Another Header Question. Sorry.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 321
Likes: 30
From: Massachusetts
Another Header Question. Sorry. I'm debating on 1 3/4 vs 1 7/8 Speed engineering headers. Now I've seen all the arguments for one or the other. My decision is going to rest on ease of installation. Were the 1-7/8 headers a tight fit and difficult to install for those who have installed these headers? I'm looking for a setup that'll handle 550 to 600 rear wheel horsepower.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 321
Likes: 30
From: Massachusetts
1 3/4 vs 1 7/8 Speed engineering headers. Now I've seen all the arguments for one or the other. My decision is going to rest on ease of installation.
Speed Engineering headers are inexpensive and make excellent horsepower however SE isn't all that consistent with their manufacturing in my experience. They may be very difficult to install. Some folks have no issue with SE and some SE are a nightmare.
I have SE 1 7/8 LT's on my 02 Z28. Very happy power wise. Not happy bang and rattle wise.
My SE headers looked good, had no weld or leak issues, had a smooth flat flanges and only required minor clean up of slag in primaries. Seemed too good to be true for the cost....
Were the 1-7/8 headers a tight fit and difficult to install for those who have installed these headers?
Didn't hit K member but my SE 1 7/8 had the collectors at the wrong angle. They hit the floor board and were almost impossible for the shop to pry into position to hook up Y pipe. Required two mechanics with car on a lift to force the collectors down and together with Y pipe. If the car had new motor mounts they said it would have been impossible. Same shop had no issues with Kook's on one of my other cars.
The collectors bang and rattle frequently on rough pavement. Very worse I've had fit wise. Have had six sets of various headers installed on various cars.
Next time I will buy Kooks, American Racing or, Hooker, Hawk's or DynaTech etc. Wasn't worth saving $750 - the fit is that bad and annoying they bang so much.
I'm looking for a setup that'll handle 550 to 600 rear wheel horsepower.
The SE 1 7/8 can do that.
Speed Engineering headers are inexpensive and make excellent horsepower however SE isn't all that consistent with their manufacturing in my experience. They may be very difficult to install. Some folks have no issue with SE and some SE are a nightmare.
I have SE 1 7/8 LT's on my 02 Z28. Very happy power wise. Not happy bang and rattle wise.
My SE headers looked good, had no weld or leak issues, had a smooth flat flanges and only required minor clean up of slag in primaries. Seemed too good to be true for the cost....
Were the 1-7/8 headers a tight fit and difficult to install for those who have installed these headers?
Didn't hit K member but my SE 1 7/8 had the collectors at the wrong angle. They hit the floor board and were almost impossible for the shop to pry into position to hook up Y pipe. Required two mechanics with car on a lift to force the collectors down and together with Y pipe. If the car had new motor mounts they said it would have been impossible. Same shop had no issues with Kook's on one of my other cars.
The collectors bang and rattle frequently on rough pavement. Very worse I've had fit wise. Have had six sets of various headers installed on various cars.
Next time I will buy Kooks, American Racing or, Hooker, Hawk's or DynaTech etc. Wasn't worth saving $750 - the fit is that bad and annoying they bang so much.
I'm looking for a setup that'll handle 550 to 600 rear wheel horsepower.
The SE 1 7/8 can do that.
Last edited by 99 Black Bird T/A; Sep 28, 2021 at 07:58 AM.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 321
Likes: 30
From: Massachusetts
1 3/4 vs 1 7/8 Speed engineering headers. Now I've seen all the arguments for one or the other. My decision is going to rest on ease of installation.
Speed Engineering headers are inexpensive and make excellent horsepower however SE isn't all that consistent with their manufacturing in my experience. They may be very difficult to install. Some folks have no issue with SE and some SE are a nightmare.
I have SE 1 7/8 LT's on my 02 Z28. Very happy power wise. Not happy bang and rattle wise.
My SE headers looked good, had no weld or leak issues, had a smooth flat flanges and only required minor clean up of slag in primaries. Seemed too good to be true for the cost....
