Frustrated with Detroit Speed regarding support on Mustang Conversion !!!!!!!

[CTSV]

Like MANY shops and private builders doing these conversions many are at a standstill because of the lack of headers. granted some shops have the equipment to build their own headers but not everyone has this liberty or skill. The conversion was released in October 2012 and only two real cars have been publicly completed, the DSE test car and the Purevision car which was over the top to begin with. nobody else has given feedback because everyone is at a standstill in their build. the Coyote guys are going nuts i hear. I wont even get into all the other EXTRAS i needed throughout where the cost has now tripled on this build.

I originally was going Coyote on my car but when i found out the headers that Detroit Speed advertised and still shows on their website never actually existed and no ETA was given. At the time there also were no motor mounts or front drive system for the Coyote so that would be like shooting myself in the foot from day 1. I steered away and stuck with a 427 W engine. I was told any bolt on header will work no problem but in reality they must have never tested such because we have tried 4 different headers and none will fit unless we hack up sections of the Aluma Frame.

there have been many who have posted on this forum and others complaining over the same issue for months and these post seem to get taken down.

So my issue is the shop building my car is 95% done and we had projected to unveil my car at Goodguys Columbus this July. Now being in NY there are not many options on a go to guy to custom design long tube headers or an exhaust system in this bind.


I am willing to have my car shipped outside the area now as i have no other choice but i am so disappointed over missing Goodguys this year as we have worked so hard this far and the guys have worked 7 days a week til 2am on some nights for the last 4 months non stop. Now i need to worry about transport damage or having another shop work on my car and other things happen like damaged paint , glass or leather interior. And lets not forget the astronomical cost to get one off headers and an exhaust made along with enclosed transport for a non running show car. this all can be avoided if DSE fully supported this Mustang program like they advertised originally.

[72BBSwinger]

I think if you have the cabbage to buy the kit, then going the extra mile to make it work is expected. Never dealt with DSE,met Kyle and Stacy once and they were down to earth nice people, but this setup seems pretty top shelf and you better have either the skill or the money to go all out.

[CTSV]

I think if you have the cabbage to buy the kit, then going the extra mile to make it work is expected. Never dealt with DSE,met Kyle and Stacy once and they were down to earth nice people, but this setup seems pretty top shelf and you better have either the skill or the money to go all out.
Not sure how well you know of the DSE product line but they aim their products at most DiY home builders and resto shops not guys like the Ring Brothers or Rad rides by Troy where as those guys build everything from scratch. This is their target market so in that regard this is a lack of kit support by not partnering with an exhaust company to make these parts for their primary audience. There is a big difference with a build like mine and ones that guys commission top builders like Alloway or Troy a half million bucks to build. dSE kits come with instruction books illustrated and a full feature install DVD, its obvious what i stated above is a fact on their target market.

[dontlifttoshift]

How about pictures? I am sure there are headers out there that will work, let's see where yours are hitting and see if anyone here can help.

It sounds like that is your only complaint, the headers. Don't forget this IS hot rodding, NOT color by numbers. If it was easy everyone would do it.

[CTSV]

How about pictures? I am sure there are headers out there that will work, let's see where yours are hitting and see if anyone here can help.

It sounds like that is your only complaint, the headers. Don't forget this IS hot rodding, NOT color by numbers. If it was easy everyone would do it.
I will upload some photos later today. Basically every header we tested hits the top suspension mount of the aluma frame and the portion of the alumaframe adjacent to the factory frame. Even though the shock towers were removed it honestly did not create more room but less because of the cast aluminum towers that are not where the shock towers were.

We tried headers by Ford powertain, JBA, Kooks and Dougs nothing even comes close. The shop just ordered a pair of shorties to test but they have much smaller primaries than what my motor demands so this is another issue. The steering shaft angle is also different than the mustang 2 systems on the market and we tried headers made for those systems and they wont work. This clearly needs. One off designed header.

I spoke to some race shops outside my area and they suggested a 2 piece header to make this work but it will take weeks to develop and build and I
need to ship the car out.

[68sixspeed]

Take it to Kooks out on Long Island, they are among the best for custom headers.

[CTSV]

Take it to Kooks out on Long Island, they are among the best for custom headers.

Hey the last custom car i built they did the headers and exhaust 4 years ago. I used them for the past 15 years on every build. Not sure if you know but they moved from NY and are in the same town in North Carolina as Detroit Speed. They even told me they have approached DSE to develop these parts but DSE declined a partnership. This is why my hands are tied the only source i trusted is no longer 40 min drive from me.

[regal454]

Not sure if you know but they moved from NY and are in the same town in North Carolina as Detroit Speed.

Kooks is located in Statesville, NC

[CTSV]

Kooks is located in Statesville, NC

Still close enough to partner with dse. I simply can not drive there. They told me they are way to busy now to even do my car until november possibly. Not many options in the ny tri state. One of the griefs of living up here when you play with cars

[68sixspeed]

Ah, I didn't know they moved, but it's been a while since I was working on stuff that we had to bring there. I'm not sure how use he is, but Steve at fab-u-this in Torrington CT made custom headers for Randy/ProBell's car. He use to make a lot of stuff for Callaway, top quality work.

