Sometimes life is serendipitous! As the Fabspeed headers were being discussed, I wasn't in the market for headers, but knew I would be someday. Sure enough, last week my car started to sound funny, then this week it really started to sound like an old VW bug or a lawnmower. One trip to my mechanic, and suddenly I'm in the market for new headers! As it happened, I was in the shop just as my Ferrari doctor was preparing to install Fabspeeds into another 355, so I was able to see the piece up close-- they are BEAUTIFUL! Anyway, last night I ordered a set for myself, along with a set of high-flow sport cats. I had been looking at Hyperflows, but having seen the quality of craftsmanship in the Fabspeeds, I'll try their cats out (and save $300). The only bummer is that thanks to our overwhelming demand, it will be 2-3 weeks before my headers ship, and I can get my beast back on the road. Special thanks to UConnHusky (Jay) and anyone else who arranged the group buy discount to save us $150 on these headers. Also, thanks to JoeFab for creating these works of art, backing them with a lifetime warranty, providing excellent customer support from what I can tell, and for giving us FChatters this discount. Lastly, thanks to Norbert at Gran Touring Classics for helping be my tour guide through Ferrari ownership, and for letting me gawk at all the cool stuff that's always in the shop (think Cal Spider 250GT's, Daytonas, Dinos, Lussos, etc). John
Maybe he will put your set ahead of mine---I told Joe no rush for mine and to send mine last after everyone got there's---I am in no rush since the car is down for the next month anyway..
Has anyone captured the exhaust sound of a 355 with a Fabspeed setup (headers/cats or headers/bypass)? Their site has their cat bypass pipes with a tubi. My combo is going to be Fabspeed headers with a tubi on the backside. I'm not sure what to do about cats yet. Steve
Glad to see more guys taking advantage, but I guess we did bring the supply crunch on ourselves. I told them I can wait a month since there's plenty of work to do on my engine yet. As for coating, I'm leaning towards Jet-Hot Extreme Sterling for both looks and heat management. Not sure on cost yet.
All, Should have my car back tomorrow, the shop had to take care of a few other issues for me (Airbag light, and trace a bad fuse for my fan on the AC/Heater).. Anyhow I saw the headers after a little time on them and they are turning a slight golden color like another F-Chatter mentioned earlier. THEY LOOK SWEET!!! I will snap a few more shots tomorrow and show you guys what they look like in the car....
hmm, well ok that's enough for me. I may just fall back on my local guy then...I'll try to post pics soon of that header coating on my STi after a few years of use. Not bad, but oxidized a bit in the bends closest to the exh port. No flaking or anything though...
Coating vs wrapping vs full heat shields... The last time I replaced my headers, I was thinking to get the Tubi exhaust headers (the Fabspeeds look MUCH nicer btw), but after talking with several mechanics, they suggested I get something similar to originals with the full heat shields, especially scine heat build up is substaintial as I live in Manhattan and drive in traffic every so often. I got replacements from QV London, and I haven't had a problem since. Question is, can you use unshielded headers? Does the coating reduce heat even near as well as the heat shields? How well does wrapping work in comparison? If you can answer, please do, because I am very interested. Btw, the Fabspeed headers look outstanding, and if I find out that I can run bare headers like that without risking any damage to the engine compartment or wiring, I'm in!
I have fabbed up alternator sheilds that bolt up to the engine mount bolts just to add the little bit more protection from the unsheiled headers. So far they have worked excellent. I would recommend you make something similar.
That's what I have on mine as well.. I've only had it back from the shop for a day and so far no drama...
I went with Jet-Hot extreme silver, I think thats what they call it. I really hated to have to coat them but I felt that it was the best thing to do. I could then have visible headers and a little protection from the heat. I had mine coupled with Hyper-flows and Capristo. I think that the thicker tubes quieted the car down abit. Personally I liked the sound of the stock headers w/Hypers & Capristo. Pictures upon request
Those are great looking headers....the primaries look really short and really big diameter, anybody know the measurements? NO!!!!! There is no compareson. Wraping stops the heat much much better. I had the headers on my 308 (supercharged to over 500 hp) double wrapped and you could put your hand on the headers after a hard drive. Think about it, both the wrap and the coating are ceramic materials, but the wrap ends up about 1/8" thick (I had more than that on mine) and the coating a few thousandths thick. If you want to control heat wraping is the way to go. The coating does a much better at corrosion control particular on mild steel headers. The wrap will hold water when it gets wet and that will rot mild steel headers pretty fast, but it doesn't seem to bother SS.
Oh I'm sorry I forgot to mention that these are Fabspeed headers on a 97 355b. Image Unavailable, Please Login
