Can anybody recommend a good header for 91 Jetta?: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Jan. 28, 2012 11:45 a.m. M030 HalfDork

I just bought a Techtonics Tuning cat and cat-back exhaust for my 91 VW Jetta 8V. I decided to install it this morning and discovered that my exhaust manifold has a huge crack in it. A little digging on the interwebby has led me to believe that these manifolds are NLA.

I found a "Pace Setter" header on eBay for $130. Techtonics has headers that i'm sure are great, but they cost $400+ and I don't want to spend that much. Does anybody have any experience with PaceSetter products? Is there a better alternative for around the same price? Or, better yet, do any of you have a good OE dual-outlet manifold for my car?
Jan. 28, 2012 1:11 p.m. ditchdigger Dork

Have no fear.

http://www.racelandus.com/exhaust-headers/vw-exhaust-headers/volkswagen-golf-jetta...

$179
Jan. 28, 2012 1:46 p.m. Travis_K SuperDork

Can't you just use an aba dual outlet manifold and a new downpipe? Headers aren't really needed on a stock 8v, and one that cheap will not be very good. I'd suggest making sure the timing is set right too because that could contribute to the manifold cracking.
Jan. 28, 2012 9:05 p.m. LopRacer Reader

I was going to suggest techtonics until you mentioned the cost. I can look in my collection of cast off parts, I think I have some sort of dual outlet manifold off a MKII I got in a package purchse off ebay a few years back. Doubt it would be cost effective to ship to CT though.

I had a pacesetter exhaust on my civic many years ago and it lasted fairly well. As I recall their headers are inexpensive and you will likely get what you pay for unfortunately.
Jan. 28, 2012 9:18 p.m. JoeyM SuperDork

I dont know squat about vw stuff, but can't you drill holes at each end of the crack, grind it out a bit and then weld the thing up?
Jan. 28, 2012 10:17 p.m. vwcorvette HalfDork

I used pace setter header on my first car and transferred it to two successive cars. Not the greatest quality and it can get rusty here in the NE. All in all not the worst.