Topspeed if you are lucky enough to find them. Mine went on perfect.

 

You want to know the worst thing about this situation??? After all this running around, calling, overnighting, installing, reinstalling, etc.... you won't notice any gains in performance nor difference in exhaust note.

 

Not at all, if the parts don't even fit, they're useless to you. I'm not sure what the problem is on their end, but the company won't have any incentive to fix the product if people continue to pay them for it.

 

That sucks man. It up to you what you want, your money back or a proper set of headers. Installing headers on a 350z sucks. Having to do it 3 times sucks even more.

All I can tell you is that mine bolted on without any problems. You should install the headers first. Bolt them to the block fully. Then install the cats to the headers but just start the bolts/nuts. Then install the y-pipe (if you are running the stock exhaust) to the cats but just start the bolts/nuts. Then attach the y-pipe to the mid pipe the same eay. After everything is finger tight start tightening everything up slowly. It should all pull together. If you still can't get it together then something must be wrong.

I must also say that I saw a huge gain after installing Strup headers. I posted before and after dyno sheets a long time ago. Back when no one else was willing to do before and after dyno runs. If you have the time read the thread. https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....eally+worth+it
I am not saying everyone will see the same gains as me but that is what I gained. No bull****! I am not saying that something else could have also helped the gains. I know anything is possible. But I did everything in my power to keep it consistent as possible. Same dyno, no other mod, same type of oil, same brand of gas, etc.

I have since added a Borla TD exhaust and plenum spacer. When I redynoed I only gained about 5 more peak hp. I am still waiting to get tuned which I am hoping will give me a bit more power. I am running too rich up top. I am leaning towards the new Osiris programmer but I don't have the $700.00 for it right now. Once I get tuned I will post my final numbers...

Good luck solving this problem. My knuckles feel for you.

 

Man this is so depressing. So tomorrow I plan to get on the phone and talk to Charlie about this. Request a refund. Then order Topspeed headers from the only place i have found to have them, courtesy parts nissan. Then once I get them, if they have a steering shaft clearance issue ill take the hammer to them. If they still don't fit, i give up and the stock manifolds go on.

 

Okay its tomorrow, and like all mornings I started off with a phone call from Charlie. I left him a voicemail last night explaining the issues so he knew what was up. I actually felt pretty bad for him. He seems like a very passionate and hardworking guy. He explained they are now in the process of pulling stock and test fitting many of their headers on the z's. He also told me they are shipping me a brand new set of headers for Saturday overnight delivery so I should have them by tomorrow morning. I told him thank you and that I know how hard they are working to try to make this right. It is really unfortunate because he seems like an awesome, really reassuring, and helpful guy to deal with. I just wish this nightmare would be over. Hopefully the set I get tomorrow bolt up properly. If they do not, I plan on swapping them out for the stock manifolds and calling it a day. Headers have honestly become TONS more trouble than they are worth, and to be quite honest, I am even getting mad at my Z for it! Hopefully DHL will save the day and the rest of my ****TY MONTH tomorrow.

 

Sorry to hear Chris

I feel the same way about my Nismo exhaust right now.

 

Pair 2 and 3, yes you heard that right, THREE PAIRS LATER, never contacted the steering column but now the problem is lining the cats up with my stillen exhaust. If anyone is familiar with the stillen exahust, the X pipe has a bar welded across the two pipes that connect to the cats and no flex sections and for this reason its absolutely necessary that the headers line up exactly like the stock manifolds so the cats will bolt up. This, unfortunately, was not the case. We actually bolted it all up a third time and decided we were bringing the car to an exhaust shop to have the exhaust modified to add flex sections and move the x pipe in closer so the cats would line up correctly. However, as we finished up, I added the bracket that my cats bolt up to and realized the cats were off way too much to bolt up to the support bracket. Then it dawned on me, why am I modifying other parts on my car to fit FAULTY headers? So I got angry and on went my stock manifolds for the last time. I am convinced that had my exhaust been a Y with flex sections, I could have manipulated it in a way that could have POSSIBLY made the exhaust bolt up. However, this shouldn't be necessary. I guess strup should count their losses now, like I have decided to do, and just refund me. I am giving up on headers for now, but I am toying with purchasing crawford headers and passing through Tennessee two weeks from now as I head to the dragon to have them installed by the Crawford Z guys. What do you all think? I think Ill give Doug a call on monday and see what he has to say.

Lastly, I feel I owe it to the guys at Strup to let everyone know that they really did work dilligently with me to try to make everything right. He overnighted me headers not ONCE but TWICE. And the second time he overnighted with the saturday delivery upgrade!! I honestly wish it would have worked out, but unfortunately it did not. So for all of you z owners out there with headers, I HATE YOU

 

Sorry to hear you had so many problems. I'd still give Topspeed a shot...and headers are definitely worth it IMHO.

 

Honestly I'd suspect that those would have the same problem too. Honestly, I'm sure all of the brands are somewhat off if you ask me.

As I told Chris, my passenger side headers pushed my test pipes out a little which caused the flange to hit the frame but no big deal now.

 

ziv, are you saying this about strup headers or headers in general. i have personally seen before and after dynos with gains of up to 15whp in the mid range and a throatier engine note. these were with top speed headers.

 

saying this about headers like the strup and topspeed headers. There are more than a few brands with similar design. I had the topspeed headers on my car. I noticed nothing in terms of performance or exhaust note.

 

i could see how you would feel that way because the extra 15whp on the dynos came right at 4500 to 5500rpm