Headers (Revisited.. Sort of...)

[Crazy_Canuck]

All right folks, I did I search in this forum on headers. It would appear there are only two available, the S&S and the ones from APOC.

Has anyone tested them on the dyno to see which perform better? The reason I ask is that I've finallly decided what I want to do with my Alero.

I'm turning it into a sick @ss sleeper (once it's off warranty) and want to know which headers / exhaust system work for the best performance. Keep in mind I'll be shaving the heads, adding turbo, CAI, getting a larger TB, and porting it (along with some other mods). Also, are there different cams available for this engine?

Has anyone performed any of these mods (or any other that I've missed other than the reprogramming mod) and what kind of success did you have with them once they were completed?

I have no plans to do anything for the exterior other than perhaps some tint and a paint job.... other than that, it's going to look like any other Alero. I might paint it racing yellow or an ugly orange just for laughs. :evil: :thumbsup:

Sick plan or what?

[Naich]

both S&S headers and TOG headers are very good. TOG's have been dynoed at 19 HP I believe, and I can't recall if the S&S headers have been dynoed. Both performed well at the track.

Supposedly, TOG has bigger flanges and includes a gasket. S&S, you have to make your own. Can anyone verify this? It's been a while since I looked into headers, so my memory might be bad.

[dopey]

Originally posted by Crazy_Canuck@Feb 23 2004, 11:47 PM
Sick plan or what?
get back to us in 5 years when ur done droppin 10grand into ur car to try and make it somewhat fast.

[Crazy_Canuck]

SweetAlero,

Doesn't cost me anything for labour, and I tend to get most parts at cost between my fathers industrial machine shop and my in-laws full service garage. I grew up in a machine shop and am more than capable of using the machinery in it.

So, try not to be so cynical. ;) :thumbsup:

Understand this, cars are a hobby for me. Some people sink tonnes of dough into new high end vehicles, or into other hobbies. I sink a moderate amount of my heard earned dough into cars...... because I can (good thing my wife isn't reading this!!!). I enjoy spending my time under vehicles (as well as hunting / fishing) and take great pride in my end products.

Anyways, this thread isn't about your cynical attitude or your poor grammar. So in the future, if you don't have anything useful to say, don't say it it all and keep your holier-than-thou attitude to yourself.

[misslindseysue]

LMAO. :lol:

I don't remember what engine you have. If it's a 4-banger, search for cam swap. If it's a 3.4, I don't know of a cam, but it would be sweet if you found one.

[Naich]

A company is making a cam for the 3400, there is a thread about it over on grandamgt.com.

[mfuller]

If you plan to turbo your car in the future, save your money. The one turbo kit I know of that is being mass-produced for this car includes a set of headers with the turbo and wastegate flanges built right in.

[Alerosince99]

I either have or have on order about everything you have mentioned sans the turbo. I have the tog headers and slp exhaust and I dont have any regrets about that. With headers, exhaust, cai you should be able to dyno around 170 whp.

You may want to look into getting a Pro-M Maf if its gonna be a while till you get the turbo. Ive had mine installed for over a month and think it is well worth it.

There is a 62mm tb you can get thru FDP or APOC but I believe there maybe some supplier problems with those atm.

I dont understand why people have such a hang up on spending money. I am generally much more impressed with someone who spends time and money to make something special. Sure there are plenty of other vehicles that maybe cheaper and easier to mod but who cares....I dont own one of those. ;)

[mfuller]

Originally posted by Alerosince99@Feb 24 2004, 08:38 AM
I dont understand why people have such a hang up on spending money.
I take it you're referring to my comments. Believe me, I have no problem with spending money and trying to be unique (try the $3000 I spent on custom-built Koni coilovers). I'm just pointing out that if he's planning on a turbo, why spend money on a set of headers that he'd eventually have to replace or cut up/modify to work with a turbocharger? I've made my mistakes and I'd hate to see people spending more money than they had to because of bad planning.

[Alerosince99]

Actually it wasnt meant towards you it was more towards sweets post. After rereading sweets post Im not sure if he was making fun of him for wanting to go fast in a alero or cause he is willing to drop some coin. I guess Ill just leave it as a passing thought I had to type. ;)

[Crazy_Canuck]

Hey, thanks to everyone who's responded so far with info.

