Cadillac CTS-V - Installed Pacesetter Headers

First off, I apologize for not jumping on the OBX bandwagon.:engarde: I went with the pacesetter coated longtubes on the V. I must say, this was a much more labor-intensive job than I every predicted it to be. I also went ahead and installed new NGK TR55 plugs and MSD wires. I wanted something that would bolt directly up to my B&B catback without cutting it up. I ordered the headers and flanges from amazon.com. They classified for supersaver (free) shipping, so I got them both for $448 shipped to my door.:D I spent a little extra for the header wrap and silicone spray. I know they are ceramic and I didnt really need to wrap them, but I would rather see header wrap than discolored ceramic headers. I plan on deciding on a cam in the near future, and will wait to tune and dyno until the cam is installed. Not much to see, but here are the pics: (Sorry, no pre-install pics)

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee438/CI-V-IL/DSCF2723.jpg
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee438/CI-V-IL/DSCF2722.jpg
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee438/CI-V-IL/DSCF2721.jpg
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee438/CI-V-IL/DSCF2732.jpg
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee438/CI-V-IL/DSCF2726.jpg
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee438/CI-V-IL/DSCF2725.jpg
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee438/CI-V-IL/DSCF2733.jpg
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee438/CI-V-IL/DSCF2735.jpg

They look good!

Very nice. I know Pacesetter gets some bad-mouthing (and I've seen some crappy welds on the collector) but for the price, you can't beat it (except for OBX if you can find them).

I might be doing these soon myself....

i got pacesetters just havnt had time to put them on, mine ran me 275 shipped and i also need the flanges but they have those on amazon for 60 bucks so imho its not so bad but gonna be till spring when i put them in

damn, i need some headers in my life :-(

do they sit really low? when i came around to doing my exhaust i wanted to throw on a set of LTs as well, but i don't want to be hitting street lane reflectors every time i change lanes, lol.

do they sit really low? when i came around to doing my exhaust i wanted to throw on a set of LTs as well, but i don't want to be hitting street lane reflectors every time i change lanes, lol.

I was really surprised with the clearance and fitment of these. They are not much lower than the stock cat/flange. I can fit my hand around the steering shaft, no problem. I was thoroughly pleased with these headers for the cost.

i got pacesetters just havnt had time to put them on, mine ran me 275 shipped and i also need the flanges but they have those on amazon for 60 bucks so imho its not so bad but gonna be till spring when i put them in

Good deal! I'm assuming yours are not coated? The only downside to wrapping mild steel headers would be if the wrap would hold moisture. If the headers are hot, the moisture should evaporate almost instantly. But if your car sits out in the ran and the header wrap is wet, this could promote rust!

actully mine came coated black but it looks like a very thin coating

actully mine came coated black but it looks like a very thin coating

i got mine today too... just the headers, going for a single turbo set up, just have to see how they go... gonna media blash and have a friend jet coat them inside and out FOR FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ... but i paid 253.xx shipped from amazon and got them in about a week...

Do you plan on dynoing the car now? Im interested to see what kind of numbers they put down.

Great photos!

Questions:

1. How many feet of header wrap did you have to use?

2. Did the clamp on adapters come with clamps? Or did you buy those separately?

Good deal! I'm assuming yours are not coated? The only downside to wrapping mild steel headers would be if the wrap would hold moisture. If the headers are hot, the moisture should evaporate almost instantly. But if your car sits out in the ran and the header wrap is wet, this could promote rust!

thats my thought too, most people say they wrap will make them rust, but i would think daily driving would boil off the water... i hate the smell of header wrap the first few times you start it... but ill be wrapping mine too

Any updates on these? Thinking of pulling the trigger on them this week.

I'd be afraid header wrap would work like a candle wick if you ever spilled any oil or had any kind of fluid leak.

Great photos!

Questions:

1. How many feet of header wrap did you have to use?

2. Did the clamp on adapters come with clamps? Or did you buy those separately?

Sorry for the slow reply.
1. High Temperature Header/Exhaust Wrap Kit: 2 Rolls Black 1/16" X 2" X 50' with Stainless ties, Sold by: Devl Tuning - I had a bit left over on each side.
2. Purchase these: PaceSetter 82-1170 Off Road Header Extension for Cadillac CTS-V 04-07 - Also sold on amazon.

Any updates on these? Thinking of pulling the trigger on them this week.

In great shape. I still dont have a single complaint about these! Pull the trigger!!! :bigun2:

very nice... looks just like mine... i wrapped them as well...

Thanks for the head up - those look so tempting!

