My OBX went on totally fine. No fitament issues whatsoever.

Warning....rant....

What's up with all this OBX bashing? Right now I am enjoying my OBX. If mine break in 2 years, I still feel I got what I paid for. Personally, I could never justify paying $1200 for a simple mod like that. I am not being cheap. If Quality really mattered (i.e. major engine/suspension damage is the mod broke), then I would pay the extra dough. All this is, is an exhaust manifold. To each his own though. You don't see me bashing Comptech header owners saying they overpaid just for the name, etc....

 

I think thats why they are bashing, because of jealousy. We paid 350, they paid 1000-1200 for theres.

They think more expensive is always better. Not always, but in this case, its only a smidget better.

 

Hello all, concerning fitment issues...et al

I centered an O.E.M. J32A2 exhaust manifold gasket over the OBX header flange and the stud mount holes are pretty damn close... my 01-02 Helms says the head studs are 8mm and all 5 holes in the OBX flange are > than that and seem to clear ...the OEM gasket holes are 9.2mm and just to be sure I used a reamer, not a drill bit, to open the header flange hole to match.

The port match is another issue since the OBX are for Accord engines. I've radiused the inside edge of the flange to match the runners but am undecided whether or not to do the same for the mainfold-to-header flange mating side to match the OEM gasket. You can't cut too much, because the bottom side would get into the weld... a radius cut to blend???????????

 

Please be careful how you state things because almost everything comes back to bite you. I haven't made a statement on this issue but if I did it would hardly be in a jealousy aspect.

OBX doesn't make headers for the 6-Speed so it is not an option for me. They don't make headers for CARB required vehicles which isn't a requirement for most. However, Comptech does cover these two issues and does not raise prices for this. Obviously this means nothing when you save a significant amount of money and I can't disagree.

The question I ask is would these headers be available from OBX if Comptech hadn't taken the time to design them?? The answer is obvious but lends to the next question, do you buy the Phillips or Emerson DVD player?? Emerson makes fine products but hardly like the original...

Secondly, to put this crap to rest. I will pay to dyno and personally install both a set of Comptech and OBX headers on a single vehicle. I just need the set of OBX headers which I doubt will be forthcoming.

The reduced port size cannot increase power. The increased turbulence due to the step will not be helpful. However, I do feel there will be similar gains within 10% of the Comptech’s. The cost is attractive and is significant. But what has OBX brought to us so far other than copying existing products??

Please stifle the praise. They have copied and thus reduced the price on a PRODUCT DESIGNED FOR THE ACCORD. But haven’t provided anything else significant.

People have analyzed why Comptech’s cost what they do. In these same analyses some cost figures have been determined. These range from $300 - $500 in most cases. Ask yourself how OBX can sell a product to distributors which require a 10% - 20% margin and end up with a selling price of $350?? Even at a 10% margin that is still a selling to distributors at $315. OBX has to make a profit and most manufacturers require a margin of at least 30%. So this means that OBX makes them for $205 a set. Based on the costs of the indicated materials used they cannot achieve a cost point of $205 in material alone. Labor is still required along with machine time, jig set up, marketing, etc.

I would go as far to say that the advertised material is not what it is claimed based on this simple cost analysis. I might even be willing to have the material sampled if all OBX owners would pay me $50 if I am wrong. But of course this will not happen.

Many like to compare 4 cylinder Civic header prices to the CL-S header which is ignorant. Half the material and twice the market is hardly a comparison.

 

carguy:So you have headers?
me:yup
carguy:really? what kind?
me: COMPTECH headers
carguy: DUDE THAT IS DOPE. DONT THEY MAKE STUFF FOR THE NSX AND S2000?!?!?!?
me:Yeah they DO

sidemarker

 

i paid $0 for my headers, so no, i'm not feeling much jealousy


i just think it is ignorant of you to say the install/fitment is as good as comptech. i've never heard of anyone having issues with installing a new set of comptech headers.

as soon as people started recieving and installing their obx headers, we started hearing about the problems. not just once but over and over again. but of course not everyone has had problems.


headers are constructed of steel and welds, and the comptech materials and craftsmanship are far superior to obx. we have confirmed this as fact.

i'm not bashing obx, i hope the headers work out for you guys. but there are reasons that the ct headers cost more.

