Header install hitting steering shaft

[2010 4 DW]

Originally Posted by thahemp

That sucks. I'm a little disappointed in Texas Speed. You're right though. JBA in Mexico, and TSP in who knows where.

When I bought my JBA products I called and asked them some questions and they had all the right answers.

JBA is OWNED by Pertronix that owns Dougs Headers, Patriot Exhaust, Thunderbird Exhaust. They said they have their own manufacturing facility they run in MX with 100 employees and have over 200 US employees in California.


http://www.pertronix.com/

[thahemp]

That makes me feel a little better. I still probably would have gone with something else had i known they were farming out manufacturing work to mexico. I should have researched them a little harder before i purchased...

[strych9]

I have read this thread from start to finish. Great points by many posters, some more informed than others. I wasn't really coming here to post, but I'd like to point out another aspect of reality that is being missed here.

Let's take a look at the OEM automotive manufacturers themselves. Do you really believe that all of the steel that is used in the manufacturing of new American cars comes from the US? Guess again. It comes from the lowest bidder for the product. Let's look at the 5th Gen Camaro itself. Made in Canada, and our manual transmissions are made in Mexico. Why are they held in higher regard than China?

True, China earned a bad rap with crappy product throughout the 70's, 80's, and 90's. However, China made a huge turn economically, in part due to better controls infused by American companies that were having components built there for American assembly. This has resulted in better-quality products from them.

Am I a Chinese fanboy? Hell no. But here's the reality: I also like to purchase quality products. I wear Ray-Ban sunglasses and $80 shirts that last for 5 years. I want to mod my Camaro. The first thing I plan to do this spring is install headers and a CAI. I can nearly guarantee you that I will not be purchasing Kooks or SW, because I do not see the value in doing so. As others have stated, until we get years of use to prove which brand lasts the longest, all we can really look at are crappy welds and fitment issues. Frankly, if I can make them fit and the crappy welds don't seem to affect the use or longevity of the headers, I don't mind saving $1000 to use toward other mods that I may want to buy. I could buy a set of headers, a CAI, and a camshaft for the cost of one set of name-brand stainless headers. Think about that.

OBX or TSP will likely be the choices I consider, for the reasons stated above. The Ford guys have been using OBX for a long time, and with few issues. I'm not a rich guy, so I spend my "disposable" income with a lot of thought put into my purchases. If a set of cheap OBX or TSP or "brand X" headers last only 5 years, I'm totally fine with that.

Just my 2-cents, FWIW.

[litle88]

Good so buy a set of TSP's cause they are a sponsor here.

[thahemp]

Originally Posted by strych9

I have read this thread from start to finish. Great points by many posters, some more informed than others. I wasn't really coming here to post, but I'd like to point out another aspect of reality that is being missed here.

Let's take a look at the OEM automotive manufacturers themselves. Do you really believe that all of the steel that is used in the manufacturing of new American cars comes from the US? Guess again. It comes from the lowest bidder for the product. Let's look at the 5th Gen Camaro itself. Made in Canada, and our manual transmissions are made in Mexico. Why are they held in higher regard than China?

True, China earned a bad rap with crappy product throughout the 70's, 80's, and 90's. However, China made a huge turn economically, in part due to better controls infused by American companies that were having components built there for American assembly. This has resulted in better-quality products from them.

Am I a Chinese fanboy? Hell no. But here's the reality: I also like to purchase quality products. I wear Ray-Ban sunglasses and $80 shirts that last for 5 years. I want to mod my Camaro. The first thing I plan to do this spring is install headers and a CAI. I can nearly guarantee you that I will not be purchasing Kooks or SW, because I do not see the value in doing so. As others have stated, until we get years of use to prove which brand lasts the longest, all we can really look at are crappy welds and fitment issues. Frankly, if I can make them fit and the crappy welds don't seem to affect the use or longevity of the headers, I don't mind saving $1000 to use toward other mods that I may want to buy. I could buy a set of headers, a CAI, and a camshaft for the cost of one set of name-brand stainless headers. Think about that.

OBX or TSP will likely be the choices I consider, for the reasons stated above. The Ford guys have been using OBX for a long time, and with few issues. I'm not a rich guy, so I spend my "disposable" income with a lot of thought put into my purchases. If a set of cheap OBX or TSP or "brand X" headers last only 5 years, I'm totally fine with that.

Just my 2-cents, FWIW.

I understand your and the others' point. I believe the difference in our stances here was illustrated pretty concisely a few pages ago.

Originally Posted by 2SSRSinBama

the thing is because people didn't put their foot down years ago, we lost the clothing war, electronics war, tire war, etc... which is why I laugh at the people who bash unions, etc... of course that is a whole other debate but our motto holds true:

You Earn It In America, Spend It In America...

people are always looking to save a buck and then are shocked when corporations outsource job... what the f***

This is exactly it. We are the few that really make an effort to stop the bleeding. Most people think like you guys though, which provides the feedback loop that has left so many people unemployed in THIS country. Yeah we can't help buying stuff that was manufactured elsewhere because it is literally unavoidable. It is only that way, however, because of the Wal-Mart effect.

