Making $11.50 an hour as a forklift driver at Dixieline I have to save up for a while to buy performance parts and I have to choose my products carefully. I saved up for a power programmer and that certainly helped my quarter mile times. And, the previous owner had added a Magnaflow exhaust system so I didn’t need to touch that. So, I asked around and it was suggested to me that I look into an aftermarket performance exhaust header. My friend told me that I could expect horsepower gains of anywhere from 10-40 horsepower.

I started doing some research by going to my local auto parts store but they seemed too expensive, I only had about $500 to spend. So, I turned my attention to the internet. I looked at JBA headers and Pacesetter headers. The JBA headers were more expensive then the Pacesetter brand. But I have heard of JBA and not Pacesetter. I had to ask myself if the JBA brand was worth almost double the price.

The JBA headers were stainless steel, so they have that “wow” factor. The base–model Pacesetter headers are just black. Both are mandrel bent and come with all the necessary mounting hardware. JBA comes with a lifetime warranty and Pacesetter only has a 3 year warranty. But my GT already has 78,000 miles, it isn’t going to be around for a lifetime.

The choice was simple and I went for the Pacesetter headers. I spent about $250 with tax and I got free shipping. I installed them myself in about half a day – I am not the best mechanic in the world but the detailed instructions eventually sunk into my head and I got them on. The horsepower gain was immediately apparent and the sound of my engine has never been sweeter. Sometimes I just go out to my car, start it up and rev the motor just to hear the sound.

Anyways, here’s why you shouldn’t buy performance headers because, now I am ripping it up at the local track. I even finally smoked that supercharged Scion that put my GT to shame two months ago. Take that you rice burner!

Yes, maybe the JBA headers would have been prettier under the hood but with the money I saved by purchasing the Pacesetter headers I can buy enough beer to last a month. Well, maybe two weeks.