Here is a word of warning to everybody out there that may own or is looking at a set of the Pacesetter/Summit brand shorty headers .

DO NOT BUY THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I ordered mine on 4/16/06 so they could be installed when I replaced my engine. I received them on 4/19/06 and immediately inspected the welds. All looked perfect. I wrapped the headers with the recommended header wrap and sealed them with the recommended header paint from Summit.

On 7/17/06 I installed the new engine with the new headers. My truck had 112,700 miles on it.

This past week I drove to San Diego from Minneapolis and pulled a 4 X 8 enclosed U-haul trailer. It had household furnishings in it as I was moving my daughter-in-law and grandson to San Diego to be with my son who is stationed with the Navy there. Driving down, I encountered no issues and the truck had plenty of power for the mountains as would be expected.

On the way back, I stopped in Richfield Utah for gas and heard an exhaust leak at the drivers side header. I assumed it was a gasket leak so I stopped for the might and decided to replace the gasket the next morning in daylight. The next morning upon further checking into the leak I found that three tubes of the header were completely burned out and one of those tubes had a crack that almost completely encircled the tube. I could not find any factory manifolds within 100 miles and ordering replacement headers would take a week. I had to have my original factory manifolds overnight air shipped to me from Minneapolis for $150.

I also tried to get the headers welded and found there was not enought material to weld. We also checked the passenger side header and one of the tubes for it was paper thin and would have burnt completely before my arrival back in Minnesota.

I will include photos of what is left of the headers as soon as I can. My truck at that point had 118,543 miles, so the headers had less than 4 months and only 5,843 miles on them before they self-destructed.

Just trying to save everybody else the headaches I encountered with this very inferior product. You can see pictures of the headers when I installed them in my profile photo's.

 

not to be a dick, but what did you expect for $149? i personally think they would have lasted longer had you NOT wrapped them.


........or the new motor was running too lean.

 

I've seen others say similar things about Pacesetter headers. Buyer beware.

 

that sucks I almost bought them to[:@]

 

I've had a set for 6 months in my garage. Was thinking of putting them on and if the headers gave me a noticable increase in power or throtle response, was going to get some Gibsons SS ones. Now I don't know if it's even worth the trouble to put the Summit headers on. Think I will just talk the wife into letting me buy the Gibsons now. Did get my highflow dual in/dual out cat and Flowmaster 70 series dual in/dual out muffler last night so I'm going to have to make a decission soon. Jeff.

 

It seems from what I have read and seen that these headers are either good or they suck. I bought a set of them in 1999 and put them on my truck when it had 37k miles on it. Now I have 110k and they are still hanging in there without any problems. Through all the long harsh New England winters! Maybe since I got them the quality has gone down hill I do not know. No complaints here!

 

Update:

Pacesetter talked to me about the headers but refused to even consider being part of the resolution to the issue.

Summit Racing asked for me to send the product back and offered cash refund or exchange. I refused exchange. I will also be sending back what is left of the header wrap and the header locking ties. In all, about $200 worth of refund.

When the time comes I will be putting on a good set of Gibson or other top brand headers, Right now the San Diego trip has exhausted my "Mod" fund until at least next summer.

 

At least they are standing behind thier product. That is what I like about Summit. Many companies would just push you away and say, Sorry there is nothing we can do.

In your sig you have "Phoenix trans TC." Did you get that from Phoenix Hard Parts? If so how long have you had the tranny or is just the converter? What is your impression of the quality?

 

ill buy em off ya


not to sound like a doush, and i may be wrong...but if you did not properly break in the headers they will devolp problems quickly.

 

I purchased the aftermarket torque converter only from Phoenix Transmission. Their web site is http://www.phoenixtrans.com/index.html

Based upon information from others I felt the factory torque converter was a weak link in allowing me to pull my 7800 puond fifth wheel so when I replaced the engine I upgraded to this torque converter. These guys are very professional and I am very happy with the product. My next purchase will be a replacement transmission for my Ram as their prices also look to be very competitive.