Headers

[UnoWHO]

How many different header options do us 2.4 owners have? I have found pace setters on pyfc and some more on andys they look different? or maybe the one on andys is a representitive image? Anyways what are our options? And does anyone have the header off pyfc...says you need to cut the piping but does that also mean to ensure no leaks you need to weld it there or is there a flange there?

[Oldsman]

pacesetter
rksport
stan's
obx

[UnoWHO]

Do you prefer or suggest one that is the best for the price?

[Oldsman]

best for the price i would say either OBX or pacesetter. if you go pacesetter make sure to get it ceramic coated.

[2fst4u]

if i didn't get my pacesetter header ceramic coated, is there anything else i should do to keep it nice before i install it? i heard that they are notorious for warping.

[Fast Eddie]

And rusting...

[UnoWHO]

so get it powdercoated and I guess wrapping it just keeps more heat in which wouldcause it to warp faster...anyone knowif the matches right up to a flange or you have to weld it because the site says you have to cut the pipe a bit? whihc I guessmeans ofcourseyou have to wled but maybe?

[2fst4u]

that's in reference to the downpipe. you have to weld it to the factory flange, i do believe. i'll see on thursday, when it gets here.

[Oldsman]

if you get the pacesetter for the alero there is no cutting or welding, bolt it on. well except you will have to have downpipe welded on. but that is normal with a header.

[2fst4u]

i just added something in the bazaar for a brand new set of headers for 150 shipped which is pretty cheap

[Spy]

the header itself is complete bolt on.... except maybe you'll have to lengthen the 02 sensor wiring....

where it meets to the downpipe... the header kit comes with a new downpipe flange to connect to the header... so you will have to cut the downpipe right at the cat and have the new pacesetter downpipe flange piece welded there... then everything is bolts up and off you go.

[Fast Eddie]

Originally posted by 2fst4u@Jan 9 2006, 05:28 PM
i just added something in the bazaar for a brand new set of headers for 150 shipped which is pretty cheap
Quoted post


There is only one header, its an inline engine :P

As for the install it depends on what brand you get. Most are pretty strait forward, bold to the head weld to the pre-cat piping. The longevity depends on the material its made out of. I went with OBX b/c 1. they are inexpensive and 2. its SS. Even with the coatings headers will rust, H2O is a byproduct of the combustion process. Coatings only cover the outside of the header, not the inside.

[UnoWHO]

Ah true, yea me and a friend did his civics header the other day and were done in a matter of about 10 minutes, lol cool cool thanks guys

[Spy]

Originally posted by Fast Eddie+Jan 10 2006, 12:41 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Fast Eddie @ Jan 10 2006, 12:41 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-2fst4u@Jan 9 2006, 05:28 PM
i just added something in the bazaar for a brand new set of headers for 150 shipped which is pretty cheap
Quoted post


There is only one header, its an inline engine :P

As for the install it depends on what brand you get. Most are pretty strait forward, bold to the head weld to the pre-cat piping. The longevity depends on the material its made out of. I went with OBX b/c 1. they are inexpensive and 2. its SS. Even with the coatings headers will rust, H2O is a byproduct of the combustion process. Coatings only cover the outside of the header, not the inside.
Quoted post
[/b][/quote]


they also self destruct and make a massive fireball with time.

[2fst4u]

do explain. are you going from personal experience, or just blowing it out your 4th point of contact?

[Oldsman]

Originally posted by Spy+Jan 14 2006, 11:31 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Spy @ Jan 14 2006, 11:31 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>Originally posted by Fast Eddie@Jan 10 2006, 12:41 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-2fst4u@Jan 9 2006, 05:28 PM
i just added something in the bazaar for a brand new set of headers for 150 shipped which is pretty cheap
Quoted post


There is only one header, its an inline engine :P

As for the install it depends on what brand you get. Most are pretty strait forward, bold to the head weld to the pre-cat piping. The longevity depends on the material its made out of. I went with OBX b/c 1. they are inexpensive and 2. its SS. Even with the coatings headers will rust, H2O is a byproduct of the combustion process. Coatings only cover the outside of the header, not the inside.
Quoted post



they also self destruct and make a massive fireball with time.
Quoted post
[/b][/quote]

LOL good one spy.

i have yet to see ceramic coated headers rust. and if they do well i bet gets rid of the car before they do.

However i have seen SS exhaust rust. look at borla. it will rust. being that it is a cheap SS header i doubt it is high quality SS.

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

http://store.racinglab.com/ol99al2papeh.html

which do I want to get? Painted or armor coat? (probably the armor coat, but I'm really unsure...)

[2fst4u]

armor coat. although, if you look inside of either one, these things look like crap. they are cast steel, and rough as anything on the inside (where flow is important). just my two cents.

