I know there is a difference between auto and manual headers (the bend on the rear? exhaust manifold to clear the engine mount)

Though I am a ghetto cheap guy, and i noticed on ebay that there are headers for 100 bucks, but they will only fit the auto. XS headers are 260 shipped, direct fit, but too rich for my ghetto blood.

Would there be any fitment issues (besides the bend causing the rear manifold to not fit?)
I was wondering if i order them, would the headers bolt up to the stock rear manifold? (or would it defeat the purpose of buying the headers?)

Also, would an exhaust shop be able to mandrel bend the header to clear the engine mount? (or would it degrade the metal , or possibly warp it and ruin it, destroy etc)

100 sounds nice over 260 for some headers.


As for the exhaust restriction question,
Would removing the mid muffler be less restrictive than removing the dual axlebacks? (i have removed the axle backs before and liked the sound, not sure if i noticed a difference though besides 2nd spinning much longer)
Or would removing the 2 axle backs be less restrictive?

and one more question popped in my mind, in conjunction w/ new headers, would stock piping diameter be sufficient? Or would a bigger size will produce better gains? Please post best size ..

ok now another one popped up lol
If increased exhaust diameter increases gains, would opening up from the end of the mid muffler to the axle mufflers increase power?

or would i have to open up the exhaust from the end of the cat to see the best gains?


OR SHOULD I JUST GET HEADERS, LEAVE EXHAUST INTACT (OR REMOVE AXLE BACKS) AND CALL IT A DAY?!?!




thank you all for bearing with me, first manual car and loving it and want to make the best of it.

GOING TO SIX FLAGS IN 7 HOURS , NEVER RODE A ROLLER COASTER FML AND FIRST RIDE I HAVE TO GET ON IS THE X2 OR TATSU I'M SCARED GG WISH ME LUCK HOPEFULLY IT JUST FEELS LIKE HITTING VTEC goo dnight

 

I don't think you should mod your car.

 

9/10 times , you get what you pay for . Just remember that .

 

What the hell did I just read???!!!

 

I bought the XS headers from SSAutochrome and they ripped me off and sent me pretty much an identical header to what you get on Ebay. If that's what you want, get it. It didn't have a bend, no XS badge, had 2 flexpipes. I battled with them through paypal and was awarded a refund but paid for return shipping. I doubt a shop will be able to bend your exhaust manifold pipe and not cause damage to the product, and they'll likely charge you a lot of money if they could do it.
My understanding of the exhaust system for these cars is that they are already made very efficiently. What I've learned through reading some of these posts is that headers are good, an exhaust will add some hp but mostly it changes the sound. If you're looking for power, wait for the thread on the EQUAL LENGTH HEADERS to turn up a product. But you have to understand that car modding takes $$$, if you only stick to cheap crappy aftermarket products, you will end up with a laughable car. This car isn't a Honda Civic where there are a boatload of vendors willing to produce aftermarket products.
Taking into account your statements, I'd say you should wait for the word on the "Equal length headers" thread, and maybe a High Flow Cat. I see you're in California, so you have very strict emissions requirements. Karanx's advice will probably suit you also, just don't do anything to it, it costs money, time, and can lead to other issues requiring $$$.
To keep it simple, I would suggest Cold Air Intake, UR Lightweight Pulleys (EXCELERATE just posted about a discounted preorder, $180 for the crank pulley that is lighter and frees up HP is a great mod and I love it). Keep an eye on your engine mounts, and regularly change your oil and air filters to get the best life out of your CL-S 6 speed.
PS - Don't post on here when you're having an ADHD lapse, some of these members are bullies and will do anything to clown on you if you're not making sense. Hope you had fun at Six Flags.

 

Do some homework bro. There's a ton of info on here if you search. My XS headers cracked in multiply spots within a short time so I went with the CT ones. Would have saved me time, money & trouble if I went with the CTs in the first place. You get what you pay for in terms of headers for the CL.

 

Another thing to consider since your in CA you might want to get CARB legal headers so and a different intake unless you plan to take them off everytime you get a Smog check because the Ebay headers aren't CARB legal and neither is the G-take you made.

