1.Are headers worth it?
2. Does anybody have trouble w/ them warping or having to keep tightening them?
3.If I do go with them, what ones do I go with(under $500).

 

I have the shorty headers from summit racing. I personally like them. They say headers give you like 5% more horsepower so that would be like 10-15 more horsepower. Do they really? I do not know. Headers give you a better flow and I have noticed better take off and slight power increase, especially low end.I find they sound good too because of the flow. Mine ran me about $200

http://m.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g9045

 

+1 running shortys summits/ pacesetters same headers. work fine a bit better take off is right seams easier to get up and moving.

 

Are they thick enough and don't warp on you? I've heard if they aren't 3/8" thick or so they warp. I was looking at either JBA or Pacesetter LT. Also did you guys take them to a shop to be put on or did it at home?

 

for the love of God, don't buy Heddman.. the product sucks, and the company sucks.. they WILL warp, if they're not warped out of the box..

that said, even with them warped and fighting them for months and months, they were still no match for remflex gaskets and stage 8 locking bolts.. with those finally implemented, leaks absolutely disappeared..

..(and now that I've said it, I'm certain I'll discover a leak by the end of the week)..

as far as performance, eh... shorties aren't worth it.. but, what absolutely IS worth it is usually done at the same time, and where I figure most see their gain: The factory Y pipe.. that thing is R E S T R I C T I V E.. Lose it and put in a jegs off road Y or a magna flow, or even have a shop fab one up and you'll see a lot of gain..

 

Yeh I was gunna get an offroad Y pipe if I did headers..I'll see if they can be arranged sometime soon. Is pacesetter pretty decent headers?

 

I haven't had a problem with mine warping. I haven't heard any warping issues with the pacesetters but ya never know. I installed mine at home. Doesn't take too long. The hardest part is making sure you don't snap the rusted factory bolts! And yea, you might as well install an aftermarket y pipe at the same time. I've got the jegs off road pipe. Seems to be pretty good.

 

I run JBA's and have not had any problems. They have a really thick flange and stay good and tight. I did not use the gaskets that came with them, I prefer stock gaskets.

 

What do you mean by stock gasket? There's no such thing as stock on these rigs since they didn't come with any gaskets.

 

Exhaust manifold gaskets. Header gaskets always seem to leak.