im gonna install an aftermarket header on my 2.2l...if anyone has done this and has tips or things to look out for lemme know, i tried searching but the search function isnt working. im going into this blindfolded with the help of a friend who says we can do it but any firsthand insight you guys can give from your own experience will be a big help..ie how long it will take, what needs to be removed to access the work area, overall how hard/easy a task it is....

 

went and did it today, but the plate that connects the new header to the cat converter (with the two spring bolts) does not line up and we couldn't manually maneuver it to line up long enough to get the bolts in place, the bolt holes are about an inch out of line... so my car sounds like a beast and runs like a golf cart until tomorrow when the shops are open..unless yall can help??

 

The spring bolts were a complete pain in the ass for me as well, the rattling was horrendous at low rpms with heavy resonation. My advice to you is to just get it welded, that's what I did.

 

will do thanks... lesson learned: dont fuck with your engine on sundays

 

just left the muffler shop. they had to cut the bottom half section of the new header and weld on sleeves to make up for the extra length to reach the converter, also had to torque it slightly so the flange would sit flush; overall i do not recommend buying a header that you havent read reviews about saying it will fit perfectly; the extra work to get it to fit cost $150, the header itself was $65 shipped (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=270314401041) ...on the plus side, i got rid of the stock piping and upgraded to 2.25" all the way back. so i saved $150 by putting the header on myself, but ended up spending it anyway to get the damn thing to fit properly

 

Wow, this is why my car is going to the exhaust shop when it's warm out, glad you got it fixed dylan