As others have said you get what you pay for and you might think initially your saving money by being cheap but it will cost you more in the long run but you live and learn.

 

what has been read cannot be unread

 

Thanks for the suggestions, yes i have read that the exhaust is pretty efficient, but i have seen many a dyno on here that adding headers increases some power (10+ whp), usually when i see those dynos they usually have a different exhaust such as magnaflow or comptech.

I'm not worried about smog in CA, it's as simple as putting the stock parts back on , had to do that many times with my old integra. I even had a jdm b18, and they didn't notice it was missing a 1 after the b, i was barely passing though due to that it is japanese.

But yeah, i'm getting turned off by the XS headers from what everyone is saying even though there was a thread/poll that about 80 out of 100 didn't really have any problems (maybe they have degraded over time as i have seen threads back to 07)
i've owned ebay headers before and never had any problems for a couple of years (b18b1 headers), though i'd yet to comment about headers for the CL.

I'll be searching for those equal length headers! Sounds interesting, i noticed that the stock exhaust and headers have that j-turn and i wonder how it would be having equal lengths coming from the 2 exhaust manifolds, rather than a Jturn/ jtwist

As for a CAI i have a Gtake (ghettointake) i have made and it works perfectly, no problems :0

I'm going to upgrade the pulleys as soon as a change out the timing belt and adjust the valves. That's far from now, I have read another thread...... WITH A REVIEW OF THE CHEAP PULLEY SET BY RAZCO or something they had no problems lol 130 FOR POWER STEERING PULLEY, CRANK PULLEY, AND A/C PULLEY
CHEAP FTW!

 

Reminds me.. of a time when i decided to buy cheap no name gin "oregon springs"

NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks for the info of XS headers, i've seen bad ones and good ones, now i'm seeing more bad reviews,
as for cracks i have access to welding equipment (2000 watt mig/tig combo) and know many people who weld

1000 for some headers makes my stomach churn though,
comptech has been known for their quality.

 

I feel ya, sucks here in cali, i owned a gmc suburban all stock and it would BARELY pass.

I'm cheap so i usually stick to putting stock parts back on before smogging, so i'm not worried about carb exempt stuff.

I feel ya, but 1000+ for comptech headers seems out of my head for me if i can get ebay headers for under 200, and reinforce the welds for free or little cost then i am happy with saving that much money

 

You are right, THE CAR SHALL MOD ME by increasing my shifting skills

 

Thanks all for the responses, internet has been like finding gold as i have just moved out from my house. Hopefully ATT comes and installs soon so i don't have to go to my family's house or school just to use the internet.

CHEAP 4 LIFE (or until i have a stable career)

 

Headers Will Add More Like 25 Whp I Believe

 

Lol I like this guy.

You will see way more than 10whp if you get headers. It's realistically 20whp, but possibly up to 30whp depending on your other mods.

That poll saying XS headers were alright was REALLY old. They stopped making those decent headers (CT copies), and now they just sell the shitty eBay headers for $300.

 

Yeah, it's certainly more give than take, which appealed to me since adding a comptech supercharger advertised 50whp
about 30 just for cheaper than the supercharger soounds nice!

Yeah alot of the dynos also have the pr spacer/pulley/ muffler combo in conjunction with the headers.


Yeah i noticed the year it was made xD
heard that they got bought out by chinese company and started producing crap quality "4 good price 4 you"

 

But yeah thanks again everyone, so far i will be getting cheap @$$ headers as long as it has the bend. As for the rest of the exhaust i will leave it stock or remove the axlebacks (i like the sound , but not for highway cruises)

FUTURE: CHEAP PULLEYS, POSSIBLE HOME MADE MADE FROM PICKLE JAR LIDS, DIY THROTTLE BODY SPACER MADE FROM 5 INCH THICK CUTTING BOARD MATERIAL,
AND DIY LIGHT WEIGHT RIMS MADE FROM CARBON FIBER

THANKS ALL!

 

 

Like

 

I see what you did thar