just wondering what your guys opinion is....i have a 3 inch catback by spintech changed from the hooker....no cat and my stock y pipe is cracking right at the split so i figure its time to get headers and a y pipe and i dont really wanna spend a fortune....is a brand new set of flowtech shorties and y pipe worth it for 150 bucks??

 

one more question too....i can get hooker 2460 headers at my work they run 160...but then i get 20% off for my discount....but where can i get a y pipe for those headers becuase they dont come with one and i havent been able to find where to get one thx for your help

 

I got a set of flowtech comin but they had to make them for my air system so I have to wait two more weeks. I'll tell you what they look like whan I get them. I have the 11116FLTS on order. Fits your stock y-pipe, I have dual catsystem with cat delete so its good for now.

 

the general consensus on these boards is that flowtechs are pretty bad

they have stock-sized tubes so they really dont help that much

if you are going to spend any money at all on headers, you might as well spend more and get something that will actually be useful

consider getting some hookers or hedmans

 

Flowtech's + $150 = waste of money.

They are garbage. I have them and I have nothing good to say about them other than they fit pretty decent. The flanges are warped and the welds are sloppy. Don't let the size of the collectors and primaries get to you though. They were desinged that way and are more than enough for most 305's. Mine were cermaic coated which I am sure covered up any other blemishes that my eye could not see. Save your money because you get what you pay for for all car parts.

 

the fit, as stated above, is awesome!!! thats about it. the quality of the headers is below poor. the collectors are not merged well at all, the pipes are small, and the flanges seem to be "warped" or do not line up with the heads very easily.

 

Yep, like the other guys are saying, they are terrible.

I had mine in use for less than a month before I pulled them in favor of my hedmans.

The flanges aren't flat, the primaries stick thru the flanges to far, and they don't seal for anything.

It might seem like you're saving a few bucks, but you're really gonna be out the $150 for the flowtechs, plus whatever the new headers cost.

 

Sold flowtech. went hedman. aint lookin back. My hedmans rule. Plug access rules.. I change plugs at oil change cycle.

-- Joe

 

Only a difference of $30 in price too, if you're just comparing headers to headers. For the ones I have at least.

Plug change is 5 min. now instead of 45 min.

 

Right about the plugs... no burnt wire boots either

 

I have Flowtech LT, and they were a PITA to get in, had to beat the hell out of them to get them to fit, AND had to grind off about 1/8 inch off the collector flange for it to fit. I've double checked PN's and they're the right ones. I'm just going to run with open headers until i've got the money for a decent set of shorties, then build the rest of the exhaust around the headers.

 

amen!!

 

i have flowtechs, the headers themselves aren't too bad, but the y-pipe sucks. its designed exactly like stock and flows horrible, if i keep my car, i will build a new y-pipe. i should have went headman.

 

so you can get them for less than the flowtech's with your discount this should be a no brainer. How far can you stretch that discount by the way?

 

I got my flowtechs the other day and they are pretty good, everything is sealed welds are nice flanges are only about 1millimeter off from perfect even at the center. I did do a bit of cleanup on the inside of the collector where they weld all 4 pipes together, but mostly because Im a freek when it comes to clean stuff. Im happy and they were only 100 US, so im not complaining, and they work great for what im doing with my car.

 

THey have 1.5" primaries, a 2.5" collector, and the y-pipe was designed by a crack addict. Whats good about them?

-- Joe

 

1mm is alot when you are trying to get something to seal...

For $30 more you can get the hedman shorties which fit just as good and are much higher quality.

 

lol my discount stretchs a long way...i can find stuff on the internet at work thats cheaper...price match it then get my discount....i just put all new shocks and struts on...monroe reflex's......it ran me 95 dollars for all them....i ended up gettin the hooker 2055's i got em for 270 thru work and let me tell u what it sounds mean with my spintech exhaust

 

I dont need large primaries as Im building a motor for torque. I also didnt get the y pipe as I have built my own. As far as whats good about them? They are cheap, well built( at least mine were) fit well, clear things in the engine bay better than many "higher brand name" headers. I dont go to the drag strip all that much, and I dont need a car that has all the power in the 5000+ RPM range as I dont drive it in that range anyways. I wanted to build a car that was awsome on the street. The engine is a mild 383 with L98 factory aluminum heads with a light polish job, a comp cams magnum 260 Retro roller cam, comp full roller rockers, and a polished and port matched TPI intake, fully rebuilt 1984 4-bolt main short block with arp studs keith black pistons clevite bearings . I had it dynoed on wednessday at a local engine shop and it produced, with the "cheap" flowtech headers and full exhaust, 377 HP @ 4500 RPM and 476 TQ @ 3775 RPM. Not bad for a motor with a total cost for 2500 bucks Canadian. It may have made more HP had we run it up past 4500 RPM, but I really dont care as I wont be driving it in that range anyways. And just for kicks we bolted on a set of Hooker super comp 1 3/4 LT headers and full exhaust and got 345 HP @ 4500 RPM and 436 TQ @ 3250. I wouldnt complain about those numbers either as they arent to bad, but just not as good as my flowtechs.
As for 1 millimeter its only 0.039 inches, and I would bet that its very hard to find any mass produced header that has less of a variance over the sealng face. All headers are welded which by its very nature causes warping of the metal. I am a welder by trade and find it hard to belive that any welded header would be much better without post production machining.

 

Bother tuning the car between headers, or at all?

WHatever floats your boat I ran the flowtechs for a while. They're crap, absolute crap end of story. Thats why they're 50 bux all the time on ebay. crap is crap.

Btw, I was refering to the small primaries burning out the exhaust valve guide..


-- Joe