Well, since i dont have tons of money laying around I had seriously considered getting the Topspeed headers since they showed a decent result. But after looking at some other threads like one about the DCsports headers, nismo, crawford and stillen, I'm not sure what to get anymore. Recently, everything i've seen has said crawfords show the best results. I found an older thread that said the nismos did really well also and are about the same price i think. I plan on getting a vortech sometime so i want something that will work well with that also. Is the Topspeed a reasonable choice still? I also plan on getting a reflash. I'd love to hear suggestions and opinions.

 

If money is your concern, then I'd recomend the DC headers. They are half the price of the Nismos roughly, and the performance gains are noticeable. The fitment is pretty good. Jason is running the DCs on his car, and I like them.
Nismo are very nice too, as are some of the other ones on the market, but for price, I'd shoot for DC.
http://www.performancenissanparts.co...roducts_id=665

 

I think the TopSpeeds are patterned after the DC headers. Seems like I read that somewhere. Ultimately Crawfords would be the best but if you are like me, you don't have $1k sitting around to buy headers with. I was selling my TopSpeeds a couple of days ago but now I have changed my mind. I got em out and started looking at them and was having separation anxiety I will just have to wait to save up for the install and reflash. Until then they will stay in the closet.

 

I also dont understand how there is such a variance in header prices. they all seem to be of the same material. I know some are better quality but still. I guess some exhausts are the same way but the more expensive ones are usually titanium.

Between the nismo and crawford, which is better?

 

Install cost was another concern. I have installed everything i have except the brake pads but i'm not sure if i want to get into the headers. Its just hard to decide whether the small performance difference is worth so much extra money.

 

That's why I keep going back and forth. You are looking at $500+ to have them installed, you will really want to get a reflash, possibly another $400-600. Gets expensive fast. Even though the materials are the same, the length of the runners is probably the most important aspect. Equal length headers are going to provide evenly distributed air flow from each cylinder as opposed to Unequal length headers which don't breathe as well due to the difference in runner length. "Shorties" like the DC and TS headers don't give as much low end gain as long headers such as the Crawfords but gain more on the top end. That, at least is how I've deciphered it. Somebody come on here and clean up my explanations if I'm off base.

 

If you plan on getting a Vortech, I would definitely get headers. I am running the DC headers with my Vortech. Of course I got in on the Summit price goof and got the Stainless headers for $365 shipped. I couldn't pass that up.

A guy locally had a set of Borla headers crack, so I definitely would not recommend those.

I have heard that the Crawford's produce more HP and TQ if you have cams, but without seeing it in person, I have a hard time believing that the gains are as significant as is claimed. Don't get me wrong I am not bashing Crawford at all, I think their products are top notch. I just don't see how there is a "significant" difference in performance between any aftermarket header.

 

I did see some numbers on here about the impressive lowend and in general torque gains from the nismo and crawfords that makes them pretty tempting. I would easily save and buy the crawfords but that is money that could go to the vortech instead. I guess i'll have to look around and see what kinda prices i'm seeing. The Dc headers and topspeed headers seem very very similiar to me, is there a difference that makes the topspeeds cheaper?

 

PM 350ed, he may still have some Stainless DC headers for sale at a good price.

 

I also jumped on the group buy on those topspeed headers and they are still in the box because i'm still on the fence whether or not to install em or sell em. I've heard good things about these headers and I do recall street image in baldwin park will install these w/ new gaskets for $365.00.

 

Crawford!

 

People commonly do not understand why different aftermarket headers perform differently. A good set of headers is well worth the money if you are staying NA or even SC. A TT setup is a little less picky as long as the piping is big and open and most Turbo setups come with exhaust manifolds. What makes a good set of headers? I would recommend reading some articles about headers to better understand them. The short of it is maximum exhaust flow. Maximum exhaust flow can be limited by other components than the headers including the intake, TB, Plenum, intake runners, heads, valves, cams, headers, Cats, exhaust. A decent set of headers will yield a specific gain depending on the other mods in the mix. Where you will start to see a difference in header performance is when you start to make improvements in many of the mentioned areas. Cams are a great example. It has been proven that both the Crawford and Nismo headers make good gains, but on a car with aggressive cams the Crawford headers made huge improvements in low end TQ over the Nismos. Why are the Crawford headers good? They did the research and designed a header with equal length tubing, longer tubing than any shorty header on the market for the 350Z, and proper tubing diameter. This design improves exhaust flow out of the heads and through the headers so that less "used" exhaust gases are pulled back into the cylinder before the exhaust valve closes and more air is pulled in while the intake valve is opening. More bad air out and good air in can equal power when fuel is mixed properly. Crawford also designed the headers while using some other very popular mods such as the Plenum, HF cats and a Catback Exhaust, making it the only one on the market that I know of with real world R&D for us that modify our cars. Are they worth the price? Without a doubt. Does everyone need Crawford headers? No, because not everyone has the money, is going to install cams, have valve and headwork done, or even modify their intake and exhaust.

If I were you I would save my money for the SC and all the things you will need for that installation and not worry about headers at this time. You will be that much closer financially to a lot more power.

 

If you have the money get the Crawford headers. If you want something cheaper, pm me I have brand new DC ceramic headers that I'm selling for a good price.

 

Just recently got the Crawfords installed. Big difference from stock. Trust me if you want headers, bite the bullet and pay for the crawfords. If your paying for a header install u might as well buy the best. My mechanic said it was a world of difference from him driving other Zs with DC headers. He thought I was crazy for going with Crawford. He never even heard of them. This is just my opinion. But CRAWFORDS are the way to go.

 

Couldn't agree more! Crawford makes great products; I run their plenum. However the only argument I have really ever heard of concerning the improvement that the crawfords contribute over the nismo's or any other header for that matter, was when mike(mjedens) was running his tomei cams. He gained quite a bit of torque down low (20 lbs) between 2000 and 3000 rpm, but at the other rpms he really didn't improve much. Of course a dyno chart was never posted, so I am only going by numbers that were written down. In a race or at the track, I am never really in that range, so I personally thought the nismo's were a better choice because I prefer stainless steel. And to this day, I have never seen any independent dyno charts of the crawfords vs. other headers, only butt dynos. Ive seen a few with some mods and the crawfords, but never the crawfords by themselves. While I have seen many independent dynos of the nismos and dc's. Remember, anything is better than stock, the stock manifolds are so restrictive.

 

Where do i get the crawfords and how much am i looking at?

 

Another couple of items to consider:

1) If you are going to go with a supercharger, you should seriously consider getting the headers coated with something like JetHot. This should help a lot with the life span of the headers. I'd actually recommend this regardless of FI or not. Makes the headers last longer, and helps keep heat out of the engine bay. Consider the JetHot 2000 coating if you are going FI. (It can handle higher temps.)

2) An important item for some people (depending on where you live) is emissions legality. The DC headers are, I believe, CARB approved. (Not sure which other headers are or aren't.) This is important for those of us in California and other states that have the same strict laws. Since the headers are such a pain to install, I want to make sure I never have to remove them when I have my car smogged.

 

I dont have to pass emissions and even if i did, i know people who know people lol. I dont think i will do the jet hot coating or whatever just cause of the price of it. With the hood I am getting, i think my engine bay will be alright. Thanks for all the good info. Still interested to see if anyone knows where to get the crawfords and how much. I am definately getting headers, just a matter of which ones and when.

 

http://www.crawfordzcar.com

 

So there is no way to get them new for less than 1195?