I live in Orange County, CA and had the same concern. I installed Fabspeed headers with Fabspeed heat blankets. No CEL. I also installed Capristo brackets. Lost a TON of weight from the OEM Brooklyn Bridge mounting system. They key to removing them is tools. To get the factory headers out you'll need lots of different tools. The new headers go in so easily you'll think you missed something. They WILL smoke (look in the RV mirror and you'll swear you're on fire) and stink for about 50 miles. After that nothing. You will definitely feel an increase in torque in the 4-5,000 RPM range. Worth the piece of mind. About $3,500 bucks delivered and they include gaskets, new studs and nuts. Ray
I have put almost 4k miles since I got the headers. I had a CEL once and cleared it with my OBD reader. It has not returned since.
Sorry, it was $3,500 for the *headers*. The heat blankets were an additional $1,500 and the tiny O2 pre-cat imitators were $275. Ray
I'll try and post photos of the little gizmos that fool the ECU into thinking I'm discharging scented Parisian perfume from my tail pipes. Here's a link https://www.fabspeed.com/universal-90-degree-o2-spacers-with-catalytic-converters-pair/ Ray
One thing I feel compelled to mention here. I had the service manager at a local Ferrari dealer say to me "If we install your after market headers, you WILL pass California SMOG inspection;" I'm from Philly. I know "It fell off a truck" when I hear it. Just an FYI. Ray
I just read your post and I am too looking for headers that won’t throw a CEL. What did you end up going with exactly and did it work? Thank you. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
I used Big Daddy O2 extenders. Easy to install. No CEL and it passed a SMOG check at a "Test Only" station with Fabspeed headers. Ray
So far so good with challenge headers on my 2009, no 02 extenders and no CEL. About 200 miles added since the install.
Since this thread was brought back up, has anybody had a stock header failure after changing either the stock muffler mount to something that flexes or with another muffler like the stock sport exhaust that is made to move with the exhaust expansion?
Just had my stock cracked headers replaced with FabSpeed headers back in September. Did a lot of research to find the best ones that had a reputation of not throwing a CEL. Headers plus blankets was around $5500. FabSpeed included the O2 extenders that I believe stops the CEL. I had a local shop do the swap and I'm happy I did since one stud broke while removing the old headers. It took them a day to remove the broken stud. Very happy with the new headers so far, only a couple of hundred mile so far with no CEL. The real test is the smog test that is due next spring, fingers crossed!
I had just extenders on my f430 but would still get a check engine light occasionally. I changed to these https://a.co/d/bubLiCu And never had another light. They have a ceramic core that must help with stabilizing the heat? You have to punch or deform the cap where it meets the body of the device or they will just come off and the core will come out. Barry
I have the Ferrari Challenge headers and the Bid Daddy Mini Cats on my 2007 F430. I still get the CEL all of the time (code 420). I got a recommendation from an independent Ferrari mechanic to try simple extenders vs the mini cats. I just received some but haven’t had a chance to put them in yet.
My recommendation is to stay away from big daddies I have a set of big daddy's. I first tried them with out the 90... They didn't work. I pulled them out after just one day to reinstall with the 90s and noticed that the core on one had already failed. I emailed the owner and simply asked how much for a replacement. He proceeded to send the most unprofessional, sarcastic replies I could imagine. I will never deal with him or buy from him again. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I logged 3000 miles w my 360 w catless headers and several different extenders… big daddies, no name Amazon, and 90 deg catless extenders…., I found the cel would come on eventually after a random amount of drive cycles…. gave up on extenders… got my ecu’s tuned for permanent fix.