Budget-ish Headers
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 58
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Budget-ish Headers Alright, my project "Z/28" is well under way, and the clutch will be here by friday and in and running by monday/tuesday. Now, my father, after alittle convincing( 
) wants me to look into some headers. Now, I know ideally, I should get some LT's, but as of right now, I am on kind of a smog-legal budget. Soooo...can anyone point me in the right direction to find some not-to-expesive, emission legal headers with a decent power gain. Thanks
) wants me to look into some headers. Now, I know ideally, I should get some LT's, but as of right now, I am on kind of a smog-legal budget. Soooo...can anyone point me in the right direction to find some not-to-expesive, emission legal headers with a decent power gain. Thanks Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 58
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And I have another question..if I do get LT's, wont I alteast need a y-pipe made for them to keep my current cat-back? I mean it's not a daily driver as of now, and I eventually plan on changing it, but as of right now, I have to make do and that cat-back will have to do for now.
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Originally Posted by Something
And I have another question..if I do get LT's, wont I alteast need a y-pipe made for them to keep my current cat-back? I mean it's not a daily driver as of now, and I eventually plan on changing it, but as of right now, I have to make do and that cat-back will have to do for now.
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Originally Posted by Something
And I have another question..if I do get LT's, wont I alteast need a y-pipe made for them to keep my current cat-back? I mean it's not a daily driver as of now, and I eventually plan on changing it, but as of right now, I have to make do and that cat-back will have to do for now.
Yes, you will need the Y pipe to go with the long tubes. You can get the headers and Y pipe for $414, as long as you get the uncoated ones.
Originally Posted by Speed Density
Get Coated, dont half *** it.
Tony.
Tony.
Almost everyone that goes with the uncoated will regret it later.
You can get coated pacesetter LTs plus Y for around 550.
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 30
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I have a set of coated headers and a well prepped and VHT painted exhaust. The headers have small rust spots and the exhaust which has been wet is clean as the day I installed it.
Hi Temp paint gets bad rep because guys do not prep or cure properly. If done right it is super tough set up. Do not confuse it with the crap that comes on the cheapo headers.
Also with coating you may have 02 problems heating up due to coating. Then again the heated 02's can cure that.
Hi Temp paint gets bad rep because guys do not prep or cure properly. If done right it is super tough set up. Do not confuse it with the crap that comes on the cheapo headers.
Also with coating you may have 02 problems heating up due to coating. Then again the heated 02's can cure that.
Originally Posted by infinitebird
Almost everyone that goes with the uncoated will regret it later.
You can get coated pacesetter LTs plus Y for around 550.
Sorry, but I have to disagree. The current trend toward coated headers is fairly recent. In fact, until I came to these fourth gen Camaro boards, I have never encountered anyone who deemed uncoated header useless.
The coated headers may look a little prettier for a while. They may even last a little longer and help with heat retention, but will they perform any better? I don't think so.
My comment was based on the countless posts I've read where people have gotten the uncoated, and then, yes, regretted it later.
I agree they won't necessarily perform any better, although they will run cooler, and that has some benefits, (less chance of burning a plug wire, etc.). However, for people that don't want their headers to look like **** after 2 weeks, they are worth it. The coating can last a very long time.
I agree they won't necessarily perform any better, although they will run cooler, and that has some benefits, (less chance of burning a plug wire, etc.). However, for people that don't want their headers to look like **** after 2 weeks, they are worth it. The coating can last a very long time.
Originally Posted by infinitebird
My comment was based on the countless posts I've read where people have gotten the uncoated, and then, yes, regretted it later.
I agree they won't necessarily perform any better, although they will run cooler, and that has some benefits, (less chance of burning a plug wire, etc.). However, for people that don't want their headers to look like **** after 2 weeks, they are worth it. The coating can last a very long time.
I agree they won't necessarily perform any better, although they will run cooler, and that has some benefits, (less chance of burning a plug wire, etc.). However, for people that don't want their headers to look like **** after 2 weeks, they are worth it. The coating can last a very long time.
I agree 100% on both counts, and hope that I didn't come across as a *****. If so, I certainly must apolagize. I realize that the general consensus here is that all headers should be coated or they are a waste of money.
I don't blame anyone that wants to drop a few extra bucks for the coated headers. They do look nicer and the reduction of underhood heat is a nice bonus, as well as a few more years of service.
My point is that the thread originator asked about budet-ish headers. For those on a budget, the uncoated headers are hard to beat for bang for the buck.
The last set of headers that I owned came on a car that I bought in 2000. The previous owner had owned the car for three years, and had not changed anything. I kept it until 2005. A good friend of mine now owns the car. It is still sporting the same pair of uncoated headers. That makes them nine years old. I never had a problem with burnt wires or worried about how they looked. The fact is they performed there job flawlessly for a long time.
I do understand that they won't last that long in other parts of the country due to salted roads and other enviromental factors.
Originally Posted by Speed Density
Get Coated, dont half *** it.
Tony.
Tony.
Originally Posted by zlightning
I understand that but if you drive in the winter, say good bye to that coating. Well I am thinking the salt help take off the coating on mine. Although the part in the engine bay still looks ok. I think it's starting to rust now too though.
and thats after how many years?
my headers are atleast 5 years old and the coating is as good as new in the engine bay part, and that where you really need it.
