Well thanks to this thread, I won't be looking at JBA's crap. I really hate it for you guys. Demand that they correct the error. Don't take No for an answer.
I'll be looking at Kooks and American Racing's setups.
I agree they should have paid for your shipping...maybe even compensated you somewhat for your loss. You should take that as a hint to go elsewhere. They don't seem too concerned in ensuring a good customer experience and repeat business.
While you have every right to expect it to fit without issue, you might have been wise to test fit before powdercoating. I know it's time consuming. But here you are, out big bucks and looking to try again. No guarantee the Kooks will be OK either. Every once in a while you run into a manufacturing defect. Test fitting is your protection.
You do expect stuff to fit, but that's no guarantee.
I called their tech support yesterday and said I got no return phone call. The guy didn't say anything in response.
I told him about the difficulty getting the passenger header in on the passenger side. He said these cars are a tight fit. I have an automatic. Well yeah, I know there's only just so much room, but the instructions aren't the greatest either. He said the warrantee covered poor fit, but told me I'd have to remove it, send it in, then reinstall it. Well, I don't want to spend over half a day doing the job. He told me to basically crowbar out the headers away from the frame. He made it sound standard to have to do this sort of thing with headers, and made it sound relatively easy- no it's not!. Heck, I'm no Arnold, I work in an office. So I'll either need a longer crowbar, or I'll have to get an acetylene torch and have to heat and bend.
Bottom line- buy another brand.
An aside: I have H-pipes with high flow catalytics. I had to put the stock mufflers back on; the FlowMasters were just too loud. The volume really picked up after installing the headers, and the sound is good. The performance is good on the JBA's, but the fit is frustrating.
JBA
Raise 10 kinds of HELL!!! They keep doing business like this...they will not be around much longer.
If I decide to go with headers.....which is doubtful... because they are too much trouble for so little benefit. It will not be jba!