I'll be definitely checking out a few avenues. I'm going to put a call into Western Turbo and see if they have anything that would work or at the least get a referral to someone else. I might decide to go supercharged instead.

Alerosince99, I'm with you on the money factor. I think if it's a hobby for you and you want to do something unique, then you should go for it.

Keep the info coming if anyone else has anything to add that would be useful.

[Crazy_Canuck]

Not sure if anyone has seen or tried any of these... have a look....

Street Arsenal Performance (http://www.streetarsenal.com/3400sfi.php?autoType=Alero)

[loudalero]

Sounds that it could be a while on the warranty so you might want to think about supercharger instead of turbo since john of apoc is trying to do this for us but just wanted to let you know if you did not already know and with john doing this you know that it will make more hp than that of the turbo or supercharger kit that are out right now.

[Crazy_Canuck]

What's the ETA on those chargers along with the cost? I didn't see the thread.

[1WhiteOSV]

Originally posted by Naich@Feb 24 2004, 05:40 AM
both S&S headers and TOG headers are very good. TOG's have been dynoed at 19 HP I believe, and I can't recall if the S&S headers have been dynoed. Both performed well at the track.

Supposedly, TOG has bigger flanges and includes a gasket. S&S, you have to make your own. Can anyone verify this? It's been a while since I looked into headers, so my memory might be bad.
I just got off the phone w/ S&S and their headers come with "all necessary hardware, bolts, gaskets, etc..." so there should be nothing to worry about. :thumbsup:

[FormulaNERD]

did you ask how much with the headers and flex without a cat?

[mike2002]

this is a old post.....

headers with flex, no cat, ive heard $570...thats a good deal, pick up a cheap highflow 2.5" off ebay, like carsounds for $50, and your set

s&s also have D ports like stock, unlike togs O ports.

im going S&S, just about everyone does on grandamgt.com, its argueable which is better, but s&s wins for me because of price. togs are $730 for JUST the headers uncoated, its 500 for COATED headers from s&s

someone correct me if im wrong on pricing, im 99% sure of it

[FormulaNERD]

yea, we all know this post is old. i just had a question for 1whiteosv since he just got off the phone w/ s&s.

[1WhiteOSV]

$574.99 to be exact.......that is what I am getting :thumbsup:

[FormulaNERD]

thanks man. seems a little much for a flex, unless the 350 listed for the headers is uncoated.

[1WhiteOSV]

here's the breakdown........

it's $500 for ceramic coated headers only
$75 for a downpipe w/ flex
$275 for cat
______________________________
$850 for the whole deal

OR you can get just the headers for $500 and the flex for $75 and that's $575
then like Mike said, get a cheap high-flow cat somewhere else

[kwhauck]

or don't replace your stock cat at all cuz it flows very well if not better than an aftermarket cat....

[FormulaNERD]

good to know. i can get headers coated around here for $85

so i'd be better off getting the raw headers for 350 and getting them coated here.

[1WhiteOSV]

Originally posted by 99Alero_Boy@Oct 20 2004, 02:54 AM
or don't replace your stock cat at all cuz it flows very well if not better than an aftermarket cat....
how does a 2 1/4" factory cat flow better than a 2 1/2" aftermarket ??

[FormulaNERD]

well i think he meant it flows plenty well for what most of us are doing.

also too big and you'll loose backpressure, and gas mileage.

i paid too much, but i have a 3" cat. good track results though.

[1WhiteOSV]

Originally posted by FormulaNERD@Oct 20 2004, 03:00 AM
well i think he meant it flows plenty well for what most of us are doing.

also too big and you'll loose backpressure, and gas mileage.

i paid too much, but i have a 3" cat. good track results though.
well considering you can get a 2 1/2" catco cat on Ebay for like $35 BUY IT NOW and an O2 Sim off High Rev for like $57...thats less than $100 and a 2 1/2 " full exhaust system won't hurt your back pressure so much that it hurts you, the performance will be better than your stock exhaust system no doubt. 3" is a lil big though... :unsure:

[FormulaNERD]

for 95% of the members on here, the stock cat is fine. but if you wanna spend 100 bucks, that's on you.

[1WhiteOSV]

I hear ya....and it is understandable