Thread: Cheap but good header? SSAC still the best?

Hey,

As title says, I'm looking for a header for an n/a DE. I bought a b15 SE as a DD and the downpipe is rusted to hell and there's another leak at the exhaust manfiold. I was considering just getting an oem replacement for the downpipe and a gasket for the stock manifold, but am thinking now about replacing it w/a custom one.

Is the SSAC still the best? Are all the ones on Ebay the SSAC or do you have to buy it from the SSAC website?

I'd love to keep the noise down so I don't mind a 2.25 ID, but I'll take a larger downpipe for an increase in reliablity/quality.

Need advice.

Thanks!

We've gotten the last 3 2.5" (2.3" ID) SSAC off ebay and although some modifications were needed (filing down), still find them to be the best bang for the buck and would go back to buy another should the need arise!

can you point me to an ssac on ebay?

Also, how much louder is the SSAC header and downpipe vs the stock header and downpipe? Oddly enough, when I had my 200sx I currently own, N/A, before I went turbo for like 3 years, I never did any mod on it except a highport cam hah. So when it comes to n/a mods I don't know a whole lot.

-G

I doubt you would notice an audible difference with just the ssac and downpipe. Its a good choice though, I have ran those headers on a few of my cars and I don't have any complaints. And they are dirt cheap.

You need to do your own searching and digging to find the price you want to pay but they are easy to find such as this:

For Sentra Ser 200SX Infiniti G20 2 0L SR20DE Stainless Exhaust Header Gasket | eBay


Edit... quick search and I already found a different seller here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SS-EXHAUST-HEADER-B13-B14-FOR-1991-1999-NISSAN-SENTRA-SER-200SX-SR20DE-2-0L-/231153343639?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35d1d01c97&vxp=mtr

So all of these are SSAC? Reason I asked is because I can't pick them out from the pics. I know of their website, but don't know what to look for on Ebay. Even the pics on their site of the headers look different than the ones on Ebay. They must have changed design at some point. Seems like all the ones sold are SSAC headers eh? Looks like there's 3 brands on Ebay:

OBX
SSAC
Megan

So anything not OBX or Megan we are to assume is SSAC? Essentially all the cheap ones are the SSAC branded headers?

Also, do you guys heat wrap these or is the heat they give off and their position not big enough of an issue to wrap them? Can you incorporate the stock heat shield back onto the downpipe at all or should I just not worry about it?

-G

p.s. I know the SSAC is a china-produced version of the original hotshots

Yes, all the ones on ebay are the former hotshot knockoff brand.

All have looked the same when arrived in box so I'm not really sure what you are talking about 'looking different' but perhaps you are just looking at a stock photo that is for a different car?

No I have never wrapped them (never felt the need or desire... then again, never wrapped the original hotshot I had either!)

And as far as I know, all the cheap (less than $200) ebay ones are china produced.

If you look at the pics on the ssac site:

Nissan Performance Racing Products for International Sales from SSAutochrome Inc. (down at the bottom)


One difference is the EGR bung. This is a pic of one on Ebay:

Well, I bought one for $113 shipped..craziness.

What fabrication is required to get this to fit right?

usually have to sand down to fit flush in our experience.