dustbuster4

OBX Headers came today (Sunday)!

Soooooo, I started installing them!

I knew they wouldn't fit, but I needed to see what's up so that I can customize them.

The headers fit fine. They bolted to the engine with no problem. However, the downpipe doesn't fit!

Looks like I need to have the pipe leading to the firewall-side header bent slightly.

I hope to get the pipe bent, and get everything back together on Monday.

It's hard work doing this job solo! I highly recommend that you get a helper before trying the install yourself.

The bitch is that I ran out of time before it got dark (plus I didn't want to put the stock exhaust manifold back on)! Sooooo, I can't go to work in the AM!!!!!!!!

I'll need to get a ride from someone as my CL now sounds like a freakin' NASCAR racer. Loud as HELL!


EDIT: Any suggestions on where I can get the downpipe bent?

niedejb

Any muffler shop should be able to help.

Nice to see someone else doing their own work and pioneering installs.

Good luck....it'll be worth it.


BTW....turbo kits downpipe didnt fit either...had to cut and install a 2 1/2" flex from autozone. Worked out great.

JLai

Screw custom. We just need to get on OBX's ass to bend the pipe straight out of the factory. I'm sure that little bend is worth the orders they will receive.

dajuice27

To the muffler shop we shall go in the AM. At the least, we'll fabricate a small portion just to make it work, but they will be installed and test driven tomorrow with the bottle!

SumkidwithaCL

why, if they are made for the car, are they not bent properly???

tw1112

They aren't made for our cars. They are made for the Accords..but that also means it fits for the new CL's. The 6spd owners are in the same boat, they don't fit their cars.

o snap its eric

bend it yourself. use a hammer and start hammering. same thing haha

Casper98CL

DUST... you do realize that bending the pipe from what it was to a new position may alter the air flow causing a loss of power and it may also weaken the metal of the downpipe... I WOULD BECAREFUL... good luck!

dustbuster4

Casper, I realize this, but the bent would only be about 1/2" (max.). If the piping wasn't so strong, I'd just do it myself.

However, it's better to get it done properly.

dustbuster4

I finished the header in stall today (many thanks to dajuice27 for his help)

I had the downpipe bent exactly one inch, and it fit.

I had to take apart the exhaust, segment by segment, in order to compensate for the slight "twist" created in the flange (at the end of the downpipe where it connects to the cat--due to the 1" custom bend).

Taking apart the exhaust, then reassembling it, made it possible to finally get the downpipe connected to the cat. As each segment was reassembled, it helped absorb some of the "twist". When all was completed, my tail pipes are pretty much in the same position as before I started.

Overall, I am pleased with the "do-it-yourself" aspect of the install, but I don't want to do it again. It's probably much easier to get someone else to do it (and they'll probably charge you extra for the custom aspects of the job).

I got the headers for just over $350.00, shipped. The cost of the custom bend was FREE! Cost of 2 gaskets (which I didn't have because I wasn't planning to disassemble my whole exhaust) was $3.00! For the local peeps, I can recommend the place to go and get your pipe bent (if you want).

As for the performance! WOW!

There is DEFINITELY an increase in torque. Felt it right away!

The HP increase is there!

But with Nitrous; WHOOOOAAAAA!

So far I am very pleased! I cant wait to hit the track and get my 13-second time slip!

[Pics will come Wednesday night. Fotki will be down until Wednesday afternoon.] :thumbsdn:

bryanz3.0cl

can you feel the gain in HP that much w/o the nitrous. are they worth the hassle?

KC CL 1785

I could take you!!!!
But that is noly if you didn't know that we were racing. LOL, it is good to know that you 3.0 guys can finally get some decent;y priced headers.

dustbuster4

YES!

Ask dajuice27! At one point, I floored it (dropped from D4 to D2 at about 35-40 mph) and it took off! We could really fell the HP and torque.


KC CL 1785: Yeah, spending $1200.00 for headers is outrageous. :thumbsdn:

moforose3.0

congrats rick, how long did the pipe end up taking to bend? I have a custom exhaust shop up here and would probably just get them to it and was wondering how much I can expect to pay. Did it make your exhaust any louder?

dustbuster4

Exhaust is MAYBE, a little louder.

Pipe took 5 minutes to bend (and they did it for free)!

dajuice27

This damn car is now officially possessed!

All I can say is that I WILL be getting some as soon as I arrange my funds to clear up the cash and install fee. Can you feel the power with and without the Nitrous - AB-SO-FUCKIN-LUTELY!!!!!

As soon as I come back from my trips to Atlanta, Los Angeles and Chicago theis month, I'll have my headers on. The OBX headers are worth the cost and the investment to have them properly installed. Far better cost efficiency ratio than the Comptech Headers.

I just want to witness the 13 second run for our 1st gen CL's!!!

DigiBox

Congrats!! Good to see that you took those headers and made them work. Good luck with the 1/4 mile!

niedejb

Very nice.

Yet another custom addition to the CL.

You gotta be proud...

Good luck at the track.

Adam3.0cl

So the headers worked after all!!! Good thing I didn't return mine yet.

Looks like I'll be going to an exhaust shop this weekend.

tw1112

Didja know the people to get the free bend? That's cool you got it working! Can't wait for the track slips. Make sure you take a run without the nitrous.

Nashua_Night_Hawk

sorry if I said, do not waste your time..it won't fit with a lot of patience and custom...it seems it is possible..

Good luck!

niedejb

I got a free bung welded on my downpipe today...guy was more interested in what I was doing than getting $'s.

dustbuster4

No problem!

I'm just happy that I got them to work!

