355 replacement headers --- which is better ??

I'm going to have to do this (replace the headers on a 355) soon. For those who have had experience with aftermarket headers for the 355, which brand do you feel is better ---- "Tubi" or "FabSpeed" ?? Or, is there no meaningful difference ??

 

Don't know about any real performance differences, but definitely philosophical differences between the two brands. Tubi headers are at least twice as much money, but retain the factory-style heat shielding which may help longevity of underhood components. Fabspeed (and most other brands, though none of the others have currently the market impact as Fabspeed) uses "naked" headers; they look beautiful, but may lead to premature death of underhood components due to heat if you don't fabricate heat shields for key items such as alternator, etc. Ceramic coating may help somewhat with underhood temps.

I have Fabspeeds on my car, uncoated. I've had them for 1 1/2 years, and have been happy with the workmanship and performance. Definitely some high-end hp gain, though I installed them with high-flow cats, therefore difficult to separate gains from the two mods. Did have a weak alternator after the header install, though this was the original alternator (10 years old, so according to 355 statistics, on very borrowed time!). Otherwise, happy with the product.

Like I said, don't know how the two brands compare hp-wise, because I don't know Tubi's claim with their headers.

Last, I would not discount the QV London headers. These cost about the same as Fabspeed headers. Daniel now carries them at Ricambi, so no more sending your headers to be fixed, while waiting 2-3 weeks for their return for re-install. Now it's an exchange deal. That I probably seriously consider were I in your shoes, as it essentially corrects the factory flaws and otherwise leaves the car "as stock" without the heat worries of Fabspeed or the cost of Tubi.

Whatever your decision, good luck and enjoy the car!

John

 

I would recommend rebuilding the factory headers. The problem with the factory headers is the wall thickness of the tube used was to thin, I would have them remade with thicker wall tube.

Tubi headers are very nice, but expensive.

Fabspeed need to be heat shielded to prevent damage to other components.

Rebuilt factory headers are least expensive and will retain the factory heat shielding.

 

Thanks, very informative snapshot....

 

For looks not the greatest, but why doesn't anyone wrap the header in header insulation wraps. They do help keep alot of the heat in.
Looked ok on my off-road race car, but i guess ugly in a ferrari ?

 

That wrap is proven to heat up the tube too much and cause problems, I used it in my race car (non Ferrari) and the headers failed within a year, purchased another set of headers and explained to the manufacture what happened, he said it was the wrap and to not wrap the new set but shield components from the heat, the second were still going strong when I sold the car 4 years later.

 

You probably really can't go wrong either way with the Tubis vs. the Fabspeeds in terms of quality of the product. (I only have experience with the OEM headers and the Tubis so, I'm not really qualified to comment on the Fabspeed experience, but from what everyone on here that has Fabspeeds says, they seem pretty happy with the Fabspeeds.) True, the Tubis are more expensive than the Fabspeeds, but if you are going to do the mod right and heat-shield other ancillary components in the engine bay that may be damaged by the heat from unshielded headers and heat wrap/ceramic coat the Fabspeeds, then the cost of doing all of that plus the cost of the Fabspeeds really may not outweigh the cost of just getting the Tubis which are already heat-shielded in much the same fashion as the OEM headers. My recommendation- if you plan on keeping the car for a long time- get the Tubi headers and be done with it. If you plan on owning the car for a few years and then plan on trading it in, then I would get the Fabspeeds.

 

Were those header Stainless ? Only ever seen them fail with steel headers..

 

And that is a VERY good point that completely slipped my mind. The headers I was talking about were steel *not* Stainless.....so ignore that last post

 

I had this exact problem in June. I opted for the QV London rebuilt headers. Least expensive and best option, save for the 3.5 times expensive Tubis.

Call Daniel @ Ricambi. That guy is the epitome of customer service.

 

+1

Daniel will get you sorted in no time!!

 

Any performance gains using the QV rebuilds?

 

No. They simply replace the old headers with thicker ones. The design is the same, unlike Tubi or Fabspeed.

 

I opted for the QV rebuilds. My turnaround shipping them myself was just over a week!
My thought is unless you are sitting with the engine bay open with mini spotlights on the headers and a adult beverage in your hand go for the rebuilds!