Price Disparity Among Headers

[Higgs Boson]

Some will make more power than others just based on the primaries being in the correct firing order and won't have the primaries dented in just to aid in fitment. And as Higgs correctly pointed out this isn't 1991 and these aren't fox body cars.

fox bodies made like what, 180-200rwhp? I mean, come on!! yeah, header design doesn't mean much at that level, I agree, lol.

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[beefcake]

What Ive noticed also is there is a wide gap in prices on the same system, as much as $500 on a ahr full system I have been looking at.

Are there any knock offs going around in the market that might account for this pricing difference?

I want to save money, but I dont want to end up with some sub par piece.

Some will make more power than others just based on the primaries being in the correct firing order and won't have the primaries dented in just to aid in fitment. And as Higgs correctly pointed out this isn't 1991 and these aren't fox body cars.

in 5 years i have never seen much of a difference in power with any of the nicer pieces we sell.

all within a couple hp of each other.

as i mentioned, i don't think you can go wrong with sw, arh, kooks, sp, or pypes, we use and install all of these without issue week after week month after month, year after year

i have never had a set of any of those come back for cracking / weld breaking issues

 

[2015 Silver GT]

Well to be fair with those restricted heads that came stock on fox bodies it didn't matter what header you installed lol.

 

[Derek@Lethal]

Another thing to look at is available options. Again, the less expensive brands have their place, but try calling BBK, Pypes or Mac and telling them about your build to see if they'll make something for your set up, like stepped headers with primary sizes that are not normally advertised or 3.5"+ collectors. Not everyone needs something like this, but that's the advantage of going with brands like ARH and Kooks.

 

[Derek@Lethal]

Well to be fair with those restricted heads that came stock on fox bodies it didn't matter what header you installed lol.

Yeah, not much gains when a 1-5/8" primary is substantially larger than the exhaust port on the E7's :lol:

 

[Zelek]

I had some Hooker headers on my '02 SS and ended up with a rust leak on one of the runners after some years. It was repaired by the next owner who told me about it. These came on the car when I bought it.

This is why you pay up for SW/ARH/Kooks so this doesn't happen. I'm personally going with ARH catted performance connect headers.

 

[SR56]

fox bodies made like what, 180-200rwhp? I mean, come on!! yeah, header design doesn't mean much at that level, I agree, lol.

I was a little higher...

Vortech 10# boost
Dart II heads
B303 cam
Saleen intake
Long tubes, off-road exhaust through Flowmasters

 

[SR56]

The problem isn't welded pipes being the same.

You may not keep the car for a long time or have a need for better quality stainless steel, but there is a huge difference in materials.

The other big factor is fitment. "Back in the Fox body days" doesn't mean much in 2016. It's not 1991 and these aren't Fox bodies. Clearances are tighter and there are headers that rub bolts and frames, etc. Sometimes they line up the midpipe so it rubs something else down the line. So when you are getting harmonics through the cabin and/or false knock pulling spark lead because you decided they're "all the same" you can let us know.

I get what you're saying, but I did my research as I always do before plunking down a large sum of money. Everything I came up with said that the BBK fitment was good, the quality was there, and the HP gains were in the ballpark as the others.

Hell, even with the old Foxes, you still had issues with clearance, so that's not just a new thing. Bad install jobs, mounting things incorrectly... the stuff that causes the false knock can be avoided. But yes, I have had headers that were a pain to install and get lined up. Definitely not fun.

I'll be happy with my KMart headers. lol

 

[jayman33]

All of the headers mentioned will do their job. I'm a firm believer in, its always easier to pay a little more up front then to suffer later down the road.

Its all in the details, it may not be important to some but I find value in those such things like quality welds and cleaning up them.

We run ARH in all our cars, and we'll continue to do so. Keep in mind that ARH also offers and was the first to offer an extended true 3" connect. Was primarily designed for those running the Corsa Catback but can be ran with just about any catback out there to make a true 3" system.

 

[2015 Silver GT]

I was a little higher...

Vortech 10# boost
Dart II heads
B303 cam
Saleen intake
Long tubes, off-road exhaust through Flowmasters

A B303 cam that stops breathing by 5000 rpm? That wasn't a wise choice.

 

[SR56]

A B303 cam that stops breathing by 5000 rpm? That wasn't a wise choice.

It was a Saleen build. If I had made the choice, I likely would have went with different heads and cam. Car still made a lot of power for the time. Over 475 to the rear wheel isn't too bad. There's always something that can be done better, I'm sure.

 

[yellowstangatl]

I'll throw in a recommendation for MBRP. The fitment is nice, they make great power (went from 391 to 428 with only adding catted headers). They are made in Canada and have a warranty. They also are long enough to fit an MBRP catback with the neck down portion cut off.

 

[beefcake]

I'll throw in a recommendation for MBRP. The fitment is nice, they make great power (went from 391 to 428 with only adding catted headers). They are made in Canada and have a warranty. They also are long enough to fit an MBRP catback with the neck down portion cut off.

yep, nice as well.

 

[SR56]

That's a nice increase with catted headers!

 

[Higgs Boson]

I was a little higher...

Vortech 10# boost
Dart II heads
B303 cam
Saleen intake
Long tubes, off-road exhaust through Flowmasters

so 325rwhp. meanwhile the 15/16 puts down 375rwhp bone stock and with a centri, heads, cam, intake, and full exhaust will put down, what.....900rwhp?

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