What is the deal with that first exhaust piece with the weaved metal wire around some sort of flex pipe? most of the wire is gone and since I'm driving around in snow and salt i dont want the flex pipe to go to pot prematurely. Is there something i can wrap around there that will hold up to the heat so close to the engine?

You're right it is a "flex pipe" it allows the motor to torque without ripping the exhaust off the car. Most of the flex pipes that go bad usually look like they've had something burn right through them. I would guess that some type of header wrap or heat wrap would accelerate this process. I haven't seen one where it looks like it corrosion caused it's failure, usually it's just age from years of use. But it generally is the most expensive piece in your exhaust, though.

You should be able to have a muffler shop weld in another one.
There's no "ghetto" repair that I know of.

Pacesetter headers, baby! $150, you get more power, and get rid of that pesky flex pipe! Woo Hoo!

Originally posted by Driven97
Pacesetter headers, baby! $150, you get more power, and get rid of that pesky flex pipe! Woo Hoo!

He's right, that's what I did. Instead of a flex pipe it's some ball and socket joint thingy.. I can't explain it in great detail because I don't know how the thing works exactly, but do a search.. you'll find it

I'd love to buy a header, but unfortunately i'm broke until the 15th. My car is a bit loud now, i just don't want it to get so loud that i get pulled over before I get it fixed.

Pacesetter headers, baby! $150
I would NEVER buy a header from pacesetter!
It's a rip off of the HotShot Gen1 header design. It's so close of a copy, that the pacesetter header will fit into the HotShot header jigs.
Apparently, they would rather "steal" the HotShot header design, rather than spend the money developing their own. And HotShot being a small business, just can't afford to fight them over patent violations. But at least the HotShot header makes more power.

And is that thing coated? If not, it will eventually rust.

Instead of a flex pipe it's some ball and socket joint thingy.

No good header manufactorer uses the ball and socket design any more. not even $tillen. The flex pipe is WAY better. Sure the OE flex pipes will rust eventually. But how many people with headers from HotShot, AEBS or $tillen have had problems with their flex pipes?

Bottom line:
If you don't have the money for a header, just replace your OE flex pipe.
And save up for a HotShot header.

People on these boards have had the PS headers for years with no problems. This would be the first time I'm hearing otherwise. Power gains are good for the $135.

I considered an OEM flex pipe, but at the going rate of $270, I opted for the PS headers.

Who's having problems with them? I've yet to hear some god-awful story about having these headers.

Just trying to get the facts straight.

Pacesetter headers are notorious for rusting out. And I'm not talking about just the SR20DE headers, but their headers for other import applications.

I have a cousin who had a '85 Corolla GTS. With the 4AGE motor with ALL the bolt on goodies. And a fully built motor. He decided that since the price was right, he'd try a pacesetter. The ball and socket piece constantly rattled, and the header primaries rusted out in less than 6 months! Needless to say he got rid of the pacesetter and went ahead and spent the money on a TRD piece.

I would rather save my money, and get a good header. Than to go cheap and get one that's sorta ok.

And I would bet that a $tillen FirstGen header is probably better.

Originally posted by Subculture

I would NEVER buy a header from pacesetter!
It's a rip off of the HotShot Gen1 header design. It's so close of a copy, that the pacesetter header will fit into the HotShot header jigs.
Apparently, they would rather "steal" the HotShot header design, rather than spend the money developing their own. And HotShot being a small business, just can't afford to fight them over patent violations. But at least the HotShot header makes more power.

And is that thing coated? If not, it will eventually rust.



No good header manufactorer uses the ball and socket design any more. not even $tillen. The flex pipe is WAY better. Sure the OE flex pipes will rust eventually. But how many people with headers from HotShot, AEBS or $tillen have had problems with their flex pipes?

Bottom line:
If you don't have the money for a header, just replace your OE flex pipe.
And save up for a HotShot header.

I'm pretty sure Hotshot sold their orginal design to Pacesetter.

I'm pretty sure Hotshot sold their orginal design to Pacesetter.
No they didn't
Check the SE-R archives if you want to know more.

Bottom line:
I won't buy from companies that rip off our main SE-R/SR20DE vendors.

Originally posted by Subculture

And I would bet that a $tillen FirstGen header is probably better.

Hmmm. I'm not sure about that. I have Roffe's old 1st generation Stillen, and it really chokes off the torque. It IS an improvement over stock though.

Anyone have any charts of their car with a Pacesetter?

I don't have my charts scanned, but I'm putting out 142.8 peak hp, 119 torque. I think I'm about 10 down on torque.

That's with 2 1/4" catback, JWT intake & ecu, and S4 cams.

SoCal-SERCA list membver Dave Kerr with a JWT ECU, S-3 cams, cat-back exhaust, and the 1st gen $tillen header put down 147hp at our first Dyno Day.

It IS an improvement over stock though.
Trouble with the $tillen header, is that it doesn't flow well with JWT cams. It's ok with all the other bolt ons.