TacoCodeRed

Here is my install <--click me

What I took away from the whole thing:
The welds are clean and precise
DO NOT use the gaskets and hardware it comes with, they are garbage
I had to take out my rear motor mount to get the back header on
They sound great and you can notice the difference in driving in different RPM ranges

If you have the money for 'name brand' like Comptech then go for it but if not these are pretty much exactly the same and the only ones that will fit the 6 speeds without modification to the pipes.

All in all I say it was totally worth it, I love the way my car sounds with the XS/Borla setup. I have been slacking but videos will go up soon with and without rear mufflers (I havent put them back on because I like how it sounds too much)

Brandon Allen

Awesome thanks for the Feed back man, looks good. I will be ordering these very soon

mike7792

I just received my set of XS headers for the CL-S 6 speed.
pretty fast shipping considering I ordered on Mon September 9, 2013
it is here already.
They shipped out of China.
They are branded with the XS Power decal.
upon moving around the packing peanuts in the box I found stickers for XS power but also stickers for Relentless Tuning ... don't know what the heck that is.
I'll try and post pictures soon

The bend looks like crap though. It was cut and welded to create a "bend"

mike7792

Sorry for the huge pics.
as you can see, the bend was welded together....
Any feedback? I have no experience with headers and not 100% sure if these are indeed the "Correct" headers for the 6 speed

Karanx7

iTrader: (2)

Lol wtf they definitely cheaped out on that bend. They're charging almost $300 for the headers now, I don't understand why they cheaped out on it after all this time.

At least the rest of the it looks ok.

Brandon Allen

Can you post close up pics to the welds? And do you think they would need to be reinforced? Ive heard about the test pipe breaking shortly after installation. Also pics of the insides of possible thanks.

mike7792

If you go to the 1st page of this thread, Vaymoon posted pictures of the welds on his headers.

The welds on mine look pretty much the same. There are certain spots on the inside of the flanges that could probably be reinforced with more welding (there are parts of the flange with no welding on the inside)

I'm hoping mine fits properly. That bend looks sketchy as hell lol

03 tls nc

iTrader: (6)

Holly sh** the welds in place of the bend look terrible but I would be more concerned with the how it looks inside, cant go back and clean them up know. I think I might go a different direction and when it comes time to 6speed swap grind the mount. Thanks mike7792 for posting up some pics I hope they work out for you.

o0o0o0

iTrader: (1)

Did you install them mike7792?

Stephen Jackson

yeah mike those welds are sketchy...you should reinforce just for safety yanno? and probably coat them.

TheWeez

Price of raw materials is up substantially from what it was as is labor costs. Previously they were making very little profit on those things at the $89 shipped they were charging back when I bought mine.

I'm not saying the quality of these current ones is great, just that there are reasons they can be much more expensive now. Throw on top of that the fact that Comptech went after them. Gotta pay those legal fees.

03 tls nc

iTrader: (6)

How do they fit Mike? I hope they hold up for you

mike7792

I haven't installed them yet. I haven't had time.
I am seeing if I can get a friend to reinforce the welds before I do anything.
I am also trying to track down bolts to replace the ones that came with the headers. Not sure where to get them from

o0o0o0

iTrader: (1)

All good mike7792, yeah I heard those bolt that xs send are crap. I think people were getting bolts at home depot. I think I read grade 8 bolts, but I know nothing about bolts. Keep us updated after you install them.

XxXboboXxX

iTrader: (2)

figured id update this thread a little!! my first run of ssautochrome headers from prob 5-6 years ago finally cracked around the weld on the front set ( think a speed bump caused it) anyways figured since i had such a good run with them the first time around might as well order an updated set.

Ordered on the 9th.. got them today the 16th, shipped from china, upon quick inspection after unpacking, look alot sturdier and more beefy/better quality then the original set that are still on my car.. Also my rear header doesnt have the bend has the cut/weld like previously posted!

01CLinprocess

iTrader: (2)

Am I missing something, or does that read header have a cut and welded bend.....?