You say that this was much more labor intensive than you expected, but also said you had lost of steering shaft clearance. What did you run into that makes you say the job was overly labor intensive?

You say that this was much more labor intensive than you expected, but also said you had lost of steering shaft clearance. What did you run into that makes you say the job was overly labor intensive?

Theres just a lot to do and not a lot of space. Nothing was necessarily diffficult, just time consuming and cumbersome. I do have plenty of clearance on the steering shaft, but I still had to disconnect it to get the drivers header in. Take into account removing all of the plugs, exhaust, exhaust manifolds and cats, wrapping headers, gapping plugs, reinstalling everything, disconnecting and reconnecting steering shaft, 02 sensor removal, etc etc. You dont have much room to work on either side of the engine, so your hands are controted and twisted into weird positions...things get dropped and then you are frustrated trying to find and retrieve them. :bang: Nothing out of the ordinary, just "Labor Intensive"...:chug:

My V is at Tick Performance in Mooresville having my Pacetters installed as we speak! Like Strokinit383, I also got mine on amazon, along with the collector and catted mid pipes. My headers came coated; they look great (chrome)! Can't wait to see them installed and hear/feel the improvement. Also getting a tune while it's there. Glad to hear things have worked out for Strokinit. FYI, I got the 1 3/4" not 1 7/8".

I have B&B headers, but I wrapped mine as well. Wrapping is tedious and itchy, but it really does keep the temps down and keep the engine from sounding like a sewing machine. Good job, looks great!

Anyone have a picture of the collector on these? Curious how they merge compared to obx. May pull the trigger on these also.

just in case anyone is wondering and doesnt wana wrap. I didnt wrap my OBX and I am fine. Think ive put about 1,000 miles on the car

Hi all: Just got a call from the shop doing my work. Apparently the catted midpipes I ordered won't work. There's no space basically between the Pacetter headers and exhaust to hook in? I'm at work where they block all the nice pics you guys have posted, so right now I have nothing to refer to. I'm having a hard time visualizing the problem, so I'll ask the group what you've done to accomodate cats?? I'm waiting for a callback from the folks I got the midpipes from to see if they can answer this but I hope some of you have hands on experience. I apologize if this is semi thread jacking, but it seems appropriate if we're discussing fitment.

Hi all: Just got a call from the shop doing my work. Apparently the catted midpipes I ordered won't work. There's no space basically between the Pacetter headers and exhaust to hook in? I'm at work where they block all the nice pics you guys have posted, so right now I have nothing to refer to. I'm having a hard time visualizing the problem, so I'll ask the group what you've done to accomodate cats?? I'm waiting for a callback from the folks I got the midpipes from to see if they can answer this but I hope some of you have hands on experience. I apologize if this is semi thread jacking, but it seems appropriate if we're discussing fitment.

You will probably have to cut your exhaust to install the cats.

Agreed. I took another look at your excellent pics when I got home for lunch and they tell the whole story. I also spoke to the guy at Mandrel Exhaust Systems and confirmed the mid pipes are only for stock exhaust manifolds or perhaps shorty headers. I then double-confirmed this with the tech at Tick (say that 10X fast lol). I gave him the go-ahead to install the Pacesetters without the cats. As you indicated, if I want/need them I'll have to have a shop cut them in. Still, it'd be interesting to see if anyone has pics of cats installed with LT's. Thanks for a great writeup; I'm super anxious to see how these suckers look, sound and feel after the tune!

-Marc

I'm super anxious to see how these suckers look, sound and feel after the tune!So are we! :)

I got family in Moorseville. Not too far from the new middle school.

Mooresville is known as "Race City USA" for good reason. SO many nascar shops around the area. Where Tick Performance is located is almost next to the Mooresille Dragway and another bazillion race shops lol. Mooresville is about 25 miles north of Charlotte; lots of commuting going on there.

-Marc

Okay, Pacesetters are IN! For good reason we couldn't use the midpipes (lack of space), so we're running catless. Also installed new plugs+wires along with the Katech shifter and t-stat. Joey, Tick Performance did an EXCELLENT job on the install! The V sounds GREAT, runs VERRRY strong. A noticable improvement over stock. I am VERY pleased! Before anyone asks, I don't have any pics or vids posted yet. PCMForLess did the tune, resulting in 372HP/379TQ. Anyone considering Pacesetters (or Kooks for that matter) would really enjoy the results. I finally feel like I'm driving a 4 door Vetter :-)

-Marc

The car sounds great Marc - come on back when you're ready for more mods! :)

Anyone know how this compares to kooks with similar mods?