Okay, I just want to start off by apologizing because I know that there are a lot of these topics out there, but I am somewhat confused. My first question is : Is there a big difference in the quality of MAC headers vs. JBA headers? I know there is quite a big price difference.

Second of all, I keep reading that aftermarket headers are better than the stock but then I will come across a post that says that the stock headers have a good flow to them and that it is not really nessesery to get aftermarket headers. So what part of that is true, aftermarket better or are the stock decent enough to keep?

Last question is: With my icome tax return, would it be better to get headers or should I get a SCT-X2 first?

Thanks, any insight will be greatly appreciated.

M

 

sct2 first, definatley.

The headers gain is not going to be anywhere close to the gain you will get with the sct2

 

SCT first.
see my post about headers or true trac

 

SCT X-cal2 first. I did the JBA headers first and I can tell you that you will get much better results from the Xcal than the headers. I did not have the car dyno'd after the headers however the butt dyno says Xcal first. With your JBA axle back you might not even need headers.

 

Okay, thanks for the input all. I will be going with the X-cal first.

 

I put on my jba headers before an SCT tune. The sound improvement was amazing... the performance improvement was noticeable but not like the tremendous change of a good X-cal 2 tune.

I heard some not so great things about MAC's quality. I was disgusted by their customer service over the phone. I went with JBA's and have been tremendously pleased. My installer said the fit and finish was excellent.

 

I'm not a big fan of shorty headers but if I got them I would go with the JBAs. They are CARB certified and I have heard bad things about MAC's quality. I don't want the replace the headers in a few years.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(1trickpony @ February 22, 2006, 4:14 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
I'm not a big fan of shorty headers but if I got them I would go with the JBAs. They are CARB certified and I have heard bad things about MAC's quality. I don't want the replace the headers in a few years.
[/b][/quote]


Based off what is said in the SOHC 4.0 Tech from SuperSix, the headers are fine, except for the one on the drivers side and even that won't be an issue until you're running subsantially more power under the hood than just bolt ons will allow (read: unless you throw on a power adder or increase the bore of the engine to 4.3)

 

I've heard the same. The stock headers are good for 300 HP. Unless you get a power adder, probably not a good investment.