Flowtech for $200, to buy or not to buy?

This is my second post today, but anyways someone local is selling me a set of flowtech coated longtubes with y-pipe with provision EGR's. I've read that these headers leak for others and some dont. Do you guys think this is a great deal and I should jump on it? Or get some uncoated pacesetters for $170 which is a bit rusted with no provision EGR's and no y-pipe. Please help, thanks guys!

i'm happy with mine...the coating on the collectors is chipped off in 2 yrs...but it's also been through a dozen hurricanes

one side on mine leaked...but a doubled up gasket cured it.

for $200 i think it's worth it

Thanks for posting in my tread!

Come on guys 23 damn views and no post? I need opinion guys, help a fello Camaro owner out man!

to the top

its worth it, but honestly I have no experience in flowtech's.

Cool thanks, thats 2 post with a buy it!

damn, 200 bucks for coated, go for it... i wish someone around here was offering lts for 200

Thanks, looks like I'll be buying them!

What do you guys think about hookers compared to these flowtechs? I have a person local that is selling me his coated hookers which comes with provision EGR's for $265.

I have another seller thats will give me his mac-mids for $300 shipped. Saw pictures and they look great. His includes

One set of lo-co coated Mac Headers
One Mac coated Y pipe
Nuts and bolts for connecting Y pipe to headers
Block off plated for EGR and air tubes
one set of front o2 sensors

I also have another seller that has a set of mac-mids with y-pipe and cutouts for $250 shipped.


So what do you guys think?

Would you guys buy brand new Flowtech longtubes without the y-pipe for $225 or the used Flowtech longtubes with y-pipe for $200?

I'd get the used Hookers.

I'd get the used Hookers.

:lol: Sounds funny when ya put it that way. lol

But I agree. Two pairs of headers in the same brand even, may fit differently or have a problem, but I haven't heard of that happening as much with the Hooker's as I have with the Flowtechs. I know alot of people running both and both are happy. But, since you're buying used, just in case there may be a problem, I'd shoot for the brand with the least complaints, and from what I've seen/heard, the Hooker's would win amongst the above choices.

Good point there, I just wish it came with a y-pipe and the used flowtechs for $200 will come with a y-pipe and turn-down as well. Hmmmmmm?

basically go with the ones your budget allows for.

i think the headers and ypipe combo is hard to pass up.

Yeah thats what I was thinking too. Cause the brand new ones wont come with an y-pipe.

But if I purchased the new flowtech, I should be able to install that with the stock y-pipe on my car right?

longtubes and a stock Ypipe is like square peg and a round hole

not gonna happen.

you have to have a ypipe designed for LTs

Oh man okay thanks bro. Now that changes everything. So it looks like what ever I'm going to buy, I would need to make sure that I get a y-pipe withit.

Looks like the hookers are out of the question cause it will not come with a y-pipe price on that is $265 used

-New Flowtech longtubes are out of the question thats selling for $225
-Pacesetter racer headers selling for $170 shipped but uncoated out of the question.

So it looks bang for the buck will be the flowtech longtubes with y-pipe for $200.

Someone also offered me mac-mids with y-pipe for $300 shipped.

So compared to mac-mids and flowtech, which ones would you get? Or should I say which one do you think is better?

You're putting headers on a California car?

If so, I'd get which ever one is easiest to switch out with stock manifolds when inspection time rolls around.

oh...yeah...good catch Greed

mids and long tube headers are both illegal for use in cali (technically in all states) since it moves the stock cat location.

you may pass sniff test if you put in cats...but no visual inspection will fly (without propper bribbing).

as for the question of mids/LTs...

2 things to consider...future upgrades and ground clearance.

if you are planning on keeping the car bolt ons only...you would be fine with either setup. mids have been shown to be almost as good as LTs in all but the highest rpm range. now this is on lower hp engines.
now if you plan to do a cam or h/c...the added flow (particularly in the upper rpm range) will benefit you to run LTs.

LTs will cut down your ground clearance to some extent. how much will depend on the design/brand of header and ypipe. my flowtechs tuck up very nicely, have yet to scrape the collector on anything. and when i had the ypipe on i don't recall ever scrapping it either (stock height). i currently have true duals...and only on a few speed bumps around town does it scrape..and barely at that. the advantage of the flowtechs is that the ypipe is "clearanced" around the frame. it allows for a much tighter fit under the car. i think i still have pics on my cardomain site...page 2 (www.cardomain.com/id/teke184). not all ypipes that i have seen do this.


on a side note....VERY IMPORTANT!!!
do yourself a favor and buy some prothane motor mount bushings, and install them when the manifolds are off and before the headers go in. it is 100x easier with those out of the way. took me nearly 10hrs to change mounts when the manifolds were in the car...and i highly doubt it is possible with LTs on the car. but with them totally off the car...doubt it's more than a 30 min job.
the engine will barely move in the engine bay, reducing the flex of the exhaust pipes...and nearly eliminating any clearance issues. my original setup had 1/2" of space between the exhaust (where the cats would be) and the frame...under load the exhaust would rotate up and hit the frame. installed the mounts...and i've had the exhaust 1/4" away and have yet to have it hit the frame under load...the pipes barely move.

$50 well worth it

Listen to what Teke said about the prothane motor mounts, when the manifolds are off and BEFORE headers go on do yourself a favor and change them out.They are a little time consuming, but not too bad ,especially if you have someone helping you! As far as the choices you have for headers, if your budget only allows for so much, I think the flowtechs with the y-pipe sounds pretty good. Remember you only have to make yourself happy with what ever you decide to buy! Good luck with your car!:D

hellyeah...us south florida boys stick together...

:cool:

basically go with the ones your budget allows for.

i think the headers and ypipe combo is hard to pass up.

Agreed, even if the headers do leak, you still keep a Y-Pipe you can attach new headers to... Thats a HUGE savings IMHO

If you live in California forget about longtubes, you will need to go with shorties and your OEM y-pipe. You will not pass a visual inspection and they will hear you coming. JMHO

What do you guys think about buying a set of uncoated pacesetter longtubes and coated ory for $200? They are described as "Pacesetter 1 3/4" off-road headers with 3" collectors"

Now since they are uncoated but they are pacesetters do you think thats a better deal then the coated flowtech and ory for $200?

i think you're better off with the coated headers...

I haven't gotten the chance to get the flowtech headers but ran into another great deal. Mac-mids with ory for $200 shipped brand new. What do you guys think? Need help, got to decide in 2 days!

to the top guys, new mac-mids with ory or used for 10k flowtech longtubes with ory?

Get the LT's , you will get the most performance gain from these as well and the price seems really good>

Actually the price on the mac-mids might go down to $150, do you still think I should get the LTs?

Just wanted to let you guys know I got the flowtechs!

finally ;)