With a little customization, the First Gen'ers now have an alternative.


niedejb: I got the same thing today at MIDAS. Even the manager was impressed with what we were doing! He's the one who said the pipe-bend was "gratis" (he even gave me a free gasket to fit the downpipe where it meets the cat--the one I got from the Acura dealer was wrong).

When we went back in the afternoon, he only charged me $3.00 for a new gasket that fits between the mid pipe and the axle-back pipe.


Adam3.0cl: Get a helper (or 2), and give yourself plenty of time (although it should go pretty smooth, since you've already had everything apart, once already). Good Luck!


tw1112: Yeah, I'm really curious what ET I'll run w/o N2O. I just need to find a track that's still open 'round here.

moforose3.0

when is capital raceway open til? I remember last year when we went it was pretty chilly out, it had to be late fall.

dustbuster4

I'm not sure when Capitol stops running the Friday night "Test and Tune". I checked their website, and found nothing.

http://www.capitolraceway.com/FridayTest-Tune.htm

shatooi

if i remember correctly, capital officially closes either when it's below a certain temp. or when the first fall of snow appears.....call and find out to make sure.

Congrats on the header install rick. you gotta take me for a ride in it

Jamz

Congrats on the long awaited headers......installed

I'm all tingly you got your new mod on after a couple shitty weeks for you

So the cams are next?

CLpower

congrats man, making me itching to maybe order these, even though i'm still pieceing out parts for sale

NOMAD

Whoa! Way to go Rick!
Let me know when you plan to hit the track and I'll try my best to make it!

You gonna do the cam install before hittin the track or get another baseline to see how much the headers added?

dustbuster4

I'm waiting to hear back from "monkey" who was getting the cam swap done. He said there was some delay, and I haven't heard from him in a week. I want to see if he was successful before trying it myself.

I'm not sure when I can hit the track. I've missed so much work, recently, that I may not get a Friday night off for several weeks (I work from 11:30 am to 8:30 pm in downtown, DC). I still may try to make a late run at Capitol, a week from this Friday.


I am very impressed with the torque increase since the headers were put on. There is virtually no "lag" after punching the accellerator. There's no hesitancy in power. I seem to have more even power throughout all RPMs, and really have power at the top end. There's a very happy camper here!

NOMAD

So would you say that the headers are the "best bang for the buck" mod then? Other than the Zex kit?

If you can feel the difference that much then you'll shurely be wearing a helmet when you're at Capitol.

Are you gonna go "balls out" and strip down the ride, or just take out speakers and spare again?

NOMAD

I'll take your word on the tourque thing. I trust it coming from a guy who has a Javelin chillin at home. You know more about tourque than I do with my Honda 4-banger!

dustbuster4

I will say that after the Zex, the headers have given me the most noticeable power increase!

I'll probably take out the speaker box, the spare tire, the jack, and put on the stock wheels. I'll also run with about 1/8 tanks of gas, and put in some 108 octane boost (like last time).

I'm really impressed with the torque! With most mods, although there may be an increase in HP/Torque on a dyno readout, it's sometimes difficult to "feel" the increase when driving. With these headers, there is NO doubt about the increase in power!

The CL may actually give the Javelin a good run!

JLai

I'm just curious...I know fuel is weight...Buttttttt

I feel like I get more power out of the CL when I have a full tank. I think it has to do with the fuel pressure. I def feel like the car isn't pulling as hard once it reaches the 1/4 tank mark. Maybe something to consider. I'm just saying this through how I "sense" my car is running through the past 5 years of owning it.

dustbuster4

Here's this pics that I took Monday night after the install. Nothing special, but pics all the same.

Front header.




Rear header.




Downpipe at cat.




Another view.




Necessary modification.

mikeonay

yah... dust is a savage!!!

JLai

Is that the only thing you have to do? Or didn't you say you had to readjust the rest of the exhaust or something?

dustbuster4

I disassembled the exhaust, section by section, to make installing the down pipe easier. Because of the custom pipe bend, there was a slight twist in the flange that connects to the rear header flange.

In a sense, the entire downpipe was slightly twisted which prohibited direct alignment with the cat. By unbolting the cat from the midpipe, I was able to bolt the cat to the downpipe with no difficulty. I then disconnected my axleback from the midpipe which made bolting the midpipe to the cat with no difficulty. I then reconnected the axleback to the midpipe with no difficulty, and everything lined up very well.

This process kept me from trying to "twist" the entire exhaust (from the cat, back) in order to bolt it to the downpipe. As each section was rebolted, it absorbed some of the "twist", which left my tailpipes pretty much in the same position.

Besides the time necessary to do this, the only extra expense was a new gasket to fit between the midpipe and the axleback pipe ($3.00)

This custom job was a lot of work, but for $357.20 (headers, shipped) + gasket ($3.00) + lunch for dajuice27 (less than $10.00 ) = Headers installed for less than $370.00!!!!!

dustbuster4

Folks,

Keep in mind that I've done 2 more OBX header installs and did NOT need to disassemble the exhast, piece by piece, in order to bolt the downpipe to the cat.

A trick to making the install much smoother is to put the headers on the engine studs, and put the nuts on hand tight ONLY. Then bolt the headers to the downpipe, but only hand tighten the nuts.

Then connect the downpipe to the cat (aligning the rear flange over the cat's studs) and hand tightening the nuts.

One eveything has been connected, then torque everything to spec.

By leaving all of the nuts somewhat loose, it gives you some "play" as you connect each piece to one another.

I didn't do as I described above, and it made the process much more difficult.

jorgev

u should have driven that beast with open headers... hahahaha