2LEM1

iTrader: (1)

So, apparently SMSP and SSR/DTR are out of business. AN-R has been gone for days. RMF... well, poor Randy. And we all know Bisi is a joke.

So, if I want to buy a "nice" header today in 2015, what options am I left with? Obviously I can spend $1400 on a Myers. I've thought about it. What other options are there? I know the Skunk alpha for $400 is a hell of a deal. I can still buy the Toda, but for that price I may as well go custom. I'm not impressed with the ASP B series header for the price.

Am I missing anything?

burnoutboy

iTrader: (22)

I'm in the same boat. It seems we're left with Alpha Series or spending a grand or more on a custom header. If I could find a picture of the inside of the collectors on the alpha series I'd feel a lot better about it.


THe PLM collectors looks like hot **** 9/10 times from what I've seen. What's with HighEnd? Are they worth a ****? Didn't SMSP get copied by them first them PLM copied that or am I way off?

Charlie Moua

iTrader: (3)

myers? or is he out too?

burnoutboy

iTrader: (22)

mentioned in OP

Runnerdown

Headers on most Honda's these days are limited to China plm stuff and well aged, used decent brands. Custom fabricators are few and far inbetween. Skunk2 is a strong contender, and arguably one of the best bang for the buck.

Tyler Dirden

iTrader: (3)

I have not seen a header that is worth 1400. in my life. I do not care how well it is made.
A header is nothing more than a tuned collector. Some very simple dynamics dictate the whole agenda.
High velocity
High volume

The first category can be employed on all but the very best top end efforts.
The later is an improved effort to evacuate mass volumes of combustion (turbo/nitrous), and sacrifice a lot of low end torque as you know from sporting these types on mild street builds.

IMO, 5-15 hp is never going to be worth 1400. on a mild build. On the other hand, all turbo and nitrous builds can be tuned to overcome ANY significant deficiency in header design and yes I consider a turbo intake a header.

I am certain to a fault that ANY clone stepped tube header will preform as well as any hand made masterpiece. The very minor internal cosmetic and material selection is not a hindrance to flow as many have suggested.

If this is a real effort to do something very different, you may have to buy a one off that satisfies your intellectual and purest approach to have the "truth" of advanced exhaust technology. Otherwise, pick a generally accepted clone at a price range that lets you buy other upgrades that better compliment your effort. .02

FlewByU352

Even TODA is out. The last production run is over and prices have skyrocketed on what is left. We might be in the day in age where you buy a replica of something that once was, or go custom.

2LEM1

iTrader: (1)

Nengun can get the Toda ver2 brand new, made to order. It takes 2 months. $1130 shipped.

Bently_Coop

$700 and they have the RMF jigs

WHITFIELD MFG

FlewByU352

That's actually an astonishing deal! Last I saw the version 2 they were "discontinued" and $1600.

93egSLEEPER

For what a "custom" header offers over a replica or alpha....no way in hell is it worth the $$$ unless you race every weekend and every .1 HP is a big deal. For 98% of us a well rounded budget header serves a purpose and won't make or break our builds. I personally look for used "custom/original" headers if possible. A guy local is selling a AN-R sidewinder right now, but would it be worth $1000 over say a toda rep? Probably not.

I went down to ASP and talked to Stefan about his headers. He told me outright if I'm not going to be racing every weekend needing every HP I can find, paying him for a custom header isn't really worth the money and wait. If I was a competitive racer @ BOTI or other sanctioned events then it may be worth it.

ANYWAYS,
PLM has done a great job making a very well rounded "replica" lineup for almost any B series motor you can build.
Skunk2's alpha line has proven itself to perform...on just about everything.
So for $400 you get a solid header, and solid performance for 98% of builders looking to stay on realistic budget. I agree a header can make or break a build, but the "budget" headers on the market now will make more than break. Take that $1000 you save and put it towards other things that will make a bigger difference in power (induction, cams, tuning, etc...)
Just my .02 and small rant lol

Kevinio

Isn't Hytech an option? What happened with Randy of RMF?

pithor-c1

iTrader: (1)

Sheepey Built or TB MOTORWORX those are serious header's!

43!

iTrader: (3)

WC-FMR-B Series Header - WHITFIELD MFG

Has this been tested?

98vtec

obviously you have never priced out quality header construction components that these guys use. the burns collector setup many of these high dollar headers (1600+) are running are nearly $600 by themselves on top of 30-40 dollars per bend and paying for their professional welding and design ability.

I cant afford to market my headers with burns collectors (because my target market cant/wont pay for it) so I make my own and test them (in the process) and will hopefully have some products on the market soon.

98vtec

Randy passed away from health issues a few years back.

Pippen_001

Joe from Tempest is making some very nice headers these days.

EJ1_Ex

iTrader: (1)

^^ true dat!

burnoutboy

iTrader: (22)

Oh man, forgot Jason.


What's the deal with HighEnd? Are they just another Chiner rep company? They're $450 on sale right now. They look pretty legit but I still cannot find a pic of the inside of the collector. THe PLM collectors look like GAAAABAGE half the time.

98vtec

I would venture to say anything under 500 that is stainless is made overseas. The original prototype may have been made in-house but the production units i guarantee are not.

StreetLethaleg6

might get flamed but idgaf, get the 1320 performance RMF v2 rep. w/ megaphone and sheild. awesome header for an awesome price, i paid $350 shipped if i remember correctly. I love it, I have it on a jdm b18c

StreetLethaleg6

agreed x100

PSI GUY

iTrader: (2)

Good luck, I have been fighting this battle for months now.

I combed the internet looking for a header, used, new, whatever.....just something that works good and will make power. I had been running a Skunk2 before but wanted to upgrade and started on my hunt.
After many weeks of dead ends I decided to spend some money and just bite the bullet and get a good one made. So I send an email to a well known company that makes headers......no response. I wait about a week as I know people are busy and then decide to email another well know company. I get a response the next day....yay, and then get an automated email when I asked another question stating that they will be out of the office till whatever date and never got back to me. I messaged another well known header maker on FB and got the response...."we don't have time for that." So at this point, I get pretty upset and am running out of options so I email a few more companies with no luck. I ended up very lucky and found a SMSP header here in the classifieds and got it at a really good price and away we go. I would like to upgrade to maybe a side exit next year, will probably have to start planning on that in the fall to have something for the spring with the luck I have contacting people to give them money.

I can't believe this is a normal trend with businesses now, no one seems to give a **** about the consumer, not even to the point of gaining the money from the transaction. We wonder why so many people buy stuff off ebay.

2LEM1

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I've noticed that too.

I refuse to do business with a company that can't make a ******* website, it's 2015 and I'm not 17, I'm not going to "hit you up on facebook" lol... jesus christ, run a real business and let me 'add to cart' dammit.

I don't get this whole new "instagram and facebook are our website" crap. That's a ******* TERRIBLE way to sell ****.

98vtec

I am really looking forward to filling a small void. I am only doing this on the side so I don't have the requirements full-time fabricators have. All my products will have testing and development under their belt as I am not comfortable marketing a product I don't know works.

H-Car Jorge is doing a h series header shootoutut and my initial tri-y design is in it. Mine was not entered to win for power but he offered to do it for free so free data collection on 3 engines (f20b, h22 and h23) will be super!

I will be paying him the 2nd time around once I make the changes I want to make. I do not perceive my current design winning but I think my change will make a world of difference