Factory exhaust manifolds are not only restrictive, they look dorky too. On the other hand, aftermarket exhaust headers build better power, look trick, and give your car's exhaust note a bit of added wickedness. We've proven that race headers generate more performance than manifolds, but they often wallop the wallet with their pricey cost. So what's a financially challenged car crafter to do? Go low-buck!
We scoured the pages of a few mail-order parts catalogs and noticed a plethora of header offerings. Choices were plentiful and costs were low, but we were a bit skeptical about the quality, fit, and performance of such budget goods. Thus, in the true cheapskate nature that CC is becoming known for, we decided to test headers we could score for under 99 bucks. We put 'em through a dyno test, an engine fitment test, a plug and wire accessibility test, an overall quality test, and, most importantly, a chassis fit test. Many guys think that you can't expect much from low-buck parts, but you may be surprised by the results.