 

for the price $350 the OBX headers are worth each cent, fitment problems are minor and could be taken care of quickly... they do perform like Comptech... so Enjoy.

Now, if you have a 6ser or need CARB number for Cali... then you are forced to pay Comptech the full ticket.

 

To the guys with Comptech headers,
Have fun and enjoy the state of the art technology, first grade material and space qualified welding jobs. You guys paid for all that. Please leave us, the guys with less money, alone with our OBX headers. Some of us, including myself, did not even consider getting headers but got them because of the price. We are not all hardcord racers who throw out everything, including jack and tools, to save a pound or 2 at the drag strip. We just want a little extra power which is provided by the cheap knock-off OBX headers and we are happy. We do not make fun of you for paying Comptech's price so please do not make fun of what we get for $350. We agree that the cheap OBX headers have fitment and quality issues (I installed 2 sets, first one w/o problem, next one with problem) but we paid little for it so it's worthed the installation and exchange trouble. However, Comptech's first batches had issue also (I read a thread posted by a member who camped out overnite in front of Comptech to see the company and had his first batch defected headers replaced). Nobody made fun of them back then, why all the bashing start now?

To the guys with OBX headers,
Admit it, what you paid for is cheap and knock-off. The damned thing was not even designed for our car. We paid for it because it's cheap and it works. However, I do not think it works better than the original which was specifically designed for the car. Most of us, including myself, were blinded by Nashua_Night_Hawk's dyno result and forgot that he had a full set of UR pulleys. And admit it, the OBX has quality issue. As mentioned above, I installed 2 sets and experienced fitment with with 1 (the later, not the first installation). SilverBullet had headers that were partially welded. Some members had ceramic coat peeling off. You guys know there are problems but don't accept the fact that OBX has bad build quality. Why do we always bitch about Acura telling us the trannies are always on back order, yet they refuse to admit there are problems with the trannies. Hello???

Sorry for the long post but I hate to see members flame each other over nonsense stuff. Thank you for reading.

 

This is the nth time this OBX vs. Comptech issue has come up

I'd love to see Scalbert test each header in a scientific and controlled fashion. As for the fit issues -- who knows?

The quibbling could go on forever.

As a note, when you pull off older headers, the steel is going to go through a number of heat cycles. It can move around.

For those people without a 6-speed and CARB to deal with -- it makes for two options and a "backup" source/supply.

I wonder what would happen to this argument if one of the two suppliers had a problem: earthquake, strike, production problems, or other event that prevented production for an extended period of time. I wonder what the response would be then? (Think about gas prices and gas lines before flaming me too quickly.)

 

I KNOW comptech is better.. but i would buy comptech over OBX if i had that much $$ but too bad i dont so i went to OBX....i dont care if cracks on me in 2 or 3 years... cuz i m not planning to keep my car forever anywayz...

my obx SS fit alright.. some minor fitment problems but i didnt need to drill no holes or anything... just needed to work with the screws a lil bit.. OBX is worth $320 which was how much i paid... if the comptech was 500-600 then i would rather pay 200 more 2 to get comptech BUt the price is ridiculously HIGH $1200 for a header?? i can 4 set of OBX that would last me 10 years...personally if obx didnt come out w/their header.. i would never buy Comptech cuz the price is just too much for me.

 

Bigger is not always better in size of the exhaust manifold holes. The car might be breathing fine enough with the OBX to not notice any difference between the 2 cars on a dyno. One might gain a little more low end due to the smaller ports (which is back pressure which is good in most cases). Having no back pressure can also cause a loss in power in low end.

I will soon be dynoing my OBX. There is a GD dyno in the works locally with a VW club, I will be part of most likely. I will let everyone know when it happens.

 

'
OBX headers are CARB exempt, just not certified like Comptechs.

 

True, bigger is not always better but significant transitions in size is even worse. You never want it to step in size changes. Secondly you don't want the back pressure at the port; this is the point for highest velocity. As it cools it will slow so you don't want to start inches from the valve.

 

How so?? Do they give you a CARB number when you buy the headers?? If not, they are not CARB exempt...trust me...if a Smog place in CALI looks at your headers...and it doesn't have the CARB Cert. on the header...automatic fail...and referral to SMOG REF if they wanna be dicks.