side collector crossmember mounting tab was welded so that mounting hole would not align with bolt hole in cross member. Installer had to "jury rig" a mount.
3. Pipe stub to be welded to cat was too short- installer had to weld in a piece of pipe to fit.
I have emailed Ernie at Breathless. I will reserve comment until I see how he responds.
1. Hard contact between one plug boot and the header tube.
2. Right side collector crossmember mounting tab was welded so that mounting hole would not align with bolt hole in cross member. Installer had to "jury rig" a mount.
3. Pipe stub to be welded to cat was too short- installer had to weld in a piece of pipe to fit.
I have emailed Ernie at Breathless. I will reserve comment until I see how he responds.