Pacesetter Headers questions about DP, etc.

[Liquifire]

OK........I have a 98 GTP coupe and was planning to mod my car to support up to the point of the 3.4 setup, downpipe, FWI, t-stat, tune, but that will be all. My question first off is are all the headers discussed in all of these threads considered shorty headers(they bolt in at the stock locations) or long tube headers? I was considering the Pacesetter headers mainly due to cost-does anyone have these and how do they fit....easy to install, etc.? Secondly they do have two different versions, the painted black, and the coated headers. Is it worth it to get the coated headers over the stock for the price? My last question is will the ZZP downpipe bolt up to these headers directly? Their kit includes this but does not have a high flow cat or a bung for the O2 sensor in their downpipe. Please help advise.......otherwise I might just go with PLOG and ZZP downpipe.

[blueguy]

Shorty or Longtube? I wish we had LT headers...they are all the same...Primary wise they are mostly (as in around 1/2" difference) the same too...The black painted Pacesetter's are junk unless you never plan popping your hood to show anyone anything...EVER...they rust in about a months time and look like your stock manifolds...I got the coated ones...have had them over a year...and have touched them with grease, spilled tranny fluid, coolant, and even motor oil on them and they are fine

IMO no headers are EASY to install, just some easier than others...I love my Pacesetter's...and no...the Pacesetter's come with a 3" Catted or Catless Downpipe and the ZZP one would end up having to be sold when you install these. If you never plan on going past a 3.4" the PLOG and Catted 3" ZZP Bolt-In Downpipe are fine. Headers are great but will only help so much on a 3.4" setup...Headers and Rockers though...or a Cam and Intercooler...then your talking

[Liquifire]

do you know where to find catted downpipe for use with the pacesetters? Or a place to get the pacesetters cheap?

[LOUDANDPROUDGTP]

I saw some pacesetters on Ebay a couple of days ago for cheap. They were NIB.

[Liquifire]

I saw some pacesetters on Ebay a couple of days ago for cheap. They were NIB.

The cheapest that I have found them for were about $530.00 and that was for the coated ones with no cat........I still haven't seen them offered anywhere with the cat in the downpipe. Hopefully somewhere I can.......

[blueguy]

I'm sure if you bought a 3" IN/Out High Flow Universal cat you can have it welded into the downpipe after you install them...

[Merlin]

check herron performance for some cheap jetcoated pacesetters.

[Liquifire]

thanks merlin...........how hard is it to get to the spark plugs after these are on? Do you have to remove them, or is it pretty easy to work around? Thanks again........also is this package downpipe 3 inch or 2.5?

[blueguy]

Have you done the plugs with your stock manifolds on? If so...cut that time in about half if not more. Pacesetter's only come in the 3" downpipe selection too last I checked...

[BlackGS]

I bought coated Pacesetters from zzp a few years ago and ran them for a while with a 2.8 pulley and intercooler until I took them off for the turbo setup. Coated is the way to go, and I would highly suggest welding the crossover to the y-pipe to prevent leaks. The big problem with the cheaper header sets like Pacesetter and SSAC is that they are clamped at the y-pipe connections, and the movement of the engine eventually pulls those clamps loose and leaks start. After I welded the y-pipe to crossover, I had no leaks at the y-pipe, however I did still have small leaks at the flange connection (triangular 3-bolt connector) which is also prone to leakage if not either welded or converted to a v-clamp. Because the Pacesetters drop much lower than the stock manifolds, they have a much shorter down/flex pipe, and any stock downpipe or replacement for stock is not going to be reusable unless somehow cut and rewelded.

It would probably be best to convert the stock plug wires over to something with adjustable boots, I have the PRJ wires which always worked great with the headers.

Once you install the headers about 10 times, the installation is a snap. I could put them on in a couple hours after I figured out all the tricks. The front is a snap. The rear is more difficult because of the limited space. The trick is to put a jack under the trans pan and lift the engine as far forward as possible. If you loosen the motor and trans mount bolts, the engine can be rocked forward until it hits the fans. Here are some installation instructions I put together a while back:
RegalGS.org • Login