Headers, Which Ones
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 18
From: Missouri City Texas
We replaced a set of "cheap" headers last year. All the header tubes where they were welded to the flange had cracks in them, except for two. That could cause allot of issues. That would be another reason to not shop for price. The materials and the machines and the human touch are all expensive to manufacture. Imagine what they would cost if you had a one off set built.
My guess is they were just stainless ebay headers, which are hit or miss. My $300 headers/x-pipe have been trouble free for 5 years and 60,000 miles now, but I know some had problems from another manufacturer.
None of those three header brands for ~750 have had any issues that I know about and will make as much power as Kooks, ARH, Etc...
Racer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: Denton Texas
I installed Pfadt Long Tube headers with X pipe on my Vette 3 weeks ago. Everyone tells me they are the best set of headers they have ever seen. So far, I love them. They added 45 ftlb torque. I'm now pushing 505 rwhp and 496 ftlb torque.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,798
Likes: 25
From: Pine Bluff Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21
The best......hard to tell.
I will give you another one to ponder on.....Melrose...they are not stainless...they are mild steel...coated inside and out. They are a little lighter and not as brittle as s/s. Of course, they probably will not last as long as s/s, but they will last longer than I will be alive....$1600 with cats and shipped.
I will give you another one to ponder on.....Melrose...they are not stainless...they are mild steel...coated inside and out. They are a little lighter and not as brittle as s/s. Of course, they probably will not last as long as s/s, but they will last longer than I will be alive....$1600 with cats and shipped.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 493
Likes: 2
The "best" is relative, I have a buddy that shoots some pretty crappy guns and says his are just as good as mine because they haven't broken on him yet...
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 18
From: Missouri City Texas
Agreed. Those are the best I've ever seen. Will all headers get you about the same gains? Probably. Will some get you above and beyond what is "typical" as far as HP/TQ...I would say yes.
The "best" is relative, I have a buddy that shoots some pretty crappy guns and says his are just as good as mine because they haven't broken on him yet...
The "best" is relative, I have a buddy that shoots some pretty crappy guns and says his are just as good as mine because they haven't broken on him yet...
When my $300 headers (or any of the mainstream cheaper brands) make as much horsepower and torque as 1500 dollar headers and have lasted over 50k miles so far with no signs of cracks, leaks, etc.... then yes, I say they're just as good.
People can certainly spend their money as they see fit, but you're paying for the name more than anything. As long as the headers fit you'll make the power.
The only headers right now probably worth their cost are the PFADT as those are works of art and truly have a unique design that appears to have more testing/science backing it's gains. If you want a boutique header, PFADT is the way to go. I'd still like to see a header showdown though between PFADT, LG, Kooks, ARH, OBX and any others. Same car, same day, same dyno.
Platinum Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,665
Likes: 340
Definitely not the same thing. The cheaper gun probably doesn't shoot as well.
When my $300 headers (or any of the mainstream cheaper brands) make as much horsepower and torque as 1500 dollar headers and have lasted over 50k miles so far with no signs of cracks, leaks, etc.... then yes, I say they're just as good.
People can certainly spend their money as they see fit, but you're paying for the name more than anything. As long as the headers fit you'll make the power.
The only headers right now probably worth their cost are the PFADT as those are works of art and truly have a unique design that appears to have more testing/science backing it's gains. If you want a boutique header, PFADT is the way to go. I'd still like to see a header showdown though between PFADT, LG, Kooks, ARH, OBX and any others. Same car, same day, same dyno.
When my $300 headers (or any of the mainstream cheaper brands) make as much horsepower and torque as 1500 dollar headers and have lasted over 50k miles so far with no signs of cracks, leaks, etc.... then yes, I say they're just as good.
People can certainly spend their money as they see fit, but you're paying for the name more than anything. As long as the headers fit you'll make the power.
The only headers right now probably worth their cost are the PFADT as those are works of art and truly have a unique design that appears to have more testing/science backing it's gains. If you want a boutique header, PFADT is the way to go. I'd still like to see a header showdown though between PFADT, LG, Kooks, ARH, OBX and any others. Same car, same day, same dyno.
As far as the showdown, how are going to mount all those headers on the same car, make all the runs in one day? i would like to see that.
