Knock-Off Headers (Pace Setter, Autochrome, Chinese, eBay, etc.)

RidzRiv wrote:

So i assume they cracked from the heat? Has it benefited you at all having the crossover pipe wrapped?

I wrapped the crossover pipe to protect all the sensitive sensors above it. works good.

I noticed my engine bay noise reduced quite a bit when I wrapped the crossover, too.

sealk wrote:

I buy the obx one on ebay i'm still waiting
It will be there in a few days

I'll give news

I'm interested to hear how well they install and work out, keep us posted

Over on regalgs someone bought some obxs, they didnt fit. Couldve been a w body specific problem, but you couldve got some SSACs that you know will fit for cheaper...

If I were to get cheap headers, I'd just go with Speed Daddys. Most accounts I hear are that they fit quite well and they only cost around $200/shipped on ebay.

Used SLPs can be had for not so much. I wouldn't be surprised if I got 10 more years out of mine, in addition to the 6 years so far.

Anyone ever order from them? The site looks really flaky to me.

can anyone help me. i had headers put on and still no transmission dipstick. this is the one i have and there telling me at the shop it wont fit? are there any other ones?

Where (what car) did the pictured item come from?

the one in the other pic is the one i just bought from intense racing for a poniac w-body,that is a pic off a website. here is the actual pic of the dipstick that i thought was the same thing.

Mine looks more like the one in your second pic. Did they tell you why it wouldn't fit?

AA wrote:

Mine looks more like the one in your second pic. Did they tell you why it wouldn't fit?

they just told me that the headers were in the way. are they just idiots? lol did i just buy the same dipstick?

I had trouble with the OE dipstick and a W-body dipstick. I ended up cutting my dipstick tube and with careful measuring adding a length of heater hose, and laying the dipstick tube off to the side, under the brake master cyl. How often do you really check your trans fluid anyway?

Cut off the bottom 4 inches or so, and the top 3 or 4 inches of the dipstick, and replace the middle section with 5/8 heater hose. Take note of how far the dipstick sticks out the end of the tube, make it match and tighten your hose clamps. Done. Cheap. Perfect. (okay I can't recall if it's 5/8 or 3/4 heater hose now)

deekster_caddy wrote:

I had trouble with the OE dipstick and a W-body dipstick. I ended up cutting my dipstick tube and with careful measuring adding a length of heater hose, and laying the dipstick tube off to the side, under the brake master cyl. How often do you really check your trans fluid anyway?

Cut off the bottom 4 inches or so, and the top 3 or 4 inches of the dipstick, and replace the middle section with 5/8 heater hose. Take note of how far the dipstick sticks out the end of the tube, make it match and tighten your hose clamps. Done. Cheap. Perfect.

haha hey thanks didnt even think of that..

Quote :

they just told me that the headers were in the way. are they just idiots? lol did i just buy the same dipstick?

Are these genuine SLP brand headers?

In my write-up (page 1), I installed the dipstick before connecting the crossover pipe. I don't know that it makes a real difference, but it sounds like your guys already have the pipes in place.

AA wrote:

Quote :

they just told me that the headers were in the way. are they just idiots? lol did i just buy the same dipstick?

Are these genuine SLP brand headers?

no i got them off ebay. i dont even remember what brand. they have been on the car for all almost a year now

Okay, that might explain things. The dipstick they sent you is meant to be used with the SLP kit.

What have you been running for a dipstick over the past year?

AA wrote:

Okay, that might explain things. The dipstick they sent you is meant to be used with the SLP kit.

What have you been running for a dipstick over the past year?

NOTHING...

In just fought this exact problem. I think the one I finally found to work was one off an 03 GTP. That's what worked on mine. I'll take a picture in a while and post it.

Funny story about that, spent 3 hours in the JY looking for just that and as I was about to leave I look back and see this, next in line to get put into the yard. I think it was an 03. Has a sharper bend in it to allow for the headers.

Are these the SSAC's everyone is talking about?


http://www.ssautochrome.com/level.itml/icOid/1886

saintsnsinners wrote:

Are these the SSAC's everyone is talking about?


http://www.ssautochrome.com/level.itml/icOid/1886

pretty much, yes. SSAC =SSAutoChrome. We are using the W-body 3800 headers.

That would be the ones listed as pontiac right? $175,


"Mandrel-bent, mild steel tubing, 3/8" thick steel flanges
Primary is 1-3/4" with 3" down pipe"

I remember there being a thread on regalgs about having to send your order to SSAC via PayPal , with the order description in the comments on PayPal. That's what I ended up doing last week when I placed an order with them, they promptly took my money and the package was shipped the next day. The scheduled arrival date was April 2nd, and it arrived on April 2nd. Everything was gravy, until I opened the box. I didn't even take half of the parts out of the box and I was already heated. I'm sure I don't have to post what REAL SSACs look like as you all know, so I'll show you what arrived at my house yesterday:





If you haven't caught it already, here are some close ups of the main parts that will not work:



Look familiar? Like maybe the POS OBX headers on eBay?




So I sent them a nice e-mail yesterday, pictures included, and asked that they make it right or refund my money, woke up this morning to no reply. E-mailed them again this morning saying that I have been nice enough to not put this issue out all over the 3800 community, and that I may be forced to if they aren't willing to take care of their customers.
After that I decided to do some research. I stopped home on my lunch break and got any useful information off of the packing label that I could. Here's what I had to work with:
Customer Service
Kidult Garden
16716 E Johnson Dr.
City of Industry, CA 91748

And then this number: (626)-598-0113



When I got back to work I skimmed through SSACs site to try to find any kind of address or some sort of way to contact them other than the e-mail I tried twice already. The only thing they list is a FAX number, so I tried faxing them from work. You guessed it, it didn't go through, the number is no good.

After that I decided I would try the number that I posted above from the packing label, I figured it would either be a number for FedEx or SSAC, but here's where I almost went through the roof.
I called the number and a guy answered on the other end that had quite the accent that I could barely even understand. I asked if I was speaking to FedEx or SSAutoChrome, and he replied with an answer I couldn't understand. I asked again what company I was speaking to, and he replied "this is eBay customer service".
EBAY!
Did they really take my $250 and send me an eBay set of OBX headers for half the price?!?!

I e-mailed SSAC for the third time immediately after I got off the phone. Said I know what they did and they need to fix it NOW, before I post this on all the 3800 boards, report them to the BBB, and if it comes down to it I will be involving a lawyer.
Stage one is in effect.
Still haven't heard anything from them, and believe me I am pissed.
I have tomorrow off and was going to begin the tear down, well now that I don't have headers who knows how long it will be before this gets fixed and I can start my build.
/rant

Anyone ever hear of anything like this happening?

File a claim with paypal or if you used a credit card on paypal, call your credit card company and do a chargeback.

I could be wrong here, but that kit appears as if you can make TRUE dual exhaust with it. The rear header doesn't have a spot for the crossover, and the crossover is extended. The kit has 2 pieces with O2 bungs in them to give you options?
Either way, it sucks that you didn't get what you ordered...