What is the verdict on eBay headers?
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
What is the verdict on eBay headers? 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.
Last edited by ShovelMan; Feb 9, 2017 at 01:06 PM.
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.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Utica, IL
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.
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.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
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.
Trending Topics
TECH Apprentice
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 367
Likes: 5
From: connecticut
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
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
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,
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 633
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix, AZ
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.
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.
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.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
