**UPDATE** - DT has made right - Buyer Beware - Doug Thorley Headers

[Marfy]

**Update** Mike with Doug Thorley has responded to the issue presented. The cliff notes is that they have made this right. Please review post #160 for more details. While I feel this is whole heartedly the right thing to do, I am extremely happy that as a company, Doug Thorley Headers agrees, and is standing behind their products.

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Hi everyone,

Just wanted to share my experience with Doug Thorley headers with you all.

I’ve had these for two years now and have attached pictures for reference. The air injection tubes are already badly rusted while the headers themselves look fine.

I contacted Doug Thorley. Their first reaction was that same rust is normal around the flange and air injection tubes are these are made from mild steel. This seems strange considering that is no where to be found on the website product page. It only talks of stainless steel. False advertising...?

I sent them pictures and they indicated that “unfortunately is some heavy build up”. And very quickly indicated that isn’t covered by the warranty.

I completely disagree and they clearly cut corners with their “stainless steel” headers by using subpar material for the air injection tubes.

The last offer was for me to pay to remove them from my vehicle, they would pay to courier them and have them recoated and sent back, then I would need to pay to have them reinstalled.

As all of you know, it is not cheap to get these installed. So, that’s not really acceptable.

Moral of the story, buyer beware. Jason Burtman - you might want to tone down your claims of how long these will last in comparison to originals!

 

[Marfy]

Picture two...

 

[AuSeeker]

Might I suggest that you put a @ symbol in front of Jason's name and also check and make sure his name is spelled exactly as it is on his profile so he gets notified and sees this topic!!

Also I will mention that this shouldn't be an issue on earlier 2003/2004 V8s without the tubes, but I whole heartedly agree that it's false advertising if the tubes aren't also stainless steel!!

Edit: I figured I would mention [MENTION=9]Jason B[/MENTION] so it will notify him of this topic.

 

[Marfy]

Might I suggest that you put a @ symbol in front of Jason's name and also check and make sure his name is spelled exactly as it is on his profile so he gets notified and sees this topic!!

Also I will mention that this shouldn't be an issue on earlier 2003/2004 V8s without the tubes, but I whole heartedly agree that it's false advertising if the tubes aren't also stainless steel!!

He will see it based on the title. And ya, why on earth would they stick some reg steel on them.

 

[AuSeeker]

I edited my post above and mentioned him just to help get his attention.

 

[Marfy]

I edited my post above and mentioned him just to help get his attention.

Thanks. I went to figure out how to, so again thank you

 

[Ida4runner]

What state do you live in? was this possibly from road salt? too bad

 

[Marfy]

What state do you live in? was this possibly from road salt? too bad

Missing the point. Look at the header tube, they are fine. These are advertised as stainless steel. If I sell you a neck less and say it’s made of gold, would you expect a third of it to be made of steel?

 

[Inv4drZm]

That's pretty lame. Wonder why they went with carbon steel? Can't be that much cheaper.

 

[Marfy]

That's pretty lame. Wonder why they went with carbon steel? Can't be that much cheaper.

Yes, I was shocked. I hadn’t been in there for a while and prob that it was some other component. Then when I realized I was like whoa! Not to mention they claim a lifetime warranty, but literally jumped at the opportunity to tell me that rust is not covered.

I’m not the only one that has purchased these and assume there are going to be many more angry people...

 

[ac1617]

Yikes that's quite the contrast between the header tubes and injection tube. Not sure what Jason can do as he's just a reseller and not the manufacturer.

 

[Marfy]

I just checked and the 5th gens have the same air injection tube. I assume it’s the same material. They are going to have even more angry people in a couple years...

If you have a 4th gen or 5th gen. Check it out if it’s been installed for a couple years. Report back.

 

[Marfy]

Yikes that's quite the contrast between the header tubes and injection tube. Not sure what Jason can do as he's just a reseller and not the manufacturer.

Nothing to do with Jason. He wouldn’t have known. I’m just saying he might want to tone it down as he sells them pretty hard.

 

[AuSeeker]

I just checked and the 5th gens have the same air injection tube. I assume it’s the same material. They are going to have even more angry people in a couple years...

If you have a 4th gen or 5th gen. Check it out if it’s been installed for a couple years. Report back.

The 5th Gens don't have a V8 so it won't be an issue for those.

Edit: I just checked and they do make headers for the 5th Gen V6s so I guess it will be an issue.

 

[Marfy]

The 5th Gens don't have a V8 so it won't be an issue for those.

Edit: I just checked and they do make headers for the 5th Gen V6s so I guess it will be an issue.

Look at the design, it’s got the same tube running between cylinders. You think Doug Thorley used a different material? I highly doubt it.

 

[AuSeeker]

Look at the design, it’s got the same tube running between cylinders. You think Doug Thorley used a different material? I highly doubt it.

I would think they make them all the same.

 

[Terminator03]

That is shitty, but I’m not surprised because on mine which are the ‘04 model with no air tubes (luckily), I was noticing the other day that their logo plate is almost rusted right off mine! It looks terrible because it’s in plain view, but as long as they don’t start leaking because of it, I’ll just remove the tag(s) completely. I just don’t get why they’d skimp at the finish line like that, when the cost difference is so minimal material-wise, especially at their price point!

 

[blackoutt]

I'll have to post some pictures of mine, I don't think they're quite as bad as yours but they certainly are not clean and rust free. They've been installed for 2.5 years. I'm not happy with their appearance either but from other's reviews of the coating and durability these complaints have always been around and from what I've read DT has never stepped up to make it better. I installed them myself and would take them back off to have them recoated if DT wants to pay shipping and coat my downpipes/flanges too since obviously I won't cut them off to get rewelded.

 

[Marfy]

That is shitty, but I’m not surprised because on mine which are the ‘04 model with no air tubes (luckily), I was noticing the other day that their logo plate is almost rusted right off mine! It looks terrible because it’s in plain view, but as long as they don’t start leaking because of it, I’ll just remove the tag(s) completely. I just don’t get why they’d skimp at the finish line like that, when the cost difference is so minimal material-wise, especially at their price point!

I completely agree. Their logo is definitely about to fall off mine too. Maybe they is by design though. They don’t want anyone to remember where the rust pipe came from...

 

[Formidable]

Wow that sucks! ! Before I bought my long tubes I inquired DT to make a one off in full 304 stainless knowing that their flanges and air tubes are mild steel. DT skipped the 304 to save on cost, (primarily labor for mig vs tig welds), and reassured me the flanges and tubes are thoroughly coated. I was willing to pay extra to have the entire set done in 304 stainless and left uncoated, similar to the JBA 304 stainless series for other applications, (same exact parent company Pertronix BTW). Nope. Pertronix not interested.

Based on their claims on how these headers are thoroughly coated, I now have a set of DT long tubes ready to go in, but there are many imperfections in the coating. The air tubes are not coated through and through. So... like my TRD headers for my 3.4L I contacted performance coatings to redo these in 2000 degree satin grey ice. The coating will only last so long however.

Hopefully Pertronix is listening. You guys need to make the entire set out of tig welded 304 stainless. This is an embarrassment you knew was coming.