Pacesetter headers install
 

Hey guys! I had a question regarding installing pacesetter headers for the 3.4. I just bought them from another forum member and plan on getting them installed by a shop because I don't have the necessary tools. The best quote I got was $360 if I have all the parts. Now I have the actual headers but my question is, is there any other parts that would be necessary or should it all bolt up right to the stock exhaust? (bolts, gaskets, etc)

Not sure what all you got but you might need the down pipe and the donut gasket that goes from the front cross over to the down pipe collector.... after the down pipe it should bolt up to the stock exhaust with a reducer given the headers are probably 2 1/4- 2 1/2" while stock exhaust is only 1 7/8"...

As long as you have the bolts and gaskets I believe that's pretty much it. Once they are on, your factory exhaust will have to be cut to proper length and the downpipe welded to it. Im sure you've read about the benefits of going ahead and opening up the rest of your exhaust, you'll loose some of the hp gain not being able to let all that freed up flow out after the header, but they'll still help.

the headers act as the downpipe as well. I got my exhaust re-done and got it switched to 2.5" from 2" so I just ran open headers to the shop.

You will need a custom downpipe

The downpipe that comes with the headers is attached already. Can't that just be attached to the rest of the exhaust?

This is exactly what I am receiving

That's not a down pipe... the down pipe attaches at the last point and is an s bend that attaches at the cat...

Yeah you need a downpipe made to bolt up to the rear header collector.


And thats interesting.... The previous owner put a flex pipe in the cross over pipe for some reason.



And tim, you mean attaches to the "cat back exhaust" stock downpipe is built in with the cat.

Damn, that sounds expensive. So I should call the shop and tell them I am gonna need a custom fabbed down pipe? Is that the only way of doing it?

Sleepy, those were my headers, i installed the flex pipe because i had problems with the crossover seperating from the coupler with spirited driving. The flex pipe fixed that.

Nate.... re read what i typed... attaches at the cat not to the cat lol.... we're basically saying the same thing...

As for cost, it shouldn't cost too much for that piece...

ya what you have will bring you right by your steering rack on the subframe, you will need something similar to this made up. Your cat would be a few inches from where my flex is, recommended one of those as well

Interesting, didnt know you did that, Sleeper.


Sorry tim! Was reading fast i guess lol


But no a custom downpipe shouldnt run you any more then 200$ really...

better pic to show what piece you will need made up to connect to factory exhaust, these are S&S headers but yours should sit similar

Yeah I got it done yesterday and they custom fabbed the downpipe. I have had a straight pipe on my alero for a while and it was nice but I got my egr deleted and the headers installed and now it is frighteningly loud. I am gonna have to get a magnaflow muffler or something installed soon because it is crazy loud right now.

Straight pipe is gay, fix it!

I was thinking about just getting some flowmasters welded on. Is there any exhaust systems available for the alero or should I just get flowmaster mufflers welded on?

I got flowmaster 80 on mine, love it.

Theres a Pacesetter catback and a Borla catback. Pacesetter is cheaper around 400$, Borla is almost 900$. They will be listed as Grand Am but they will fit with no trouble, Aleros and Grand Ams are the same thing.