Headers for a 3.2L

[porsche735]

I have taken a look at all the threads on racing headers for a 3.2. The first thing you should know is I am all about bang for my buck. I don't need the most expensive items to get me the last 1 HP, but I also don't want something that will fail on my right way. As such, I have narrowed down my search to 2 header systems, OBX and QSC. I heard that the QSC headers are the ones that S-Car-Go used to sell and the OBX seem very similar.

Both have 1 5/8" primaries, but it seems the lengths may be somewhat different (OBX being longer). The OBXs don't appear to be equal length, while the QSCs may or may not be. The OBX have welds in the middle of the runners while the QSC do not. The collectors look different. The OBX collector is 2" while I am unsure of the QSC. Neither seems to have an O2 bung. OBX has a lifetime warranty, while the QSC is 6 months. The QSCs are about $80 more than the OBXs.

So, does anyone have any thoughts one way or the other?

Thanks,
Chris

The QSCs


The OBXs

[snbush67]

From what I have read neither of those choices will work as they both fall into the category of "something that will fail on me right away".

The other problem is that your other criteria : "I don't need the most expensive items" does not compute as there doesn't appear to be a lot of mid grade choices, rather only high quality and expensive, or crap and cheap. Perhaps the best bet is to post a wanted to buy add in the for sale forum, good ones come up every now and again.

[turbobrat930]

This might sound kinda bad... and i don't mean it to be, BUT, those headers are cheap! Guarunteed, you buy either of those, and you will be looking for another set in a couple of years. The collectors are nowhere near to what I would consider for a Porsche engine... In fact, I think I would find these on a beetle or a splitty bus...

I know its my opinion, and like I said, I am blunt and honest. I know you dont have a turbo engine, so high grade 321 SS is not nessasary, however, if you want them to last, its the only way to go (Inconel being the best.. but at close to 7 to 9 grand a set of headers, not nessasary)
Those look like chrome plated mild steel or chrome plated low quality SS. The fit on those leave alot to be desired as well.
They are the cheapest on the scale of 911 headers. If you really want a set of headers that will last, are as close to a custom one off set (without the one off 5 grand price), take a look at Rarly8 headers...

I have a set of his that he made for me when he first started to make them, and they are jewelry!!! and in the grand scheme of things... not that expensive...

Just my opinion...

[turbobrat930]

Here are a few pics of mine... Obviously, since mine is a turbo, you will not have the secondaries, just the primaries that end at the collector. And look at the collectors... (these are special order Burns Collectors, as Brian wasn't finished designing his collectors yet. His are very similar in design...
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[wildcat077]

Like Brad says ... basically you get what you pay for !
Used Georges 1 5/8 headers come up failrly often in the classifieds section,as for me i picked up some brand new Fabspeed units and the quality is good.Rarly 8 makes nice headers as well,something i probably would have bought had they been available at the time.

Cheers !
Phil

[Chuck.H]

I found the B&B headers only lasted about 100k miles - switched to the SSI and have close to 150k on them so far but they seem more solid, no cracks or rattles. If you don't drive that much these may be fine, but I'm at about 20k per year these days. (yea!!!)

I don't believe the 911 motor puts too much strain on the headers - on my I-6 jeep I think the header grows and shrinks almost 1/4" from cold to hot, and so they love to crack.

HTH,
Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 349k miles

[911pcars]

Bang for buck 1 5/8" headers w/o equal length (993). But they're long-life factory stainless steel and with heat too (if that's a consideration). Price on the street is variable, about the same price as cheap headers.



Slight mod. needed to re-clock the pass. side flanges.

Sherwood

[ganun]

The OBX look similar to the Bursch design to me....I have 1 5/8 Bursch with an M&K 1 out muffler on my 3.2 ,and the sound turns into a delightful scream above 5500 rpm. LOve it. If you want to hear it type "PCA Sebring blast" into You Tube. BUT, the steel headers need the extra expense of sand blasting and ceramic hi temp coating. I`ve had them a couple of months, driven about 3k miles and they still look like the day I installed them.

[Pierre911SC]

I got Brian (Rarlyl8) headers 1 5-8, very compact.

[65rsr]

George's into Coast Fabrication mufflers.

[KTL]

OBX are pretty cheap. I had a set of the mild steel. So-so quality. Others have bought the stainless steel and had weld failures.

RarlyL8 headers are the best thing going IMO in terms of quality materials, construction and fitment with factory mufflers.

The George's Euro Racing headers (RIP George, you did great things for the Porsche tuning community) are tried and true. Can't go wrong with those. GT Racing picked up the fabrication of these so you can get them there. These are very often found on the used market. Post a WTB ad on the classifieds and I bet you get a lot of offers.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I've used George's headers on a 3.2 before and they are fantastic.

https://www.gt-racing.com/products-page/911-exhaust-systems/

[911pcars]

Some clarification. When describing the optimum exh. pipe dimensions for an engine, the usual dimension is the tube inner diameter (ID, the dimension that provides the gas flow path). One brand of header that advertises their headers as optimized for 3.2 engines uses "1 5/8" tubes". The specs continue to describe the ID as 38mm. Why use different measuring standards?. This could be why: Do the math. 38mm / 25.4 = the tube ID in inches. Hint: it's not 1 5/8".

Thus, in shopping for an exhaust system where the exhaust flow dimension is a priority, confirm you're buying what you expect.

Sherwood

[Roger 911]

I recently bought an OBX cat bypass pipe. It looks nice on the outside, but the welding around the ports, and the overall shaping of the ports inside, is poor. It was only $100. And a cat bypass is easy to replace. I don't think I'd by OBX headers, based on my cat bypass experience. IMHO.

Roger

[Bill Verburg]

w/o changing cams equal length primaries do little or nothing for modern smog motors, all you are looking for is free flow, near equal length w/ no pinch points is all you need, the stock exhaust is bad because ot the pinch points caused by the crossover and then the cat, 1.5" ID is a good size for these engines

here are the ID's of some common exhaust primaries
ssi 1 3/8" ID 35mm
B&B 1 1/2" ID 38mm(marketed as 1 5/8") or 1 5/8" ID 41.25mm(marketed as 1 3/4")
993 1 1/2" ID 38mm
C2/4 1 5/8" ID 41.275mm

993s are a good choice for 3.2-3.8, you will have to flip the right side flanges except w/ 993 heads
here's how it's done on a 993 w/ side mufflers, tough to do on a 911 w/ rear mounted oil tank



993 into Dansk or Monty sport mufflers will require some welding skills but is worth the effort
I believe this was done by Rothsport


Burns and Coast both make some nice race muflers that could be used w/ B&B
like these