Were the 1-7/8 headers a tight fit and difficult to install for those who have installed these headers?
Didn't hit K member but my SE 1 7/8 had the collectors at the wrong angle. They hit the floor board and were almost impossible for the shop to pry into position to hook up Y pipe. Required two mechanics with car on a lift to force the primaries down and together with Y pipe. If the car had new motor mounts they said it would have been impossible. Same shop had no issues with Kook's on one of my other cars.
The primaries bang and rattle frequently on rough pavement. Very worse I've had fit wise. Have had six sets of various headers installed on various cars.
Next time I will buy Kooks, American Racing or, Hooker, Hawk's or DynaTech etc. Wasn't worth saving $750 - the fit is that bad and annoying they bang so much.
I'm looking for a setup that'll handle 550 to 600 rear wheel horsepower.
The SE 1 7/8 can do that.
Speed Engineering headers are inexpensive and make excellent horsepower however SE isn't all that consistent with their manufacturing in my experience. They may be very difficult to install. Some folks have no issue with SE and some SE are a nightmare.
I have SE 1 7/8 LT's on my 02 Z28. Very happy power wise. Not happy bang and rattle wise.
My SE headers looked good, had no weld or leak issues, had a smooth flat flanges and only required minor clean up of slag in primaries. Seemed too good to be true for the cost....
Were the 1-7/8 headers a tight fit and difficult to install for those who have installed these headers?
Didn't hit K member but my SE 1 7/8 had the collectors at the wrong angle. They hit the floor board and were almost impossible for the shop to pry into position to hook up Y pipe. Required two mechanics with car on a lift to force the primaries down and together with Y pipe. If the car had new motor mounts they said it would have been impossible. Same shop had no issues with Kook's on one of my other cars.
The primaries bang and rattle frequently on rough pavement. Very worse I've had fit wise. Have had six sets of various headers installed on various cars.
Next time I will buy Kooks, American Racing or, Hooker, Hawk's or DynaTech etc. Wasn't worth saving $750 - the fit is that bad and annoying they bang so much.
I'm looking for a setup that'll handle 550 to 600 rear wheel horsepower.
The SE 1 7/8 can do that.
Sounds like a nicely built car!
My 02 Z28 was a very quiet rattle and noise free car before the SE headers. I regret cheaping out on headers choice. Eventually, Kook's, American Racing will get etc installed.
My 02 Z28 was a very quiet rattle and noise free car before the SE headers. I regret cheaping out on headers choice. Eventually, Kook's, American Racing will get etc installed.
Thanks for the input. I have little patience for extremely difficult installs and even less patience for bangs and rattles. The 1 3/4 headers leave a little more room for error.......So much to consider. I've dumped way way way way WAY too much into this car. So far I haven't cut any corners, but it's gotten away from me and I'm sure others can feel my pain. The car drove just fine stock. LOL
Cheaper headers are cheaper for a reason.
I've had a set of 1 3/4 and 1 7/8 headers.
The 1 3/4 set, the angle of the drivers side header was completely fucked up. It had to be cut off and welded. The headers otherwise fit, didn't hit the k member, hell I didn't even have to take the oil filter off to install them.
The 1 7/8 set, the angle was still not right but didn't have to be cut and welded. I had to beat the **** out of the y pipe. I had to grind the k member some, not that big of deal and I did have to take the oil filter off, again not a big deal.
I decided that I was done with cheap headers and had almost ordered the ARH set, but for what I was going to pay for headers and catted y pipe...I decided to go turbo.
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I prepared for the worst with my 1 7/8's SE's and they went in like a breeze. honestly harder to get the old 2006 eBay headers out then it was to put the new ones in. I did it by myself on jack stands. I understand that I may have gotten lucky, but I didn't hit one single unexpected roadblock. the only additional work I did was to remove the steering shaft prior to install.
My speed engineering 1 7/8 went in easy only thing I had to do was very slightly grind k member on drivers side, didn't undo steering at all. I installed Midwest chassis solid motor mounts at same time. Sounds awesome with there over axle true duals.
