Hey guys, I'm pretty inexperienced when it comes to cars as my 04' G35 is my first car I got about two months ago.

So, I went and got my oil/filter done, and I knew I had an exhaust leak to begin with, but was told that it was coming from my headers due to them being cracked. I was told I had the option to get it welded, but I'm pretty sure that's a temporary fix.

Anyways I guess I need to replace them, just curious to see what you all would suggest I buy. I don't have a huge budget to work with, I'd like to try and keep the entire thing (including labor) as close to $1,000 CAD as I can. I have Z1 test pipes, which is the only exhaust mod I've got, pretty certain my headers are stock but I don't think I want to go back to stock unless that would be the best idea.

Thanks in advance, apologize for being such a noob to all of this. Really trying to learn as much as I can lol

 

You can't weld the factory flange pressed headers, I'm surprised that they cracked though? You can pick up another set for probably under $100 though and unless you have a really built FI motor or are trying to shift your power band up in the rpm's then just stick with the stock ones. Have your engine mounts inspected to see if that's the reason the headers cracked.

 

You can pick up a used set of factory headers for dirt cheap, check your local FS sites like Craigslist or even Facebook Marketplace. The factory headers actually flow really well, and the gains from aftermarket headers are very minimal. The only real gains you will see from a new header would be longtubes, but that may be out of your price range.

However, $1000 CAD is roughly $750 USD, and I'm not sure what the labor rate is for performance shops in your area, but down here in North Carolina that would EASILY cover the cost of some 'low-end' longtubes (like OBX) and the install cost of them.

Cheapest route would be used factory headers, most expensive would be longtubes.