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

so they won't rust, but they have bad flow? grr.....

so what is really the best option? Budget >$400 for parts

[Oldsman]

get the armor caot. which is ceramic coating but not jethot.

buddy of mine has the armor coated pacesetter and it is not rough on the inside. it isn't super smooth but for the price of header you are getting it good. still a lot better than the factory exhaust manifold.

[2fst4u]

alrite, with 400 bux, do what i just did. get a header (either ss one for early cavalier and move O2 bung, or pacesetter), secret cams (i only have the exhaust one), 2.3 intake manifold, and 52mm throttle body. i paid 300 for all of these things. the rest of the money, use on some high temp paint and header install.

[Oldsman]

the 2.3 manifold with the stock 52mm TB is a waste. you need at least the 2.3 HO TB which is 56mm.

[2fst4u]

my apologies, that's what i meant. the 56mm is the one i bought. what kind of horsepower increases do you think i will see with these 4 things?

[Oldsman]

15-20hp max. more realistic is 10-15hp

[Fast Eddie]

Originally posted by Oldsman+Jan 15 2006, 09:10 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Oldsman @ Jan 15 2006, 09:10 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'>Originally posted by Spy@Jan 14 2006, 11:31 PM
Originally posted by Fast Eddie@Jan 10 2006, 12:41 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-2fst4u@Jan 9 2006, 05:28 PM
i just added something in the bazaar for a brand new set of headers for 150 shipped which is pretty cheap
Quoted post


There is only one header, its an inline engine :P

As for the install it depends on what brand you get. Most are pretty strait forward, bold to the head weld to the pre-cat piping. The longevity depends on the material its made out of. I went with OBX b/c 1. they are inexpensive and 2. its SS. Even with the coatings headers will rust, H2O is a byproduct of the combustion process. Coatings only cover the outside of the header, not the inside.
Quoted post



they also self destruct and make a massive fireball with time.
Quoted post


LOL good one spy.

i have yet to see ceramic coated headers rust. and if they do well i bet gets rid of the car before they do.

However i have seen SS exhaust rust. look at borla. it will rust. being that it is a cheap SS header i doubt it is high quality SS.
Quoted post
[/b][/quote]


I can only draw from my experince and I have had two sets of ceramic coated headers (outside only) on another car that rusted out (wrap worsened this on the first one). I have had my borla exhaust for going on five years (and four Midwest winters) and have yet to see a spec of rust on it, or the nearly three yr old SS header for that matter, although it is bluish now. I have seen gibson, SLP, and magnaflow exhausts all rust, but not a borla.

Stainless steel CANNOT rust, its chemical makeup does not contain the chemical(s) that are required to oxidize. So even a cheaper grade of SS will not rust. The other reason I went with OBX is b/c I've never heard anything good about pacesetter.

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

^ got a link for some of those OBX ones? what kind of work other than bolting it up is required on OBX?

I appreciate the help, and I'm sorry for sort of jacking the thread, even if it is all useful info for Sno. ;)

[Fast Eddie]

OBX site (http://www.obxracingsports.com/) The 2.4 is not listed but they do make a SS header for it. You have to put in a new bung 180* from the original one. The rest is just like any other header. I got mine off ebay for ~$170 shipped.

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

cool. and the cavalier ones will be fine right? Those are pretty easy to find on ebay...

[2fst4u]

gotta move the bung 180 degrees to other side of collector

[battistoni21]

I know this topic hasnt been in use for awhile, but i'm purchasing a borla exhaust from nosweat83, and before i even install the exhaust, i want to get my headers, so that when i take it to the shop, they can just do everything at once........ I was very interested in the OBX headers and i went to the website to check out the headers for the cavaliers.... i saw that they only make them for the 2.2L engines..... what application would I be able to get to fit my 2.4L alero?

[Spy]

it may not be listed, but they do have a header for the 2.4L twin cam cavalier...

BTW everybody

the OBX header is a rip off of the pacesetter design.

[Fast Eddie]

The cheap ones are ALL pretty much the same. If you want something better stepup to the TRS or Stan's.

[battistoni21]

alright i'll see what I can find......wow $400 for all of those? Where did you get/find all of those at?

[Spy]

Originally posted by Fast Eddie@Mar 1 2006, 03:38 PM
The cheap ones are ALL pretty much the same. If you want something better stepup to the TRS or Stan's.
Quoted post


incorrect. all the cheap ones are a rip off of Pacesetters design. RKSport rebadged pacesetter. OBX a rip off of Pacesetter.. etc. etc.

[battistoni21]

So from anyone's experience, what IS the BEST header to get for the most hp gains? I know most of you will say stan's or TRS but other than those, what exactly is the best ones to get? And add if they are armor coated or ceramic coated, etc........(I just want to know this because I am getting a borla cat back for my 2.4L and I want to get the most outta my money.)