Speed engineering headers PROBLEM
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,243
Likes: 1,133
From: North Myrtle Beach SC
Speed engineering headers PROBLEM
Saw something on Facebook about someone having a problem with an install on an A6 C6. Seems that now SE is selling their headers as for C5 and C6 as the same part. On A6 cars, there is a major interference with the trans cooling lines. They even say so on their web site. It seems that the coolant lines and the O2 sensors now occupy the exact same space. A fix could be relocating the O2 bung a little, but why doesn’t SE do this instead of forcing buyers to bugger up the headers themselves?
probably not a problem for M6 cars.
probably not a problem for M6 cars.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,994
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From: Southeast TX
I had a similar problem with Pfadt headers. They were very well made and just about as pretty as a set of headers can get. The only problem was the O2 sensor bungs were right across from each other. Install one and the other was impossible to install. We just welded another bung in a little ahead or behind the one on the other side. Not that big of a deal, but damn, that should have been caught before shipping those things to the public.
I was probably lucky to even get the headers I paid for. Pfadt was going **** up at about that time.
I was probably lucky to even get the headers I paid for. Pfadt was going **** up at about that time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Charles Town WV
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Auto here with speed engineering headers... non issue. They're close but they clear. I added heat wrap to my lines for caution but even with the heat wrap they still have an inch of clearance. The o2's are not in the same path as they run up along the back side of the block if you've routed them correctly and have the right length extension.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Charles Town WV
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
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correct, you need an extension. Its not a fitment issue though. They actually move the O2's to a rather nice position to route the extensions far off the exhaust and up the backside of the block hugging the firewall. The lines are going to run close with whatever long tube you do. That I agree could be better but it has yet to be an issue. The heat wrap on mine has been there for 3 years and I've never had any negative results from it
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: North Myrtle Beach SC
The point of the post is that they have CHANGED the position of the passenger side O2 to use the same header on C5 and C6. NOW there is interference with the O2 sensor and the A6 cooling lines.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Charles Town WV
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
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my apologies, I misread the first post. If thats the case thats rather short sited of them. I have a buddy who just ordered a set we're about to put on his car. I'll try to take pictures and see if I can see any difference.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: North Myrtle Beach SC
The newer ones have the passenger O2 on the side of the collector, the older ones is on top. I’m going to my storage this morning to see which ones I have. Fingers crossed.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Charles Town WV
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hmm, mine are 3 years old and the o2 bung is on the side... that being said I can't see any issue with that style setup. I love the placement compared to the Huron speeds I had on my C5
Le Mans Master
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From: Charles Town WV
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hmm, well thats a pain. But still for half the price of the competitors still a good deal if your on a budget. I will say my biggest complaint about them is the tinny cheap tone... I think the think walled stainless causes it. I have a friend with a nearly identical setup as mine except kooks long tubes and his car sounds way nicer than mine.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: North Myrtle Beach SC
I pulled my set out of the box ( they are going on in 6 weeks) and thank goodness they are the old style. The pictures I saw on Facebook of someone doing install with the newer ones didn’t look good.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
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Saw something on Facebook about someone having a problem with an install on an A6 C6. Seems that now SE is selling their headers as for C5 and C6 as the same part. On A6 cars, there is a major interference with the trans cooling lines. They even say so on their web site. It seems that the coolant lines and the O2 sensors now occupy the exact same space. A fix could be relocating the O2 bung a little, but why doesn’t SE do this instead of forcing buyers to bugger up the headers themselves?
probably not a problem for M6 cars.
probably not a problem for M6 cars.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,243
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From: North Myrtle Beach SC
They now sell 1 part for both c5 and c6. They changed from 2 separate parts. Obviously to save $$. The customer gets screwed. I have been a fan of Speed Engineering since my 4th Gen f-body days. No longer.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 63
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From: Collinsville,IL
They show different pipe after headers for different cars. I noticed they are $349 for a set. You are comparing this with others costing $1300 up.
They do not claim what gauge they are made of, not uncommon with more expensive brands I've looked at.
You are comparing the sound of a different car with expensive headers as "better", ok. Your observation requires installing the same headers on your car with the same exhaust with video/audio or your entire effort here proves zero.
You get what you pay for, how much do you want to pay?
I found the JBA 409SS Titanium ceramic coated headers I installed on my Titan truck to be good quality. I believe 16GA tubing. I've had them installed for about a year and zero issues.
Zero issues is what I'd prefer, not very realistic with "hot rod" parts as I've found through many installs.
JBA headers do not show a "bolt in" collector pipe nor a converter option for my 2008 C3 Auto so I have yet to buy headers.
I appreciate your efforts to share your experience installing headers on your C6.
They do not claim what gauge they are made of, not uncommon with more expensive brands I've looked at.
You are comparing the sound of a different car with expensive headers as "better", ok. Your observation requires installing the same headers on your car with the same exhaust with video/audio or your entire effort here proves zero.
You get what you pay for, how much do you want to pay?
I found the JBA 409SS Titanium ceramic coated headers I installed on my Titan truck to be good quality. I believe 16GA tubing. I've had them installed for about a year and zero issues.
Zero issues is what I'd prefer, not very realistic with "hot rod" parts as I've found through many installs.
JBA headers do not show a "bolt in" collector pipe nor a converter option for my 2008 C3 Auto so I have yet to buy headers.
I appreciate your efforts to share your experience installing headers on your C6.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Charles Town WV
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I dont think anyone here is trying to prove or disprove the headers quality or sound. I just made the statement on a car with a pretty much identical setup less the headers I can tell a huge difference in tone comparing the Speed engineering header car to the Kooks car. Both still sound good but the Kooks car is objectively better sounding in my opinion. That being said at a third of the price their still a steal regardless.
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 18
Likes: 6
From: Dallas, TX
M6 here. When I purchased mine ( when these were C6 only ) I was on a 5 month wait already paid. I called every month to check in with the same news. Eventually when the headers were on hand I ended up canceling the X-pipe and just getting a custom Xpipe. Anyways I'm sure they did this in order to keep more on hand at one time with out the risk of over stocking. At the buyers expense of course 
as far as sounds goes I give mad props to SE for the quality, price ratio. Never once have I gotten a complaint on sound quality.
as far as sounds goes I give mad props to SE for the quality, price ratio. Never once have I gotten a complaint on sound quality.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Charles Town WV
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
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I will say for the money I think they are one of the best options out there. That being said side by side with a car with Kooks or AHR I can tell a difference, its minimal but noticeable in my opinion. We've had great luck with them on every car we've done with them though. (just installed my 4th set on a buddies car)