OBX headers experience

[richard sanderson]

Just had these OBX headers fitted by Redline Estepona. They charged me 16 man hours, which I think is very fair. The car is original and has done 130k, so the RH header was extremely difficult to get off. Lots of botched looking welding around the place - was that original? The RH sensor wires extended, some messing with the dipstick tube, a slight mod for the steering tube, and all bolts put on, whereas the original headers only had 6 each side! Previously the car had an annoying drone when cruising at legal speeds in a high gear. I usually had to drop a gear to stop wifey complaining! Now all that has gone. The whole thing sounds crisper, and a bit quieter. It maybe even revs a bit more freely, but that could be just subjective because I've got my baby back! Will be showing it off to a couple of ex-IMSA and ex-F1 drivers next week (John Fitzpatrick and Howden Ganley) - that says how pleased I am. I have also - at last, got Spanish registration. What a pain. If anyone else wants to try it, I recommend importing to the UK first, and then bringing the car in to Spain with UK plates. I think it would not be possible to bring it straight in from the US, too many Catch 22 situations exist in the bureaucracy here!:)

[Blue Flame Restorations]

I have been contemplating the OBX's. Will probably do it now.

Thanks for posting the details.

Brett

[mgbrv8]

Do you have any pictures of the headers installed?

Dave

[ZZZZZR1]

Do you have any pictures of the headers installed?

Dave

Dave,

I haven't seen them installed but I have seen them in person and they are identical to Stainlessworks headers.

Marc Haibeck has installed them and agreed they are identical... Marc won't purchase them because they are made in China. Buy American!

If your on a budget, and don't mind they are made in China... Buy them.

:Eagle:

David

[richard sanderson]

I don't know where they were manufactured. I bought them off US Ebay, from somewhere in the US, so I guess some of the profit went to reducing that famous debt! Anyway, historically, the biggest world traders have always been the USA, so looking from the outside, all this talk of boycotting imports looks a bit suspect to me. All this should be thought through in detail before unilateral actions are decided upon. Arent KIA's made in Kentucky? Is that bad for the USA? Sorry to preach - politics is my second biggest interest!

[secondchance]

I was made not quite in China but sorta close to China. Does this mean I may be boycotted?
Actually, my OBX is in transit from NC after being coated.

[lbszr]

I was made not quite in China but sorta close to China. Does this mean I may be boycotted?
Actually, my OBX is in transit from NC after being coated.

Unless your selling yourself.....your exempt:)

[mgbrv8]

Did anyones OBX headers come with the fasteners for the three bolt flange connector. I cant find any so I either lost them or never got them.

Dave

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Did anyones OBX headers come with the fasteners for the three bolt flange connector. I cant find any so I either lost them or never got them.

Dave


You might have luck by contacting OBX directly???? Worth a shot OR check with Jerry's Gaskets. He may have a correct fastener. He is a great supplier of ZR-1 parts, in general.

[mgbrv8]

I have but its been a few days and I still haven't gotten a answer back. I was just wondering if anyone that has bought these headers has them and can tell me what it entails, like just bolts or bolts and springs.

Dave

[secondchance]

I did not see them in my package. I was figuring on reusing ones from the factory.

[mgbrv8]

Thank you secondchance looks like its time to stop looking and make a trip to the hardware store.

Dave

[Aurora40]

I don't know where they were manufactured. I bought them off US Ebay, from somewhere in the US, so I guess some of the profit went to reducing that famous debt! Anyway, historically, the biggest world traders have always been the USA, so looking from the outside, all this talk of boycotting imports looks a bit suspect to me. All this should be thought through in detail before unilateral actions are decided upon. Arent KIA's made in Kentucky? Is that bad for the USA? Sorry to preach - politics is my second biggest interest!

Just my two cents, it's not imports, it's Chinese imports. There are a lot of things to dislike about China, from their communism to their human rights violations, environmental practices, to stuff that is just stomach-turning like the various food scandals.

And OBX headers in specific all seem to be a ripoff of existing header designs (mostly by American companies).

I personally don't think a Kia made here is bad for anyone. But it's not hard to argue that a company that steals intellectual property and sends it off to a country that has an atrocious record for respecting human life for manufacture is one you'd prefer not to buy from.

[secondchance]

Just my two cents, it's not imports, it's Chinese imports. There are a lot of things to dislike about China, from their communism to their human rights violations, environmental practices, to stuff that is just stomach-turning like the various food scandals.

And OBX headers in specific all seem to be a ripoff of existing header designs (mostly by American companies).

I personally don't think a Kia made here is bad for anyone. But it's not hard to argue that a company that steals intellectual property and sends it off to a country that has an atrocious record for respecting human life for manufacture is one you'd prefer not to buy from.

Well put, Bob. My selfishness got the better of me. Greed for performance plus my inherent cheapness...
I do agree with your message. International, balanced trade is a win-win for all parties. Stealing of interllectual right is wrong. Also, their social inequity and political system along with an expansinistic attitude makes China a dangerous country to support not to mention BS water pumps for LT5.

[Aurora40]

Hey Yun,

I was not trying to second guess your decision to purchase them. I was just trying to answer that guy's question, that a dislike of Chinese imports can be based on something other than redneck xenophobia, or whatever the implication was.

You got a great deal on those things, and I'm interested to hear how they fit and work once you get them installed.

[secondchance]

Hey Yun,

I was not trying to second guess your decision to purchase them. I was just trying to answer that guy's question, that a dislike of Chinese imports can be based on something other than redneck xenophobia, or whatever the implication was.

You got a great deal on those things, and I'm interested to hear how they fit and work once you get them installed.

I know Bob. I am hoping that David may volunteer to take pics so that we can post intall and describe fitment.
I will be meeting w/ the guy w/ C6 ZO6 brakes tomorrow or the day after. If I can verify fitment I might go for this conversion too. Thanks for the heads-up.

[richard sanderson]

They are good! And thank goodness the social do-gooders didn't stop GE from building that factory in China! (not that I suspect for one minute they are fabricating the OBX headers in there). greetings from sunny Spain, Dick