My experience with Fabspeed (Review)

I purchased some headers, test pipes and y-pipe from Fabspeed and, because they are a sponsor here, I wanted to let other Fchatters know about my experience:

First off, the manufacturing and welds look great and installation was pretty straight-forward (I had a few minor issues which needed to be addressed and Alex at Fabspeed gave me really amazing service and took really good care of me)

I'm aware that there is a certain controversy regarding the fact that they are allegedly made in Taiwan but the product looks great and I had it ceramic coated to help with the heat.

Looking at other header options and analyzing pros and cons, I think Fabspeed is the obvious choice for many of us.

I am not affiliated in any way with this company

 

Thanks for the info. I'm looking into their headers and appreciate any feedback. I've been seraching the forum for any information about them I can find. I haven't found anything on here about them causing heat problems or cracking yet.

 

When I bought my cart it came with Fabspeed headers already installed.

I have 5000+ non track miles on them now and am quite happy.

 

I to just got my set from them. Coated in and out. I am a welder myself and will say I am happy with the construction as well. The left side went on a lot faster and easier then I could have ever hoped. Right side is not on yet, waiting to get/finish the cam cover gasket on that side that was leaking.
I'm doing a clutch and braided brake lines as well hoping to finish it this weekend. I have been 355less for about 2 months and it's killing me!

As for the heat issues people have voiced concerns about I am sleeving my plug wires with heat shielding just because. Not to concerned about the rest, I have test pipes and a straight y pipe also so the exh. Is not going to be held up in cat areas.

I worked with Jeff and must say he was great and took lots of time on the phone with me.

 

That is similar to my experience...I have nothing but positive things to say about the people and company. I am going to finish out the rest of the performance package with them later this year.

 

I purchased my car with Fabspeed headers on and immediately took them off and replaced with OEM headers, Hyperflow cats, and a Capristo III muffler. The problems I have with them are:
1) Wrong design 4:1 versus 4:2:1
2) No Heat shields and ceramic coating doesn't cut it for me

I don't understand why anyone would insist on creating a header that does not emulate the original design. It makes no sense to me. Why don't they just make a true replacement header?

And I don't want to hear about all the "excuses" why they do it their way.

Let the flaming begin.

 

Because maybe the factory header isn't the optimal design.

 

+1

I had a Fabspeed exhaust on my Cayman S and it was great all the way around. Sound, construction, value, etc.

 

+1. Totally agree here, there is sound evidence that the OEM headers ARE the right design, but were just made using lower quality material. 4-2-1 design with adequate heat shields is the only thing that will work for me. Not knocking on Fabspeed here, just don't agree with the 4-1 design and no heat shields.

 

Hi Guys,

Thank you for the positive feedback. Although our design is a 4-1, it still offers a performance increase over the OEM headers. More importantly, the 4-1 design allows us to make a more cost effective product that is less complicated and has fewer welds than a 4-2-1 header.

To clarify for those who are not aware, our headers to come with 2 heat shields, but they are not wrapped like the factory ones. The wrapping is there primarily to reduce emissions by heating the catalyst as quickly as possible. The last time we had a 355 on our dyno, I stood by and measured the heat that was coming off the factory headers vs ours using an infrared thermometer. We saw a maximum reduction of about 100 degrees. I would also suggest that the heat wrapping is contributing factor in the failures of the factory headers. For those of you who are worried about engine temps in your 355, I would suggest high flow cats, cat bypass pipes, or a challenge grille as a much more effective method of reducing temps.

Please let me know if you have any questions about our products. Thanks!

Jeff

 

Taiwan sourcing?

JD

 

The factory header is deficient in at least 5 ways:
A) the pipes leave the header flange at 90 degrees while the ports leave the heads at 75 degrees. The proper way is for the gasses to leave the head straight.
B) the factory pipes are on the small side diametrically. This makes the exhaust gasses travel at very high velocity.
C) The factory collectors have pipes empty into an open chamber. Modern merge collectors have much higher gas flow.
D) The factory pipes are not mandrel bent and have varying pipe diameters along their path.
E) the materials are not the best.

You could make a true replacement header, but why NOT make a header that delivers more performance and does not have the above problems.

{Although I am yet to see anyone address A (above) satisfactorially. Those replacement headers that increase the pipe diameters have not lengthened the pipe lengths to compensate for the change in tune due to the slower gas flow and the higher pressure wave flow which results.}

 

Mitch: Do you know what material the factory headers are made out of?

 

Rather than starting a separate thread, I also wanted to chime in about my experience with Fabspeed which was fantastic. I have an F430 with 2+ year-old Fabspeed cats which started throwing all kinds of CEL codes (despite O2 spacers). I called them and spoke to Alex who without hesitation offered to take them back (!) for a substantial discount off new cats (which resolve the CEL issues) or simply a store credit towards anything else. I was so impressed with the service that I promised to post a review here on FChat. Thank you, Alex!

