Is this header repairable?
TECH Resident
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 853
Likes: 32
From: Kernersville, NC
They cost $$$$, but Kooks longtubes, with their Y pipe, will give you zero install problems if your motor mounts are not sagging. I went up from the bottom with zero problems and the fitment was spot on. The fitment of Kooks headers are second to none. Ground clearance is excellent.
You just need to have the car off the ground high enough to get them under it.
I don't think you will need to put another header on that car again once purchased. You will need to get 1" ARP header bolts with 5/16 12pt heads. I also used Percy's dead soft aluminum gaskets(for LT1/LT4). No header leaks as well.
http://www.camaroz28.com/forums/exha...0/#post6905815
You just need to have the car off the ground high enough to get them under it.
I don't think you will need to put another header on that car again once purchased. You will need to get 1" ARP header bolts with 5/16 12pt heads. I also used Percy's dead soft aluminum gaskets(for LT1/LT4). No header leaks as well.
http://www.camaroz28.com/forums/exha...0/#post6905815
I believe you are correct...I just put a bunch of soapy water on in and it's still got tiny bubbles/leaks around that cement ****...WTF. Dude said if it was still leaking to bring it back and he'll try grinding it down and re-welding...I guess I'll give this fool one more chance since I already paid him $100 for this hack job
Otherwise, I guess I'll be removing this header and sending it off for proper TIG welding as so generously offered, I think the hack job dude has a MIG welder, but I don't know much about welding at all honestly. I do know it was a nasty looking boogery weld before they smeared exhaust cement all over it.
Those Kooks headers are nice however I do believe with y-pipe included they cost more than the Blue book/tax value of my car...
Gotta pay for the best like anything else I suppose.
Otherwise, I guess I'll be removing this header and sending it off for proper TIG welding as so generously offered, I think the hack job dude has a MIG welder, but I don't know much about welding at all honestly. I do know it was a nasty looking boogery weld before they smeared exhaust cement all over it. Those Kooks headers are nice however I do believe with y-pipe included they cost more than the Blue book/tax value of my car...
Gotta pay for the best like anything else I suppose. For $100 you could've bought a garbage freight welder and angle grinder and butchered it yourself. Probably would've came out better because that guy must've been **** hammered when he tried that, wouldn't be surprised since most exhaust shop guys I've met are drunks.
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At least wire routing is MUCH easier to replace with the OTVC, still, yet another thing I've got to clean up after this butchering. I think he was just pissed off it didn't work the first time due to that ceramic coating. 
Complete cluster f@#&!
Last edited by ahritchie; Apr 7, 2016 at 06:04 PM.
Well the exhaust shop welder (butcher?) has agreed to take the grinder to it and clean off all that exhaust cement **** and re-weld the patch next monday, so hopefully he's not blind drunk first thing in the AM
He can't possibly do much worse than the first time LOL. If it's still leaking on the 3rd attempt, I'll work on removing the header; only problem is I'm almost certain the collector was WELDED to the custom y-pipe I had to have made to be compatible with the 383 (Huge 7 qt Moroso oil pan interfering with the original Pacesetter supplied Y-pipe)....you change one thing from stockish on these cars and it affects 10 other things. So if it comes to that I've probably got to deal with more exhaust shop shenanigans to remove the header. 
Seems like the further I keep my car from the exhaust shop the better.
He can't possibly do much worse than the first time LOL. If it's still leaking on the 3rd attempt, I'll work on removing the header; only problem is I'm almost certain the collector was WELDED to the custom y-pipe I had to have made to be compatible with the 383 (Huge 7 qt Moroso oil pan interfering with the original Pacesetter supplied Y-pipe)....you change one thing from stockish on these cars and it affects 10 other things. So if it comes to that I've probably got to deal with more exhaust shop shenanigans to remove the header. Seems like the further I keep my car from the exhaust shop the better. 
I found this after removing some of the mysterious electrical tape that suddenly appeared on the plug wire next to the "patched" primary
Of course he neglected to mention this at the time; I'm tattling to the boss man on him Monday....Lol, the welder guy had the nerve to tell me I need a tune up....no **** after this huge gash all the way to the inner wire. 
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 189
Likes: 2
From: Inkster, MI
Wow I have never seen anything like this before! Looks like you got a bad header. Personally I never liked Pacesetters. Had Jet Hots for many years with no issues other than the coating wearing off on some parts. I just ordered some stainless long tubes with a y-pipe from ebay for $379.00. Keep that in mind.
I agree. If I ever have to tell the professional how to do something or give them solutions. There is a problem. You should of walked away, but we live and we learn.