If you just use a good dyno it doesn't matter what day you do the test on.
Tolero Apto Victum
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 9,669
Likes: 37
From: Woodlands TX
Definitely not the same thing. The cheaper gun probably doesn't shoot as well.
When my $300 headers (or any of the mainstream cheaper brands) make as much horsepower and torque as 1500 dollar headers and have lasted over 50k miles so far with no signs of cracks, leaks, etc.... then yes, I say they're just as good.
People can certainly spend their money as they see fit, but you're paying for the name more than anything. As long as the headers fit you'll make the power.
The only headers right now probably worth their cost are the PFADT as those are works of art and truly have a unique design that appears to have more testing/science backing it's gains. If you want a boutique header, PFADT is the way to go. I'd still like to see a header showdown though between PFADT, LG, Kooks, ARH, OBX and any others. Same car, same day, same dyno.
When my $300 headers (or any of the mainstream cheaper brands) make as much horsepower and torque as 1500 dollar headers and have lasted over 50k miles so far with no signs of cracks, leaks, etc.... then yes, I say they're just as good.
People can certainly spend their money as they see fit, but you're paying for the name more than anything. As long as the headers fit you'll make the power.
The only headers right now probably worth their cost are the PFADT as those are works of art and truly have a unique design that appears to have more testing/science backing it's gains. If you want a boutique header, PFADT is the way to go. I'd still like to see a header showdown though between PFADT, LG, Kooks, ARH, OBX and any others. Same car, same day, same dyno.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 493
Likes: 2
Definitely not the same thing. The cheaper gun probably doesn't shoot as well.
When my $300 headers (or any of the mainstream cheaper brands) make as much horsepower and torque as 1500 dollar headers and have lasted over 50k miles so far with no signs of cracks, leaks, etc.... then yes, I say they're just as good.
People can certainly spend their money as they see fit, but you're paying for the name more than anything. As long as the headers fit you'll make the power.
The only headers right now probably worth their cost are the PFADT as those are works of art and truly have a unique design that appears to have more testing/science backing it's gains. If you want a boutique header, PFADT is the way to go. I'd still like to see a header showdown though between PFADT, LG, Kooks, ARH, OBX and any others. Same car, same day, same dyno.
When my $300 headers (or any of the mainstream cheaper brands) make as much horsepower and torque as 1500 dollar headers and have lasted over 50k miles so far with no signs of cracks, leaks, etc.... then yes, I say they're just as good.
People can certainly spend their money as they see fit, but you're paying for the name more than anything. As long as the headers fit you'll make the power.
The only headers right now probably worth their cost are the PFADT as those are works of art and truly have a unique design that appears to have more testing/science backing it's gains. If you want a boutique header, PFADT is the way to go. I'd still like to see a header showdown though between PFADT, LG, Kooks, ARH, OBX and any others. Same car, same day, same dyno.
I'm glad to see Obama isn't the only one giving our country away to China
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 18
From: Missouri City Texas
I would rather not say, but they were a set that was mentioned.
As far as the showdown, how are going to mount all those headers on the same car, make all the runs in one day? i would like to see that.
If you just use a good dyno it doesn't matter what day you do the test on.
As far as the showdown, how are going to mount all those headers on the same car, make all the runs in one day? i would like to see that.
If you just use a good dyno it doesn't matter what day you do the test on.
It takes 3 hours to swap longtubes....should be pretty easy to try out 4-5 different brands in a day, no? I'd just like to see it done in the same day to get it out of the way and have results posted up.
Because your analogy made no sense you back-pedal to your "buy American!" platform? Give me a break. I'd like to see your 100% American household...hopefully there isn't any technology in your house. I also hope you don't think the parts in your car are all American made....major parts at that.
Last edited by FloydSummerOf68; Jul 10, 2013 at 04:32 PM.
Advanced
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 92
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IE, American Racing Headers, Kooks, Stainless Works, etc.
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 329
Likes: 7
From: Evans Colorado
So I'm just assuming but I believe TSP's are American made and still around 800 without cats but since pretty much no one but kooks sells epa certified cats I don't think it matters and from what I can tell they really only had fitment issues on C5's and not C6's. so what's the argument against those?