ok i want to get headders for my 3.8L V6. but my buddy said "
headers are pointless on the 3800 they add no horse power gain at the cost of extra heat "

i dont understand what that means but are they worth the money? will they help other then gas millage?

 

On your car you will not see much gain unless you do other mods. The factory manifold are pretty good. I think the 97 back 3.8's can use a little help in that area.

 

The 98+ fbods had a tubular style manifold (I think I have the year right), but they still flow terribly. A set of painted pacesetter headers would be a very cheap well worth it upgrade, ceramic coated ones are much better. The header you buy depends on your budget, they all have very similar gains, you've got RK Sport, Pacesetter, Clear Image, and OBX (stainless pacesetter knock-offs). On my car with the headers, a cheap exhaust, and 4.10 gears, my camaro picked up 1 second in the 1/4 and 3mph. I would say it was worth every penny.

 

Let you buddy know that you can't gain heat, you can only distribute it differently, and that said, with an increased dissipation of heat you have increased flow. It's just how fluid flow works (not feeling like going into the technical details of the whole thing unless you really want me to...). Whether that flow is going to get you any HP that is noticeable is debatable, but it will get you more HP. I agree with Gorn, you need to do some other supporting mods before you'll see anything substantial, but they can help down the line if you're planning on continuing to mod the car.

 

I agree they are only worth it if you are going to increase the flow from the header back and on the intake as well if you do not have a CAI get one if budget allows if your are thinking of headers alone they you will not likely see too much of a increase if any at all. But if Budget allows get a CAI and a decent exhaust and you will see an inprovement most likely. As the inprovement would depended on the car if the engine is strong and the trans good you will notice improvement if the engine is so so and the trans not so good then your firend would be correct in the HP improvement .