[Rod]

Will the stock manifolds fit? Or a shorty header like Sanderson headers

[icemanrd19]

why not do this?
http://www.stainlessheaders.com/customheaders

[CTSV]

Ah, I didn't know they moved, but it's been a while since I was working on stuff that we had to bring there. I'm not sure how use he is, but Steve at fab-u-this in Torrington CT made custom headers for Randy/ProBell's car. He use to make a lot of stuff for Callaway, top quality work.

Can you pm me the guy in Torrington you mentioned contact info. Is he still around doing this work?

[CTSV]

Will the stock manifolds fit? Or a shorty header like Sanderson headers

Dont have a stock manifold but that would be like going backwards, the shop tried two sets of shorty they hit as well. My car really needs something. Custom

[CTSV]

why not do this?
http://www.stainlessheaders.com/customheaders

Now this is clever, have you used this? I wonder how accurate they can get the design from their mock up kit? This seems like the best idea yet thank you for posting i will call them on Tuesday.

[killer69]

sounds like you just need to have the shop that is building the car build some headers, sounds like they have wasted a bunch of time and money ordering and trial fitting stuff.
welcome to hot rodding and high end car building

[Ron.in.SoCal]

Now this is clever, have you used this? I wonder how accurate they can get the design from their mock up kit? This seems like the best idea yet thank you for posting i will call them on Tuesday.

Better get a move on. These guys have been slow on occasion in the past.

[GRNOVA]

Now this is clever, have you used this? I wonder how accurate they can get the design from their mock up kit? This seems like the best idea yet thank you for posting i will call them on Tuesday.

I have used Stainless headers MFG. Talk to Chris he was great to deal with and very helpful! I was in a similar situation as you, I bought a DSE front clip for my 65 Nova and found out that the headers they make are only for a manual trans, of course I am running an automatic. Anyway they have everything you need I sent them 500.00 dollars for the kit (which when you purchase goes to the header purchase).

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/05/524201170138PM_0010-1.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/tnt342/media/65%20nova/5-24-20117-01-38PM_0010.jpg.html)

Here is alink to some more pictures

http://s300.photobucket.com/user/tnt342/slideshow/65%20nova/SSheaders

[GRNOVA]

Oh yea finished product.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/08/DSCN2009-1.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/tnt342/media/65%20nova/DSCN2009.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/08/DSCN2010-1.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/tnt342/media/65%20nova/DSCN2010.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/08/DSCN2017-1.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/tnt342/media/65%20nova/DSCN2017.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/08/DSCN2018-1.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/tnt342/media/65%20nova/DSCN2018.jpg.html)

[CTSV]

Wow those headers came out incredible. How long did they take to make? I think this will be my best choice logistically

[icemanrd19]

damn i posted this and i almost wish i would have done this lol. Goodluck and im glad i helped. Help others by pointing them in this direction

[67cougnut]

i think im going to go this route as well!!! thanks for sharing!!!!!!

[67cougnut]

so you spent $500 on the kit, in the end what was the total for the set of headers?

[GRNOVA]

It cost another $1200.00 I upgraded to 1 7/8"

[1970 TT Rustang]

I am out on the island I used kooks for my car, but with that not being an option these guys are my friends they have on going DSE projects and make all their own pipe work. Ask for harold

Hell Bent Race Cars
(631) 761-8470
190 Blydenburg Rd
Islandia, NY 11749

Or American racing headers they are on the island also

[alocker]

So $1700 total? That is an impressive kit.

How many hours do you think for the mockup?

[eupp]

Stainless are some very nice folks to work with

[GRNOVA]

About 24 hours

[Classic Nova & Performance]

Not sure how well you know of the DSE product line but they aim their products at most DiY home builders and resto shops not guys like the Ring Brothers or Rad rides by Troy where as those guys build everything from scratch. This is their target market so in that regard this is a lack of kit support by not partnering with an exhaust company to make these parts for their primary audience. There is a big difference with a build like mine and ones that guys commission top builders like Alloway or Troy a half million bucks to build. dSE kits come with instruction books illustrated and a full feature install DVD, its obvious what i stated above is a fact on their target market.

I know this has been posted for awhile, but I haven't had or taken the time to log on for a while. So please humor me.
Can't say I agree with your statement. DSE builds upper level components that find their way on to plenty of high end/high performance cars. Ability levels vary so much that I would never say any kit was or wasn't intended to be installed by a DIYer. I've seen plenty of guys that work out of their home garage that I would love to have working for me. I've also seen professional shops that turn out work that makes me wonder how they stay in business.

[Ron Sutton]

I've seen plenty of guys that work out of their home garage that I would love to have working for me. I've also seen professional shops that turn out work that makes me wonder how they stay in business.

Me too ... and of course we see amazing craftsmanship from the top shops.

.