First time builder problems. You don't know what you don't know, until you do. I ordered a base kit with J pipes for a SBF, but planned on ordering GasN headers to use with the factory side pipes, at least initially. I assumed (foolishly) that all the side pipes bolted up to the headers the same way. As I recently discovered, this is not the case. So I currently have GasN long tube headers with a 4 bolt collector, but FFR side pipes with the ball flange and 3 bolt clamp, and no way to connect the two. So I am weighing various options.

Obviously I could go ahead and order the GasN side pipes. I'd welcome input from others who have this setup on their Gen3/SBF. I read one post that said they had to add spacers on the passenger side of the header for alignment. Has anyone else experienced this? Also, there seems to be issues with the ball joint clamp not holding enough torque to keep the pipes from sagging. Are there solutions other than a few tack welds to solve this? Sourcing a smaller clamp that doesn't bottom perhaps? Proper sealing at the ball joint will be important due to the WB O2 downstream of it. Also, just looking at the way the GasN exhaust pipe design bolts to the header collector, they appear to be blocking off a massive area. That has got to seriously kill some HP, at least by the look of it.

If I ordered the FFR long tube headers, would my existing factory exhaust pipes that came with the kit fit, or do they only work with shorty headers and J-pipe adapters? Again, just by the eyeball method, the FFR pipes look like a better design in terms of exhaust flow, as the round collector goes into the two pipes without any flat flange. Then there is the noise issue, as there seems to be a consensus that the factory pipes are way loud.

Any other pros/cons to a complete FFR long tube setup VS the GasN?

Right now as I see it my options are to either order headers from FFR to fit the pipes I have (maybe?) OR order pipes from GasN to fit the headers I have. Or maybe a third option, which is find a local exhaust shop capable of modifying my factory side pipes to bolt to the GasN collectors.