Eugene

 

I was about to order Fabspeed when I can across this thread:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430/343058-fabspeed-parts-made-taiwan.html

I have performed my own fact finding including asking friends in Taiwan to verify, truth is that the same product could be purchased at a deflated price from a supplier over there called JIM. The JIM part is 100% identical to fabspeed's supposedly proprietary part.

I don't know if Fabspeed is still printing Made in USA on the boxes, but on my last enquiry to them the reply was 'Fabspeed makes all of it's parts in house' I have a PM from one of their sales reps to proof it. I am not saying that they are also not making this part In the US, all I am saying is that accurate disclosure of a good's true origin should be observed.

If they are now acknowledging the fact that these headers are made in Taiwan I would be willing to place an order, but if they are claiming that they are made in the US. I would doubt that a little.

So Fabspeed reps, please tell us whether these 355 headers are fully fabricated in the US or elsewhere.

 

If you were about to purchase headers from Fabspeed, it would seem logical that you would ask them this question directly instead of posting it on a public forum hoping they will read it...

 

I have asked them, their reply was that all headers are made in house, they even attached a 458 header being made as they didn't have one of the 355 header.

All I am saying is that if they are selling the product as proprietary and made in the USA, it seems odd that a company in my neck of the woods have a product that's identical for a lesser price.

If they can confirm that this Taiwan Company in fact makes a copy of their product then I would be more inclined to buy the unit offered by Fabspeed.

It's just good business ethics to disclose this kind of information on source, especially when a customer asks for confirmation. You can't claim that a product is designed and made in the states when it is actually made in Taiwan, even if the product is a great one. To me that is just dishonest business practice.

Not wishing to offend or belittle any supplier here, just looking for confirmation.

 

As Fabspeed seems unwilling to comment, the best I can assess the situation is that they were designed here, the pipes are made in Taiwan for cost reasons and shipped here to be assembled. The Taiwanese company could easily make some extras and assemble them, but you have to ask whether their jig is good, how good the welds are and what you do if there are any quality issues.

If that's the case, they can't be claimed to be "made in USA" without qualification as a significant portion of the final product is made outside of the USA, but they may also have switched production to the US from their earlier Taiwanese supplier and that would explain how there could be identical, or close to identical, headers made there and real "made in the USA" headers sold here. To be honest, the fact that Fabspeed is unwilling to explain the situation, whatever it is, makes me uneasy about buying them. I honestly wouldn't care if the pipes are made in Taiwan and assembled here, but the fact that they don't comment on it is troubling.

 

You just said yourself that there is a company local to you that has the identical product at a lower price.
You said you asked your question to Fabspeed and did not get the answer you were looking for. Again, this
seems like a pretty obvious decision for you to make now, right? I mean seriously, are you hoping they will come onto this thread and contradict what they've already told you?

 

Nope, just hoping they will do the responsible thing and clear things up. As I have said I do not mind if their product is not made in the US as claimed, what I think is uncalled for is to be mislead about its origin. I just think that potential and existing customers have a right to know the source of the product.

 

Just had to chime in my 2 cents. A few years ago I contacted Fabspeed for some Cat bypass test pipes, and the quality was rock solid. In addition, I had a few minor hiccups in shipping, and the guys at Fabspeed... Jeff (yes, the same that commented above) specifically assisted me. Jeff and crew not only did the right thing, but made me feel like a VERY valued customer... and I was a "low end" customer only spender a few hundred for some test pipes. I mean... these guys going that far out of their way for some basic parts? I can only imagine the effort if I was a "real" customer looking at new headers, or a full aftermarket exhaust on a contemporary car that goes for 10x retail the 20 or 30 year old models.

Bottom line... these guys, and Jeff in particular, treated me right, especially after some complications. He/they did the right thing, and they will forever have my loyalty as a result.

These guys stand behind their stuff, and step to the challenges set before them. And for good reason! Quality products at a very fair price.

I'm not affiliated in any way, and the effort put out for my $400 purchase... hey. Loyalty starts here...

Just sayin'...

 

You claim to have asked fabspeed and they responded by saying all headers are made in house. I suggest you go with what they are claiming. Isn't that enough confirmation?
Btw where is your neck of the woods as you profile is a bit void.

 

So I should just assume what they are saying about the parts made in house is completely true despite some contrary evidence suggesting otherwise?

I had a friend living in Taiwan contact the factory for me, they confirmed that they made the manifolds. I really don't think there is any shame in the parts being made in Taiwan, I just don't really like to be lied to by a salesperson.

 

I emaiedl the tiwan company they will build you a set of headers for $1950 and $150 to ship.

And from reading other threads its my determination these are the same header you get from fab only at a $1000 sure charge.

 

I have been on fchat for a few years and have mostly only heard good things about fab speed. I say who cares if the contracted beavers up here in Canada to build their pipes. If you like them buy them if you don't don't. Most people on fchat will say that fab speed has treated them right. Trucks up here say built in Canada even though most of the parts come from somewhere else, but I think you all know this.