I'm pricing out parts for my car, and deciding what goals to set for the summer. I'm looking at headers, and wondering if I should bother to get the coated ones? I'm considering Pacesetter mid-length right now.

Any other brands that I should look at instead? I didn't realize how little headers themselves are until I looked at them. Does anyone know if these will connect without fabrication? I've driven a car to the exhaust shop once already b/c the system needed fabrication. Not incredibly anxious to do that again.

I am looking at these for a 3800. There, I said it. Now someone with a V8 can come and tell me to sell my car and buy a V8 instead. [sighs]

 

I bought the armor coated pacesetters. I haven't had a chance to install them yet but from everything I have read the coated ones are the best. I'm told the painted ones rust out pretty fast. I don't think there is much options for the 3800 in terms of headers. I bought mine from summit. They were the cheapest that I could find

 

You should go buy a V8 (joking). 3.8 is a good motor.

Any ways, I have non coated headers with BBQ paint on them and the only spots that are rusting are where I couldn't get the paint. I drive 80 miles home every other weekend, so you know my headers are getting pretty hot. I'd go for coated if you can afford it. If you can't, then non coated will do the trick too. As far as fabrication, they should just bolt right up to the stock exhaust iirc.

 

Stainless Steel FTW,,,, I jus Say'n

 

I can only turn up painted and armor-coated for Pacesetters. Anywhere I should be looking?

I found them on lmpperformance.com for about $360. That was with the coating.

 

Always get ceramic coating. The pacesetter ceramic coating is nice for what it is; it aint no jet hot coating but it will suffice. Don't even bother with painted headers, after a bit of heat and time that paint will look like garbage (especially if you drive through winter).

 

I agree with the ceramic coating. But disagree on your thoughts of painted. Sure they're not as good, but if done right, they'll last through winter. Mine took on the bit of PA winter we had with no problems.

 

You painted your's yourself, factory paintjobs on headers never last and always look like garbage.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/95-02-CHEVY-...item5ae62bed84

I had mine 2.5 years They tuned a goldish color after the first few weeks. The only issue I had what the suppied bolts were no where near long enough to be used as intended. I trip to the hardware store and $9 later I was good. I also used the EGR connection for the 02 motor The 96 EGR tube was going to take a lot of persuaving to work. At the time I bought them they where $80 more then the painted pacesetters. I am cheap but IMO it was $80 well spent.

 

Gorn, those headers are bookmarked in my "things to buy" folder.

It seemed like I should go for the ceramic coating if I was getting any coating. Good to
know I didn't just plan on wasting my money.

Thanks for the input guys!