Are there any that are safe to buy? Which ones to avoid? Please don't post none of that "I avoid cheap Chinese crap" if you haven't had an experience with said headers.

 

From what I understand the fitment is that where you either have to dent the primaries to get past the k-member as well as steering shaft or grind a little here and there. You get what you pay for.

 

I like your avatar(s).

 

Thanks. I get that alot. The troll face is mine. The Richard is from someone who is mad.

 

I used OBX headers on my car. I believe they are exact copies of the Kooks stepped headers for about 1/3 of the price. No fitment issues whatsoever. They do have 3.5" collectors instead of 3". I built my own Y pipe so no big deal. They seem to be holding up well.

 

Durability wise, I've had mine for 5 years and they are standing up really well. I have the speed daddy headers. Might be different from what's being sold now, as there was a two(?) year period where lt1 headers from speed daddy were unavailable.

The flanges have a little bit of rust on them, otherwise solid. The last guy who worked on my car thought they were a $1000+ pair of headers. They look really good.

Think I paid $330 CAD shipped back in the day? Too bad the shop that put them in charged me $600+ as they are an absolute nightmare to install.

This is on a never winter driven 1995 Z28.

 

Are there any headers that you don't have to beat the **** out of to make them fit? Tired of these wack *** MAC headers that leak on the slip fit joint. Budget is $400. Would prefer mids but if long tubes are in that range and are compatible with my current y pipe that would be awesome.

 

i got a steal on ebay exhaust, my guess is the guy was just starting out and i got long tube headers, and straight pipe exhaust all the way back 3", for like 550. now the same exhaust from the same person is about 1200 all together, fitment was a MAJOR issue, i beat the sh*t out of those things getting it in and the rest of the exhaust needed to be modified to fit, it was cheap so i started cutting a grinding, it fits now and after getting it together and using it for a while it comes on and off with no issues now

 

I have TSP which is what most ebay headers appear to be copied off of, the easiest way around the steering shaft is to change to a ls1 shaft it will need reclocked to work, rather dent headers, a grinder comes in handy on acouple places you will need to grind(both motor mount brackets, and the corner of the K member where it bolts to the body) some will say change motor mounts I couldn't see how that would solve any problems,

 

I picked up a used ebay set a few years ago. 1 3/4 to 1 7/8 stainless into a 3" merge. I had to cut an inch off the stock k member lip (non-structural) and grind away on the steering shaft. It was about 20 minutes of work and well worth the savings. You will need a new y-pipe with long tubes, you can't use the one from your Macs. And yes, fresh mounts do make a difference for install. If yours are sagging or worn they won't slip in nearly as easily.

 

+1 on the motor mounts. It will be alot easier with the manifolds and y pipe out. If they've never been changed they're probably bad.

Tons of people have had alot of fitment issues with many different header brands they chalked up to the headers themselves because the motor mounts were shot.

 

Wow, I may be due for some motor mounts then. Was it an easy process or does it involve lifting the motor up?

 

I just bought speed engineering headers and Y pipe. I didn't have any issues at all. I paid under 300 for a set of 1 7/8 and 150 for the Y pipe. I think they're great stuff

 

Seems to be permanently mad.

 

If only it was applicable for an LT1 engine.

 

Running a set on my C5 and they fit like a glove. Full stainless (Kooks ripoffs) and holding up fine.

 

Yeah, but I am referring to the LT1 headers.

 

Yea no kidding lol, both motors Ebay headers have been out awhile im sure like the LS they have come a long way and are probably fine.

 

They do make LT1 longtubes

 

I can't find anything on their website. Speed engineering.