this is probably a stupid question, but im trying to decide on headers for my 2003 sss. ive heard that lts are alot better than shorties. plus im kinda on a budget. im in college and advance auto part time money dosent go a long way.
i will appreciate any advice on quality, fitment, etc.

thanks in advance

 

The two main budget headers are Pacesetter and OBX. They both cost right at $500 for the headers and Y pipe.

OBX pros:
304 stainless steel
flanges to connect Y pipe to collector
resonators aka dummy cats which are nice for visual inspection
bungs for front and rear 02s and a bung for a wideband

OBX cons:
Huge hump on driver's side primary pipe which can interfere with or burn up a plug wire
2.5" collector (vs. 3" ....most say this makes no difference unless you are making big power)

pacesetter pros:
No hump on the driver's side, so it's easier on the plug wires and is more aesthetic.
it's a very proven header that provides good gain. The de facto budget header
3" collector
pacesetter cons
cheap ceramic coating. I've read reports of rusting at the collector even within 1 year.
no flanges to connect the header to the Y pipe. You have to crimp the pipes together and I've read that the clamps Pacesetter supplies are crappy and possibly leak.
Once you get everything put together you have to cut up the pipes if you want to remove the system.


Overall, they are both good headers. I really struggled deciding between the two. There are reports of both having issues with 4wd fitment so there's no guarantees that either will fit perfectly. Being 2wd, it wasn't an issue for me. Ultimately, what sold me on the OBX's was the stainless steel, nice thick header flanges, and the flanges to connect the header to the Y pipe for easy removal if I so choose. Also, the dummy cats and bung for the rear 02 is a nice plus. Where I live we get a decent amount of snow and lay down a good amount of salt in the winter. I wanted a header that's going to last me without rusting out. I thought of getting the pacesetter's coated properly inside and out by Jet-Hot, but that puts me at least $200 over the price of the OBX's. Hope that helps.

Here are the OBX (Pictures are from member On20z)




And here is the pacesetter:

 

Well put by GMC.
If you don't have alot of rain ice snow, salt, the pacesetters are the way to go, but you will want to use band clamps vs standard clamps. Also they have the 3 inch collectors.. If you live in areas where you have that and want a very nice stainless header for the money the OBX is a very nice choice, but does have a smaller 2.5, shorter collector. But it does have a bolt flange to attach it to a Y pipe.. I have ran PSrs for over 4 years, but it shows, they have did well, I feel if we didn't get alot of rain, the SHA didn't abuse the **** out of salt, they would have held up better. Unless your making a alot of power, you prob wouldn't be able to tell a diff performance wise.. BOTH great buys

John

 

sounds like the pacesetters are what ill be looking at the most. i dont drive my truck much anyway. thanks guys

 

will any headers that fit a 4wd fit mine?

 

The y-pipe is different as you have 2 pipes that go straight back into the muffler as opposed to a y-pipe that goes into a 2.75" (factory) or 3" (aftermarket) single pipe. Not sure if PaceSetter offers a dual pipe setup but OBX might. The headers themselves are the same though and pipes can be fabricated to work, with or without cats.

 

i have pacesetters on my truck easy to put on flanges are think pretty much a good all around deal but there ceramic coating SUCKS i dont even drive my truck in the winter and there rusting on the colllectors and the primarys if it were me i would look into the OBXs because there stanless steel