chcgobearsfan3

They're cheap as hell, anyone know about them through experience? Also, is there a Y pipe that would fit them directly, or would a fabbed Y be needed? How important is the ceramic coating, too? I'm on a budget of about $400 for headers, will my wires and everything really all "fry" like the common consensus seems to be?

Also, any suggestions on headers/cheap Y pipe setups would be great, brands don't have to match as long as they fit!

Right now, the flowtech set is the only one in my price range with some $ to spare if I don't get them coated but I've heard a lot of bad news about them..

Edit: Right now the hedman 17470s with generic shorties like SUM G9005s looks alright, then I guess my main question would be about the coating unless this wouldn't work out.

vorticaldavid

iTrader: (1)

The summit headers are just flowtech headers sold under the summit brand.im not sure about the jegs headers but im willing to bet they do the same. as far as the headers go they are ok at best, i have them and they are super close to the frame and probably hits the frame when the motor is reved. i only got these headers cuz i was still in college and short on money and impatient. the only reason y i havent swapped them out for better ones yet is cuz i am waiting to do a motor swap. if you dont have the money for the better headers save and wait till you do.

chcgobearsfan3

I'm in the same situation as you, just looking for a little extra while running everything else stock. I'll probably junk them later on once I'm out of school and working, but if they help with power and fuel economy at all, I'd be fine with them as long as I don't have to go changing around my engine bay and hacking stuff up.

vorticaldavid

iTrader: (1)

oh and dont get the summit headers SUM-G9005 and the headman y-pipe HED-17470 and expect them to bolt right up. i made this same mistake thinking this and the collectors are different on the headers and y-pipe. i ended up having to get the y-pipe modified at my local exhaust shop for an extra $100 to bolt up the headers. not worth it at all since i ended up spending about the same as it would have cost to get headman headers and matching y-pipe. search the classifieds here and even craigslist or ebay for some used headers if u wanna try and save some cash.

chcgobearsfan3

Alright thanks, just got off the phone with a summit sales rep, he recommended the 16102-1 flowtechs for "bang for the buck" and rust resistance, as well as under hood temps. But every time I search them I see people complaining about them..not sure if it's because the happy customers don't post about them or not.. but if they aren't complete crap then the sizing would be good for a stock/mild 305.. and I suppose worth it.

vorticaldavid

iTrader: (1)

http://http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BIG-16102-1FLT/

Thats what he recomended to you? thats alot of money for crap when that kinda money can get you way better headers/y-pipe. save your money

chcgobearsfan3

Ah man, it's hard to, I'm sitting on ~$400 that I can use.. I could also get the hooker 2055s but they cost a **** ton coated, ya know? Will it really be that bad running uncoated? I mean the paint will burn off and it'll be a lot hotter, but is it going to damage a bunch of stuff? I find that it'd be a lot worse to have to change wires and take the headers out after running them a few times.. I wouldn't be able to get them coated for some time..

88formula305tbi

i have the jegs headers no problems i picked them up off their ebay store just be sure to sandblast then paint them with some good header paint

vorticaldavid

iTrader: (1)

uncoated headers arent going to hurt anything. just gota make sure you wires arent touching them. if your dead set on the cheaper headers then go for them. just beware that your not getting the most out of your motor with them. any issues that MAY arise will usually be minimal. they are ok at best since they are going on a weak/stock 305 and just about anything is better than the factory manifolds. but the money can be better spent. its your money tho just my

chcgobearsfan3

Alright man, thanks for the input, maybe I'll save up then.

kd5icr

iTrader: (2)

You never really said what you want to spend on this. I would say that maybe you can go to the classified ads here and see what it being sold. You might find a header and y pipe set up for sale at a good price. I got a set of hedman shorty's here for 90 shipped. I still need the y-pipe but I am not in a hurry to get them just yet, as I have an engine to fininsh up.

jrobinson5093

I just got a set of jegs headers in they seem to be the same as flow tech or summit. Im gonna sand blast them and coat the with DEI header coating and I got some spark plug wire heat shield boot things. All for around 170 shipped. Good deal to me. I will put them on in a few days. I dont expect much from them but any thing is better than the stock set up. the car already has 3 inch flow master kit with no cat and one muffler.