Pepsicola

I was at a muffler shop the other day talking to a guy working there, asking him if he could install headers for me. He said "no" and that I shouldnt' waste my time with headers and just get "Racing Manifolds, straight from GM." So my question is, has anyone ever heard about them or is this guy full of crap??

Mark A Shields

Wasting time with headers, what a MORON, there's a reason why headers should be among the first mods. With out free flowing exhaust no matter what you do, the engine will choke. He said he can't install headers for you, I"d go somewhere else.

Geez, this is 2 guys that have said headers aren't a good idea. Where are these exhaust guys getting their training.

Pepsicola

I called five different shops around my area and none of them want anything to do with installing headers on a third gen because its too time consuming. I've been looking at the Hooker Super Comp Shorties pn2055 from jegs. The problem with these is that I have the 2.5" slip on cat and the Y-pipe that comes with the headers is 3" so I'm gonna have to get something rigged up anyway. I have a few friends that are willing to help put the headers in when I get them.

MikeS

Yeah, I have to say don't bother trying to get a shop to put them in...for a couple reasons. It will be costly, and to be honest, I wouldn't trust them doing a job like that on my car. I've seen things come back with more broken parts than fixed parts after having work done. I don't know what kind of experience you have, but even if it isn't much, you can do a header installation. Just give yourself a few days to get it done, maybe take some pictures of how everything looks before you start taking it apart (camcorder works good too), grab some friends and tools, and go at it. The only thing I would go to the shop for as far as headers are concerned is if anything needed to be welded up (like y-pipe to cat maybe). Let us know what you decide. Good luck.

MikeS

Oh yeah, racing manifolds straight from GM...
Never heard of 'em. Even if they exist, they won't be of as much benefit as those headers (did you mention Hooker?). About the same amount of work involved, so go with headers.

Maybe there are some local members who could give a hand...

Mark A Shields

Headers aren't hard to do, just time consuming. I don't get why exhaust shops are so lazy. I was told that a 3" cat-back would be a waste, and then I when I bought it to have installed the guy said I don't feel like doing this today.

What the hell is wrong with these guys. I just don't get it.

Synapsis

My SLP header install took 5 hours for the headers, 3 more hours for the whole rest of the system (cats and catback.) That was by myself, including breaks for lemonade. Just take it slow. And keep your exhaust bolts in the same order you took em off, I don't know about you guys', but mine were all different lengths.

Could it be that these shops don't want to do the "custom" work before regular work? I've heard of shops putting aftermarket parts installs on the backburner in order to help replace a rusted pipe on Grandma's 84 Accord. My local VW shop won't even touch a Bug with fuel injection.

Mark A Shields

That's what I was thinking, they get paid the same so why not do the easy routine work and still get paid.

88Bravo

Shops make there money off of you buying there pipes. What they get paid to just install the pipes is nothing more than change. Exhaust pipe, like $8, tail pipe, $4 a peice, muffler, $10 at best. So it is not worth there time just for $26. When if you buy there stuff, they make $100 for the same amount of time. It is all about the dollar.

Synapsis

I thought they made money off labor. It may not be an exhaust shop, but my brother had a 90$ clutch put in his Jetta, with 300$ of labor.

Mark A Shields

They do make money off the labor, but think about it they can charge the same price to weld exhaust and fix minor things all day long, why take up their time installing headers that are a pain compared to simple crap. At least that's the way I see it.

5L EaTeR

i just picked up a set of hooker super comps for my 89 iroc and was told id have to lift the engine out to get one side to fit (i forget which side, driver or passenger). is this true??? i find it hard to believe.


Damien

Mark A Shields

I remember hearing that, but I thought it was for Hedman, could be wrong though.

91305z

I had to do the same thing to get my slp's to squeeze in on the drivers side. don't sweat it though all you have to do is take out the motor mount bolt and jack up that side of the motor a little bit. Worked like a charm for me and only took an extra 5 min. You will probably have to bend the brake lines out of the way before you let the motor back down.