Just wanting some opinions. I'm thinking about purchasing some headers from ZZP, but they are twice the price of the PEMs. Are they really worth the price, or will the manifolds be the better alternative?

Headers will give a much better flow, choose the headers if you plan getting serious about mods.

One thing I have heard is that if you plan on running sub 13'*, get headers. Otherwise PEM'* will flow sufficiently.

headers probably wont help you much unless your pushing some serious hp. from what I have read anyways. You might gain some top end and lose some bottom end.

Ported mani'* are good into 10s (setup dependent of course).

If your staying */Ced ported mani'* will be ok into the high 12s. I'm running ported mani'* mani'* on my 2nd GTP and will be running 12.6s or so.
My other GTP has TOGs, and will be in the high 11s. Both */Ced (one with a Gen 5).

I know the bonne'* are heavier, but here is just some info from from a 3600lb car(*).

Good Luck.

Yeah I agree as stated. Now for my opinion: Do roller rockers first.

The biggest problem with modding an SSEi (at least the 2000+) is getting rid of KR. The PCM is so invasive that it seems to pull timing at the slightest problem and TM is introduced as KR so its hard to know whats real and what isn't. I constantly battled KR and really only got rid of it after I did headers, cam and extensive PCM work although in the cars defense every time I got close to getting rid of it I added a new mod .

You can get all the air you want into the motor to make power but if you cant get the hot exhaust out quick enough you bottleneck, boost stack, and heat soak the motor leading to a greater likelyhood of KR and hurting the motor. I would say the typical mod path would go something like this:

3.4 pulley
rockers
3.3 pulley
headers
3.2-3.1 pulley
cam
injectors
2.9-3.0 pulley
heads (or intercooler)
2.7-2.8
heads (or intercooler)
2.6 + timing

some people skip the rockers and go straight for the cam but you definately want to be able to get the air out that the cam is processing.

Before I did the cam and other stuff, I installed TOG headers and to this day I still think it was one of the best mods.

Cheers,

I my TOG'*.

In reality you need to just look at how fast you want to go. Headers are a great mod, they provide a very nice (and very noticable) gain. However, as you've already seen, they are also a bit pricey and depending on your goals for your car, might be overkill. I've seen plenty of GTP'* hit high 12'* with stock manifolds, while those cars are lighter and have a few advantages that would still put a Bonnie in the 13.3 range or so. I would say that if you're looking to go 13.5 or quicker, headers are a no brainer. If you're just looking for high 13'*/low 14'*, then ported manifolds or stock manifolds are the way to go.

What are your goals for the car?

Shawn