My new OBX headers :-)

[2SSRSinBama]

I do quite a bit of welding, I've had to deal with Chinese Stainless and non stainless in my welding, anyone who says its to the same standard as American steel, has no welding background... ask any welder... the fact I can distinguish the two withing a single bead of welding should tell you something... and as far as the long term? once again, no comparing the two... American Steel is created to last, Chinese steel is created to be cheap

YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU GET and there are options to get a set of American 304 Stainless headers with Catted Extensions for less than $900...

i'm not denying there are some foreign parts on this car, but you can bet, this guy won't be buying chinese headers


here is another example, compare one of those cheap Chinese ATVs to a Japanese model that they knockoff... you can get a chinese 90cc ATV or dirt bike for a 1/4th of the price of a comparable Honda... the difference is, 3 years from now the Honda will be going strong, the Chinese knockoff will have a broken frame where you've had to weld it 20 times every time its broke...

a guy I used to know used to sell them, and he'd get me to weld/repair them a little on the side... he used to try to sell the "its the same quality as American steel" crap... I didn't buy it then, I don't buy it now... 2 years later he finally kind of saw things my way when his customers started bringing them to him in swarms with broken frames...

here is some welding I did a little while ago on an old Ford with a Lt1, I fabbed him up a front bumper, started with sheet metal and made this:

(how it originally looked)








did the back as well:





so welding is not something I take lightly and I can tell you, steel is not created the same

[Lee123]

Originally Posted by 2SSRSinBama

American Steel is created to last, Chinese steel is created to be cheap

I'm asking these questions because I'm puzzled and would like to learn something, not to start (or continue) a pissing match. There have been a number of statements in this thread stating the superiority of American steel and the poor quality of Chinese steel. I only quoted the last one. One further up included German steel with American as high quality.

It is a fact the the vast majority of Amarican steel mills have closed. It is also a fact that a lot of cars are built here, not only the American brands but many of the imports. Maybe the imports that are built here bring in their body panels but where does the steel that is used in the American cars come from? Someone in this thread claimed there isn't much steel in Camaros, but the video of the factory shows body panels being stamped out of large sheets of steel. Where do all those sheets come from, not just for GM but for Ford and for Chrysler? I had been told that it was imported. I find that disgusting so I'd like to proved wrong. Are there enough American steel mills to provide all the steel used in American cars? If so, where are they? If not, where does the steel come from.

Again, I'm not trying to stir up more crap, I'm just interested in manufacturing and I've seen all the pictures of the closed factories and steel mills and I'm seriously interested in the answer.

[ss/rs-matt]

From wikipedia

This article summarizes the world steel production by country. For the company-oriented account, see List of steel producers.

In 2010, total world crude steel production was 1,413.6 million metric tonnes (mmt). The biggest steel producing country is currently China, which accounted for 44.3% of world steel production in 2010. In 2008 and 2009, output fell in the majority of steel producing countries as a result of the global recession, in 2010 started to rise again.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel...ion_by_country

[ss/rs-matt]

I think this might more directly answer your question

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_steel_producers

[2SSRSinBama]

there are several steel mills here in Bama, a large one in the Gulf, and a couple more in the works here as we speak.... on that list Nucor is the #16 largest producer of steel in the world, they have a plant about 45 minutes from me... the company I work for does contract work there in fact

i'm NOT a welder by trade, i'm a welder by hobby... i'm an electrician by trade but I have more than enough quals to be a welder by trade and do some welding in my trade

[Lee123]

Thanks for the replies. While it's sad to see that even the small county of Japan is ahead of us on that list and the massive total for China, it is encouraging to hear that they are building new steel mills in the gulf.

I grew up in Chicago and would see steel mills on trips around the area and there were a lot of factories even around the city or at least not far. Even as kid it was inspiring to see the huge buildings and all the stuff that they made. My family moved to the northwest where they don't make much of anything except Boeing airplanes and software and I forgot about all that. I was shocked just a few years ago to find pictures of the steel mills and factories that are closed. I can't imagine what can be done to turn it around, but hopefully smarter folks then me will figure it out. It's pretty obvious that more EPA regulations isn't the way to do it.

Back on the subject, doesn't anyone know where GM gets the steel for our cars and the others they make? I'd guess they keep it a secret, but can't hurt to ask.

[ss/rs-matt]

I have searched for that answer but had no luck finding specifics on the camaro. I did find an article somewhere that basically said they buy from whomever is cheapest. Seeing how much china produces, I would say they are suppling the majority of the automotive industry and for cheap. The whole supply and demand thing, the more you buy, the better deal you get.
Your right, the EPA and other big government as chasing most industry out of this country. Sad but true.

[Lee123]

Originally Posted by ss/rs-matt

I have searched for that answer but had no luck finding specifics on the camaro. I did find an article somewhere that basically said they buy from whomever is cheapest. Seeing how much china produces, I would say they are suppling the majority of the automotive industry and for cheap. The whole supply and demand thing, the more you buy, the better deal you get.
Your right, the EPA and other big government as chasing most industry out of this country. Sad but true.

That's what I would guess. Was hoping to be proven wrong. It's a damn shame that it's cheaper to buy steel from another country and ship it half way around the world rather than make it a few hundred miles away.

