Advice, Pacesetter Ceramic Coated Shorty Headers

04_Neon_Guy · Post by **04_Neon_Guy** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 11:45 am

Hey guys,

So I bought these headers (stated above) from Modern Performance. I go to my local muffler shop and they quote me a (reasonable?) price of $80 CND to install my Magnaflow Dual Catback Exhaust System, but the headers were on a whole other level. They quoted me $200 to $300+ because apparently my ATX 2004 Neon SE has a bunch of crap that they have to remove to install, then of course place back again I suppose. The guy also said that he's seen a bunch of aftermarket headers crack.

My questions are:
1.) Does anyone have experience with these Pacesetter Ceramic Coated Shorty Headers?
2.) Is it advisable to install? Are they durable?
3.) Will I see any gains? (no matter how small)
4.) Is the guy from the muffler shop ripping me off/bullcrapping me about the installation? (I was shocked cuz I thought I have read on several posts that this was apparently a direct bolt on >.>)

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Help a fellow neon brother out.

bone-yard-racing · Post by **bone-yard-racing** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 11:57 am

First off its header there is only 1. Second it appears much harder than it is but there is some welding to be done your mechanic's estimale is probably close.

There is a good gain. The coated PCs are very duriable

excon · Post by **excon** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:06 pm

YES. i had the same problem. The pacesetter header is much better than the standard neon exhaust manifold. It's about the same as a magnum header. Ceramic coated is good too. Pacesetter makes this header for 95-05 neons. The bolt pattern for 95-99 first gens is a two bolt flange as opposed to a four bolt flange for 00-05 neons.

You will have to get the exhaust shop to CUT the flange off the header and maybe also off the downpipe and weld them together. On first gen neons this would be a direct bolt-on, but not for second generations. I had an exhaust shop quote me $400 to put the header on. Once i called pacesetter and had the shop do what they said, it took no time.

04_Neon_Guy · Post by **04_Neon_Guy** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:43 pm

Yo, thanks guys for the advice. Should I tell the mechanic exactly what u said Excon, about the cutting of the flange off the header and weld them together, or should I phone Pacesetter like u did? haha, anyways, thanks guys.

excon · Post by **excon** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 5:30 pm

If you phone pacesetter like i did, they'll tell you the same thing. I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to. I think I have the number at home. I won't be able to look for it until tomorrow night, but I can shoot you a PM.

I think they're in arizona?

Also, I can take pictures of my setup so you can see where it's welded... if it ever stops raining, and if i can get decent pictures of the back of the engine bay.

Either way: Do not pay $400+ dollars for the install!

04_Neon_Guy · Post by **04_Neon_Guy** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:19 pm

LOL I am hoping I dont have to. I have Pacesetter's # here somewhere. If u sent/posted up some pictures, that would be sick, but otherwise I can just phone these guys up.

excon · Post by **excon** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 10:33 pm

call them tomorrow during business hours.... I may be a while getting pictures up. It'll be good though, because you can see exactly where the welds are and everything.

excon · Post by **excon** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:35 am

Sorry, it's been raining for a few days. As promised:

and a close-up of the cut off flange of downpipe and weld:

stdlystdmufn · Post by **stdlystdmufn** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:33 pm

thats what i had to do when i got mine put on. it was alot cheaper and i had them just weld the whole exhaust while they were at it.

04_Neon_Guy · Post by **04_Neon_Guy** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:29 pm

Nice! Thanks man! What a relief, especially for my wallet. lol.