I have a 98 firebird formula with the Ls1 engine in it. Soon I will be coming into a LITTLE extra money. With some of it I would like to put headers on my baby. I've read good things about the pacesetters, but was wandering if they have any problems. Also I was wandering if the ceramic coating is good for anything other than looks, because for me the cheaper the better. I have seen that duplicolor makes a high temp paint thats good to 1200 degrees, Is that suitable for headers? And lastly, are there any power losses or engine problems created from running open headers with turn downs? The police here do not worry themselves with loud cars. And i would only run it until i can afford a tsp true dual system.

Everyone that I know with the Pacesetter long tubes have only 1 complaint. Clearance, but South Carolina roads suck. The ceramic coating helps keep the engine bay temps down, more than the duplicolor paint. Most people I know say to run at the least 3 feet from the headers. This is not condoned for the street due to no cats, but that is your call.

Matt

Thanks for the info

I'm running Pacesetter LTs and ORY on my 99. Like Matt said the only real issue you might have is over speed bumps or really uneven pavement especially if your car is lowered. With the ceramic coating besides keeping the engine bay temps down it also keep the headers from rusting out (or rusting out as quickly) as the non-coated ones. I've got the ceramic coating on mine and they look as good as they did the day they were put on almost 3 years ago.

Not trying to start arguments or anything, but for some reason the people who i speak with who know Fbodies always tell me to stay away from Pacesetters...even the people at exhaust shops who install them on our cars all the time. They say they never line up right and they leak and all these bad things, which scared me away from them. Weird thing is, everybody i see on these forums say otherwise...I think i would go with their advice. Make sure you get ceramic coated though, it's much better to spend the extra money for them, it could save you major headaches later.

Oh and if you think pacesetter clearance is bad...DONT buy the SLP longtubes. Take a looksie at what i get to deal with (speedbumps = No way Hose'):



i know my cats and y hang lower than they are supposed to, cause i installed them by myself on my back, plus the metal was a bit bent since i got the system used. I'm gonna fix it haha

I have also been told by a friend of mine that pacesetters leak. My cousin has a set of hookers on his Formula and i havent heard any complaints from him about them. And a friend of mine has a set of kooks on his SS and he says there is no loss of ground clearance while that is a defiante plus the downside to them unlike Hookers or Pacesetters the Kooks are like $800ish depending on where you buy them.


And Freshbake that really blows how much ground clearance you have. No speed bumps, curbs, or any bumps in the road.