Speed Engineering

[Arogg]

Ive been running the TSP headers for the last 6 or so years. Zero fitment issues. Still look great. They are another option if you are trying to save some coin

[RS/SS '10]

Originally Posted by Royal Tiger

I find it more true than not from everything from car parts to electronics to firearms. Sure cheap stuff works, but again it costs more for a reason. Better materials, better fit & finish, etc…. Looking at speed engineering than AR or Kooks you can see why one costs more.

I completely agree with the above statement. In my build I could have used less expensive parts, pretty much everything I have bought there were cheaper alternatives, but the statement from Royal Purple is the way I see things.

When I got serious about buying headers I started with Kooks, plus the green cats. I also added in the price of getting them ceramic coated, which I think was a smart move. I looked at a lot of headers, but within seconds to a very few minutes I always went back to the Kooks. Now, I am not kicking anyone else's decisions, we all have our own ideas and thoughts.

I do have a question about the headers with the heat tape on them. Were they chromed or stainless steel?

[Royal Tiger]

Originally Posted by RS/SS '10

I completely agree with the above statement. In my build I could have used less expensive parts, pretty much everything I have bought there were cheaper alternatives, but the statement from Royal Purple is the way I see things.

When I got serious about buying headers I started with Kooks, plus the green cats. I also added in the price of getting them ceramic coated, which I think was a smart move. I looked at a lot of headers, but within seconds to a very few minutes I always went back to the Kooks. Now, I am not kicking anyone else's decisions, we all have our own ideas and thoughts.

I do have a question about the headers with the heat tape on them. Were they chromed or stainless steel?

Purple?

[FasNuf]

I do have a question about the headers with the heat tape on them. Were they chromed or stainless steel?[/QUOTE]


The Speed Engineering headers are 304 Stainless. The wrap isn't a tape but just a wrap made by DEI. They make it from different materials depending what you want.

Here's my video on keeping the ends from fraying. DEI Titanium

https://youtu.be/mkhnI-1j_yY

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[RS/SS '10]

Purple, too damn funny. My bad on the tape-wrap, so the wrap made them the color they are now, or do all of those headers end up looking like that? With the ceramic coating that Kooks use I have no need for the wrap. I am planning on using some of their gold wrap in other places.

[TooleyOnDeck]

For anyone currently considering these, I ordered and installed mine this week (late May 2022) and here’s the rundown:

The finish was decent, there were a few visible scratches and burrs but they were overall fine. Reports on fitment vary, but on mine the passenger side header hit my subframe during test fit, so I marked the spot under the car and dimpled the header about 1/4” x 2” to clear it and it went back in perfectly (2015 1SS L99).

The SE clamps are 💩 so reuse your OEM rear clamps and get some 3” flat band clamps from your local part store. I torqued down the SE clamps as far as I could with an impact and still had leaks. So I put some tiger patch across the off road connector and the header and clamped over it and no more leak. I also used ARP header bolts in lieu of the supplied bolts. The SE MLS gaskets worked fine. I’m currently using Taylor 409 10.4mm wires (180° boot) and they clear the headers fine, none of them touch.

The SE headers are supposedly slightly thinner walled than ARH or Kooks, and I can confirm you get a bit more of a “tinny” sound afterwards. Plan your exhaust system to account for that, mine is OEM to the axles and I currently have 2 rear mounted Magnaflows but I don’t really like them so I’m currently looking into other options.

My final thoughts are that these are a good option for the budget-conscious enthusiast. I had my Camaro tuned by DynoSteve and I’ll be going next week to do some dyno runs to compare to my stock baseline, so I’ll make a post afterwards for those considering DSP remote tuning as well. 👌🏼

[FasNuf]

I agree with Tooley. The clamps and head hardware were junk. I think I bought Fleetrite exhaust clamps from Fleetpride. Nice and wide and they sealed well. The head hardware I used was from Stage8 and was made from Chromemoly. Not sure why I didn't go ARP, probably because I liked the positive locking system Stage8 had. Works great and no leaks, but a little tricky to install and I hope I never have to remove them.

[tartagliazl1]

Originally Posted by Royal Tiger

Purple?

haha what's up Royal Purple.

[pyroguy]

Originally Posted by TooleyOnDeck

For anyone currently considering these, I ordered and installed mine this week (late May 2022) and here’s the rundown:

The finish was decent, there were a few visible scratches and burrs but they were overall fine. Reports on fitment vary, but on mine the passenger side header hit my subframe during test fit, so I marked the spot under the car and dimpled the header about 1/4” x 2” to clear it and it went back in perfectly (2015 1SS L99).

The SE clamps are 💩 so reuse your OEM rear clamps and get some 3” flat band clamps from your local part store. I torqued down the SE clamps as far as I could with an impact and still had leaks. So I put some tiger patch across the off road connector and the header and clamped over it and no more leak. I also used ARP header bolts in lieu of the supplied bolts. The SE MLS gaskets worked fine. I’m currently using Taylor 409 10.4mm wires (180° boot) and they clear the headers fine, none of them touch.

The SE headers are supposedly slightly thinner walled than ARH or Kooks, and I can confirm you get a bit more of a “tinny” sound afterwards. Plan your exhaust system to account for that, mine is OEM to the axles and I currently have 2 rear mounted Magnaflows but I don’t really like them so I’m currently looking into other options.

My final thoughts are that these are a good option for the budget-conscious enthusiast. I had my Camaro tuned by DynoSteve and I’ll be going next week to do some dyno runs to compare to my stock baseline, so I’ll make a post afterwards for those considering DSP remote tuning as well. 👌🏼

This is about as fair of an assessment as you can get. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Shodown]

I have 1-7/8 Speed Engineering headers on my ZL1. No fitment issues whatsoever. Yes the clamps are crap, but get yourself some lap joint band clamps from Summit or Jegs and you'll be golden.

With the $1000 I saved not buying Kooks or ARH I got a Killer Chiller. Worth every penny saved.

[Royal Tiger]

Originally Posted by tartagliazl1

haha what's up Royal Purple.

I think that is a screen name on here. Lol

[TooleyOnDeck]

Originally Posted by pyroguy

This is about as fair of an assessment as you can get. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Thanks, and no problem. I figured this thread would come up before any new thread I could make, and many out there probably run into the same love/hate reviews that don’t really benefit a person making a decision.

[FasNuf]

I haven't heard anyone say they hated the SP headers, only that some liked spending more for more quality. I guess it just depends on what you're trying to accomplish with your budget and if you're willing to gamble a little that they fit.