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

yes it does

03 tls nc

iTrader: (6)

XxXboboXxX or Mike can one of you look into the welded runner with a little and see what the weld looks like from the inside? If they did a good job matching the pics and did not over penetrate the welds then it really should not be a big deal. Look at all the long tube headers that have been made for the j series they all have weld in the runners. The biggest thing is that the diameter of the pipe does not shrink where the welded joints are. The guys at XS should really update the web site to show the current product it is misleading. Thank you guys for posting those pics, I would like to know how they perform let us know how it turns out.

mikebikelife

iTrader: (3)

mike7792

Sorry, what's a welded runner?

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

^ in the last pic the left runner has a bend welded in.......to clear the 6mt rear engine mount.

mike7792

ahh ok,
I've had a look and I can see the welds from the inside. There aren't any visible gaps in the welds around the joints.
I have no experience with welding so I am not sure what's "good" vs "bad".

The pics aren't very good as I am using my cellphone but you can kinda see the welds on the inside in the pics.




(Top "hole" is the one with the bend -> 2nd pic)

Karanx7

iTrader: (2)

That's really upsetting to see the cut and weld. Hopefully they still fit OK.

03 tls nc

iTrader: (6)

Thanks for the pics Mike the joint doesn't look to bad from the pics, but I would want to clean up the flange area though.

Brandon Allen

Just ordered a set, will update when they come in.

01CLinprocess

iTrader: (2)

This will be my next purchase, I'm impressed with how clean those welds are on the bend.

XxXboboXxX

iTrader: (2)

yea cant really get a good pic of the inside welds on the bend, but quality look good to me.. ill take a pic of the old ones when i get the chance to swap.. like i said i ran the first set for close to 5-6 years with zero problems, i believe they were something like $80-100 when they first popped up as well!! cant beat that bang for buck

Brandon Allen

Although these welds look good Im going to take mine to friend of mine in town and have him check out the welds and probably reinforce them just to be safe. Especially the flex pipe I have read about them breaking on here.

03 tls nc

iTrader: (6)

XxXboboXxX That would be awesome, I would be curious to know if you can tell a difference in performance when you switch.

mugen_kid

Where are you guys getting these headers for the CLS 6speed from?

01CLinprocess

iTrader: (2)

XS-Power or SSautochrome. Same company.

mugen_kid

Cool, thanks

03 tls nc

iTrader: (6)

I think SSautochrome went out of business or they were bought out, but hear is the link to XS

http://xs-power.com/acura-honda-nonturbo-headers-2.htm

mike7792

Question: I've got some exhaust wrap laying around and I'm about to install the headers soon. What part of the headers would you guys recommend that I wrap up?

03 tls nc

iTrader: (6)

Keep a couple things in mind when you heat wrap exhaust. It's main function is to keep heat in the pipe so the the exhaust can flow out of the engine faster = greater efficiency, so you want to start wrapping as close to the head as possible. Make sure that you wrap each runner the same way and for the same length because the heat wrap can change the air fuel ratio unevenly in the individual cylinders and our ECU's can't compensate that closely. You should at least do both upper collectors, where the three runners join will get tricky but if you wrap the first two runners down as far as you can go. Then at the bottom of the third runner wrap all the way around what you could not get with the first two. I would recommend coating the wrap before you install them it will help it last long, also use some SS pipe clams at each end they work way better then the little bands they give you. Hope this helps

Brandon Allen

So i got my headers in the mail the other day. (will post pics later) I have been debating on getting them ported and polished. Now that I have thought about it I probably won't port them because there is a chance it could weaken then... But I am pretty positive I am going to polish them before installing. Only things is I have never polished anything and don't know how but, sure I can find a video and figure it out. BTW they just like the one posted by others.
Any opinions?

o0o0o0

iTrader: (1)

No one has confirmed that the new style fits 6mt right?

Karanx7

iTrader: (2)

Haha, I guess that's true. It looks like it might just scrape by, but it might rub with a little engine movement?

Need someone who's using it to chime in. Definitely less clearance than the bend, but I hope they at least tested it.

Brandon Allen

I should be getting mine on before it gets to cold here in Kentucky. Anyone have any advise on whether or not I should polish the inside of them or not even worry about it?

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

i've heard of polishing heads, manifolds etc for better air flow in the engine, but not any part of the exhaust. I would just make sure there are no ridges or anything obstructing the air flow.