Best headers for the money???
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On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Southwest Missouri
Best headers for the money??? I'm looking to buy some headers for my 98 Trans Am and there are several out there so I'm looking for some advice on what would be my best buy...
I put a set of ceramic coated Pacesetter headers on the car 7 years and 195,000 miles ago. They still look good and are working fine with no rust. I have no regrets about not using stainless steel headers. I will replace them when I install a stroker motor if this LS1 ever dies. It is a daily driver and has 235,000+ miles on it now and it is still running strong making 452/418 at the wheels. I'm not sure what 703 camaross means about "doing it right the first time"?? He is testifing about a product that he does not even own. Whats up with that.
Last edited by slt200mph; Jul 23, 2011 at 11:34 AM.
+1 to this, my pacesetters have been on for 4 years and 10k miles or so. They have done good but the coating is turning to crap on the collectors and they are starting to rust. I will be investing in some ARH/Kooks 1 7/8 headers very shortly. Go stainless and do it once. It may be hit or miss on the ceramic coating, because my car is garaged in the winters and has very rarely seen rain.
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i have QTP 1 3/4 stainless longtubes, though they are expensive, they fit great and have great sound. only problem i had with them is getting a Y-pipe that will fit for it. i have the QTP ORY and it kinda fits, had to adjust it about 10 times now in the 4 years i have owned it. after i got poly motor mounts, it fit alot better.
I believe that I did it right the first time. After 7 years/195,000 miles driven in rain or shine and occastional snow the Pacesetters are in great condition with no rust. To me the Texas Speed deal on coated Pacesetters with the TSP Y pipe for $479 is a great deal and money well spent. The ARH headers and Y pipe are $1442. That is a big difference in price and little to no HP/TQ gain. Do not get me wrong they are a very nice product but I could not justify spending almost a grand more for them. With the long service life and condition of my Pacesetters they were the better deal for me. The fit and finish on them was first class and they still look great. How many of you will still own the car that you are going to put the headers on in lets just say 7 years. That kind of puts it all in perspective.
Last edited by slt200mph; Jul 23, 2011 at 12:18 PM.
i just installed some TSP 1 7/8 headers and there 3 in. ory. good fitment on the headers sounds good. but if money isnt an issue then id go 1 7/8 ARH
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Me "testifying" about a product does not make sence. I never said buy ARH I just said go stainless because as Camaro Z stated his are turning to crap and iv read and seen at car show's many others who are having the same problem. U can't go wrong with stainless is all I'm saying and that's just my opinion.
I believe that I did it right the first time. After 7 years/195,000 miles driven in rain or shine and occastional snow the Pacesetters are in great condition with no rust. To me the Texas Speed deal on coated Pacesetters with the TSP Y pipe for $479 is a great deal and money well spent. The ARH headers and Y pipe are $1442. That is a big difference in price and little to no HP/TQ gain. Do not get me wrong they are a very nice product but I could not justify spending almost a grand more for them. With the long service life and condition of my Pacesetters they were the better deal for me. The fit and finish on them was first class and they still look great. How many of you will still own the car that you are going to put the headers on in lets just say 7 years. That kind of puts it all in perspective.
! 
Don't drive the car in rain or snow, or when there's salt on the ground.
I put painted Pacesetters on my car and daily drove it for 5 years and over 100k miles (finally got another daily driver this past March) and the primaries still look pretty good. The collectors are rusted pretty badly of course; that happened almost instantly because of the conditions I just talked about. I have no regrets about getting these headers. The fitment is great and the price is tough to beat.
I put painted Pacesetters on my car and daily drove it for 5 years and over 100k miles (finally got another daily driver this past March) and the primaries still look pretty good. The collectors are rusted pretty badly of course; that happened almost instantly because of the conditions I just talked about. I have no regrets about getting these headers. The fitment is great and the price is tough to beat.
Do not purchase painted headers. Buy ceramic coated headers or stainless steel headers instead. The small difference in money spent should not change your lifestyle. The ceramics or stainless will last a very long time and the painted headers will have a short life span. Especially if you live up north where they use salt on the roads. Rust never sleeps dude. As I posted above I have 7 years and 195,000 miles on mine and they are still in great shape. They do not use salt on the roads where I live. But where you live and the climate that you live in should guide you in your purchase as well.