Just got my Fabs from Fedex today, wow 1 day service!
Just let me say something about the quality, it is outstanding! These are some of the highest quality headers I've ever seen, including my racing days. They are made in Germany, TUV approved.The headers weigh 22lbs, about 11 # each( unlike the zerteks that weigh 5 lbs each), they are very sturdy with tough, 14Ga T304SS, they feel heavy, not thin. The welds are nice and smooth, the collectors are really finished well with significant polishing internally, unlike some of the knockoff stuff. The tubes are one peice mandrel bent, which is essential with high performance headers, you never want to see welded seems in the middle of a tube.I have included a few pics to outline the quality.
I plan on posting before and after data this weekend. If you are on the fence as to what brand of headers to buy, I would strongly suggest the Fabspeeds, they are significantly better than the knockoffs. I'm gonna post some pics too. Stay tuned.
No affiliation, just a happy customer.
The new pc Chris

 

Those look awesome! Can't wait to get me some!!!

 

i don't own a set of "knockoffs", but your tone is a little harsh. those people that purchased an alternative product spent good money on them and seem to be happy so far.

till you put yours on the dyno, how do you know it's better than theirs? you can comment on looks all day long, but can you prove their performance, other than quoting what Joe says on his website? i threw "my" dyno runs up. let's see yours it's only $50 bones a session. what's a hundred clams to a surgeon

don't get me wrong, i like the fabspeed stuff. but they're not the only ones that can make headers. i proved that with my suncoast headers, which are every bit as high quality as the fabspeeds. i actually had a set of fabspeeds in my hands the day before yesterday. they are nice pieces. very shiny in typical fabspeed fashion. however, if you're going to bash other products, you should at least take a trip over to the dyno and do a little before and after testing. post up some big numbers, then you can run your mouth

 

Oh, puppy dog, I plan to do a little testing. The problem for me with a dyno is the awd, but I'll figure something out. Sorry to come off harsh, but I really like fabspeed stuff, next time I'll post before the martini.
By knockoffs I was refering to some of the chinese products that are flooding the market.

 

disconnect the front diff for the day. problem solved

 

You can actually still get a problem as the computer doesn't know it's been disconnected and senses a front traction failure, a guy with a TT posted about a horrific failure in this scenario about a yr or so ago on another forum. Not sure I wanna f my car up to prove a point. I'll figure somethig out.

 

" I was referring to some of the Chinese products that are flooding the market" I am not sure you have your facts straight I do not know of any headers that are "Knock offs" for the 996 that are coming from China unless you are generalizing that all Asian products are from China? Even then who's to say that the Ztek headers are knock offs yes they are a header. Yes they have three tubes, Yes they have Madrel Bends, Yes they have F1 type collectors... But they are not exactly like the fabspeeds. So I do not understand how you can say they are knock offs. Like DD said you can't knock something the way you did in your first post when you have no experience with those products. Oh that's right you saw a set at "the local speed shop" Fabspeed makes great products I have had their line on several cars no complaints. Again they are not the only manufacturer that makes a great exhaust product.

 

I’m going to third that. My Ztek headers (Taiwan) came the other day. They are, as Sandoval said, mandrel bent, seamless, F-1 collector, equal length pipes with a mirror shine and perfect welds and very nice clean grinding on the ports and the collector. Up against the FabSpeed cat bypass I bought, these headers and exhaust look every bit the equal. I think the fact that they weigh almost half of what the FabSpeed headers do is a plus when the bulk of the weight back there hangs behind the rear wheels. Zteks also cost about half of the FabSpeed set up for a complete system. Remember guys, you’re stuffing this whole thing up under the car where few will ever see it. The important things are:

Build quality – I can weld with the best of them and these welds look perfect. Just like a roll of coins laid over. I seriously doubt they will ever fail.

Dyno results – I don’t think anyone is going to see significant gains with headers only. In conjunction with an entire exhaust system it’s hard to determine exactly how much or how little the headers help the overall performance of the entire system. I doubt anyone would run headers with a completely stock exhaust system from the collector out to the tips. Why bother? If someone wants to gather up a bunch of different headers and spend the day (or two) at a dyno interchanging different headers we’d get some quantitative results, however useless for anything other than bragging rights. It’s the whole system that counts.

Sound – to me the most important thing. I’d gladly sacrifice three or four HP for aural gratification any day of the week.

 

Relax, I'm not trying to start an online pissing match here. Where are your ztec's made? Where are schnell's made? A guy on rennlist (gchoen I believe)proudly proclaimed his ztec's box said made in Tiawan, yet was German engineered. If I bought something that was "German engineered", then the shipping box said made in Tiawan/China I'd be pissed and send it back. If your ztecs are so great, how come they weigh half as much as the fabs? That's because they use thinner steel, that might be ok with you, not acceptable for me, to each his own.
Be sure before you call me a liar, I'll be happy to discuss this with you in pm as it's not my place to put out the LI shop's name when it's not my car in question. The fact is I did see a set at a shop, they looked good, but felt very light, that I found disturbing. The last thing you want is to have a set of headers rust out/ crack a yr later.
I'm glad you're happy with your headers, I like mine too, and I didn't pay twice as much either.
I something is copied, then mass produced using inferior parts, then it's a knockoff. If something looks identical to a German or American product, but it's made in Tiawan, then it's a knockoff in my book.
Have a nice day.

 

Everyone sounds happy!!

 

There are a few AWD dynos in florida, where are you located?

 

i had some german made Pheonix headers, were great. have now some of the new Fabspeed headers, works great. i'll probably try out the new african made headers next year. the reality is who gives a hoot in a week you won't even remember you bought headers since the power gains are insignificant. but then you guys might measure you dicks in milimeters. everylittle bit counts. cheers. btw don't think C4s surgeon was trying to put anyone down.

 

Thanks Eric, have a nice weekend.

 

Chris wasn't putting anybody down IMO, while his tone may have been a little abrasive ( Surgeons can be that way, I should know I'm an Anesthesiologist), he's just stoked about his new Fabspeeds. Somtimes people can be a little thin skinned online and don't realize when someone is just f'ing with them. Now everybody get a drink and have a great weekend, I just bought some Tito's vodka and that's my plan tonight!

 

not to change the topic, but i actually had signifcant gains with my suncoasts headers which were proven with before and after (same day) dyno tests.

by the way, i'm white and irish. what's wrong with measuring your dick in millimeters? the large numbers make me feel better. kind of like putting your dick in a midget's hand