[litle88]

4 weeks after delivery I installed a set of Kooks bought from Maryland Speed!

Sooooo



Lmao JK fellas, look its obvious its always us the usual guys chiming in on these threads. We don't back down and we stay adimant in our beliefs. So why don't we all come to an understanding with future threads?

I know anyone can purchase whatever they'd like BUT in future threads why not ask others to look at the TSP headers since they pay for sponsorship here and it's NOT frickin cheap either. If they can afford the kooks and ARE's is fine if they want a "budget" or what have you header why not a TSP one? Just saying just suggesting not trying to start shiat either.

[strych9]

Originally Posted by litle88

4 weeks after delivery I installed a set of Kooks bought from Maryland Speed!

Sooooo



Lmao JK fellas, look its obvious its always us the usual guys chiming in on these threads. We don't back down and we stay adimant in our beliefs. So why don't we all come to an understanding with future threads?

I know anyone can purchase whatever they'd like BUT in future threads why not ask others to look at the TSP headers since they pay for sponsorship here and it's NOT frickin cheap either. If they can afford the kooks and ARE's is fine if they want a "budget" or what have you header why not a TSP one? Just saying just suggesting not trying to start shiat either.

Now that's funny! Your points are right on.

[justa25thTA]

Originally Posted by Mr. Unassailable

That's what I thought. Guess you didn't read the whole thread and don't know much about the % by weight of elements in the metals you are talking about.


- Clayton. Official C5Fail4 hater.

I have no dog in this fight, as I plan on keeping my factory manifolds and warranty for as long as possible.

To Maryland Speed's point. How many of the OBX headers have you tested? Quite possible you got a great pair, and others haven't.

[Ivan @ Southwest Speed]

Easy fix. See it alot in the Auto cars.

Loosen the motor mounts with car on lift or safely supported...move motor over a hair and retighten.

It's a matter of the engines sitting differently in the cradle bushings. Yeah, some ishy headers are a little more common than others.... , but slamming them solves nothing for anybody.

Just do a little due diligence and almost all of em will/can fit nicely.

Sure there are brands that have a higher success rate than others as well......

GL and let us know how it turns out.
Ivan @ Southwest Speed

[Quick]

I have yet to see a member or customer on here say they had problems
with the fit of OBX headers.Maryland speed or other vendors that sell that
overpriced BS would like for you to think it but its not true.Hell there are people on here that if you were selling 20.00 bills they would feel better knowing they gave you
100.00 for their 20.00 bill.bragging rights? feeling superior?simply not knowing? Who knows.I'll put my obx headers up against any header on the market for performance
and durability and i didn't have to take a hammer to them to make them fit.

[Camarojt]

Originally Posted by Ivan @ Southwest Speed

Easy fix. See it alot in the Auto cars.

Loosen the motor mounts with car on lift or safely supported...move motor over a hair and retighten.

It's a matter of the engines sitting differently in the cradle bushings. Yeah, some ishy headers are a little more common than others.... , but slamming them solves nothing for anybody.

Just do a little due diligence and almost all of em will/can fit nicely.

Sure there are brands that have a higher success rate than others as well......

GL and let us know how it turns out.
Ivan @ Southwest Speed

Thanks for your comment Ivan. I think this is about as accurate of a description as you can get. Fitment is going to boil down to A) how far off is EACH INDIVIDUALS car engine in the cradle bushings? B) the design flaws of an individual header factoring into the odds of it hitting. Some designs probably lesson the chance of hitting.

Either way, it's nice to know that there is an option to correct this issue! Maybe I wouldn't have had to dimple mine. But unless you take it off, you can't see it. So I'm happy.

So if you find yourself in this predicament, with ANY brand of header, try this before you assume your header is faulty.

[thahemp]

Out of curiosity, what method would you use to move an engine over slightly? That doesn't sound like a trivial task without an engine hoist.

[Quick]

I don't like the idea of putting the engine in a bind.....not good.

[thahemp]

Originally Posted by Quick

I have yet to see a member or customer on here say they had problems
with the fit of OBX headers.Maryland speed or other vendors that sell that
overpriced BS would like for you to think it but its not true.Hell there are people on here that if you were selling 20.00 bills they would feel better knowing they gave you
100.00 for their 20.00 bill.bragging rights? feeling superior?simply not knowing? Who knows.I'll put my obx headers up against any header on the market for performance
and durability and i didn't have to take a hammer to them to make them fit.

1) $20 bills are American made, so nice try.
2) Your OBX headers should perform as well as the some of the best headers out there. They are copied from some of the best headers on the market.
3) I think you missed the debate by a few hours. You also glossed over all of the rational points made, and decided to beat the OBX headers kick a$$ dead horse instead.

Originally Posted by Quick

I don't like the idea of putting the engine in a bind.....not good.

If Camarojt and Ivan have a valid point, and the engine is just positioned slightly different from car to car, then moving the engine is the proper solution. No need to mutilate the header. That's why I'm curious how they would do it.