I remember as a kid seeing a very large ship full of logs about to leave Washington state (Port Angeles, I believe). My dad asked where the logs were going and one of the crew said, "we send them to Japan, they make plywood out of them and send it back here." He was pretty pissed off to learn that. Looks like steel has gone the same way.

[DARKANGELCAMARO]

We love our OBX headers too. And they sound NASTY! (We are running NO cats and NO mufflers) See my Youtube channel (ANGRY6LITER) for vids.

[skar]

? why do we have high unemployment .
Do you still have a job.
I could not do it . I had to go with US made stainless works . (not power)

[Badbubba]

Originally Posted by Lee123

I'm asking these questions because I'm puzzled and would like to learn something, not to start (or continue) a pissing match. There have been a number of statements in this thread stating the superiority of American steel and the poor quality of Chinese steel. I only quoted the last one. One further up included German steel with American as high quality.

It is a fact the the vast majority of Amarican steel mills have closed. It is also a fact that a lot of cars are built here, not only the American brands but many of the imports. Maybe the imports that are built here bring in their body panels but where does the steel that is used in the American cars come from? Someone in this thread claimed there isn't much steel in Camaros, but the video of the factory shows body panels being stamped out of large sheets of steel. Where do all those sheets come from, not just for GM but for Ford and for Chrysler? I had been told that it was imported. I find that disgusting so I'd like to proved wrong. Are there enough American steel mills to provide all the steel used in American cars? If so, where are they? If not, where does the steel come from.

Again, I'm not trying to stir up more crap, I'm just interested in manufacturing and I've seen all the pictures of the closed factories and steel mills and I'm seriously interested in the answer.

Our steel corporation supplies various compositions of standard and high strength steels to the automotive industry, in the U.S. and world wide. Chrysler, Ford, GM, Hyundai (Alabama), Kia (Georgia), Mitsubishi (Illinois), Nissan (Mississsippi, Tennessee), Subaru(Indiana), Volkswagen (Tennessee) and Volvo (Canada). Our company probably could supply enough steel if we shifted all our focus to cars and pulled out of appliances, etc. Alot of steel is imported though. Read up about steel subsidies from China's government, it's frustrating. The quality of the material is low, but the price is too good to pass up. The US will soon be similiar to a town that has a super store that moves into it. Under cut everyone's price, even at a loss on some items, to shutter the competition. Then it's the only game in town. It's the way the some of the people think, concentrate on the here and now, and not the future. I try to blend both together.
Matt, sorry for being off the thread topic. I just wanted to provide some info and respond to the post.

[ss/rs-matt]

Originally Posted by Badbubba

Our steel corporation supplies various compositions of standard and high strength steels to the automotive industry, in the U.S. and world wide. Chrysler, Ford, GM, Hyundai (Alabama), Kia (Georgia), Mitsubishi (Illinois), Nissan (Mississsippi, Tennessee), Subaru(Indiana), Volkswagen (Tennessee) and Volvo (Canada). Our company probably could supply enough steel if we shifted all our focus to cars and pulled out of appliances, etc. Alot of steel is imported though. Read up about steel subsidies from China's government, it's frustrating. The quality of the material is low, but the price is too good to pass up. The US will soon be similiar to a town that has a super store that moves into it. Under cut everyone's price, even at a loss on some items, to shutter the competition. Then it's the only game in town. It's the way the some of the people think, concentrate on the here and now, and not the future. I try to blend both together.
Matt, sorry for being off the thread topic. I just wanted to provide some info and respond to the post.

Its all good man. It is an interesting topic. This thread lost its way awhile ago...lol.


However, since it still lives for now, my headers have not fallen off the car yet. 250 miles and holding up strong...Haha! Ted at JRE sent me a tune this morning for my diablo predator, I can't wait to get home and try it. Ted says ill only make 400rwhp with 91 octane and my K&N intake. I was hoping for 410-415...oh well. Ill report back on how I like it.

[Camarowguy]

Let's look at it like this: we are all people. Human beings. Trying to make a living. So what if something is imported from another country. Somewhere somehow that other country is having stuff imported from us. So who cares. To me it's a plotter to try to get people to spend double price on the sane damn shit....playing in their heart strings and making it sound so good that we are supporting our country. Bullshit. I don't give a damn where it comes from. If its good quality and the price is right...I'm buying it. It all equals out in the end anyway.

[Badbubba]

Originally Posted by ss/rs-matt

Its all good man. It is an interesting topic. This thread lost its way awhile ago...lol.


However, since it still lives for now, my headers have not fallen off the car yet. 250 miles and holding up strong...Haha! Ted at JRE sent me a tune this morning for my diablo predator, I can't wait to get home and try it. Ted says ill only make 400rwhp with 91 octane and my K&N intake. I was hoping for 410-415...oh well. Ill report back on how I like it.

, Yep

Originally Posted by Camarowguy

Let's look at it like this: we are all people. Human beings. Trying to make a living. So what if something is imported from another country. Somewhere somehow that other country is having stuff imported from us. So who cares. To me it's a plotter to try to get people to spend double price on the sane damn shit....playing in their heart strings and making it sound so good that we are supporting our country. Bullshit. I don't give a damn where it comes from. If its good quality and the price is right...I'm buying it. It all equals out in the end anyway.

Yea, it's all about shifting products and money that keeps the economies and the standards of living growing. Just so nations don't limit what items can enter their country. But that does happen, which helps contribute to deficits.