Alright i've been doing research for the past couple hours digging into the threads and I can't seem to get a strait answer.

I am going to be installing my Meagan Headers soon and I am trying to decide what kind of tuning I need to do. My problem is no one seems to tune their cars, or at least talks about it, after they install the headers. Am I missing something or does this not need to be done? I mean i would think that with CAI and new Headers that a tune is the only way to get the true potential out of the mods.

So then my question to you all, is whats the difference between something like the APEXI NEO AFC and Greddy E-Manage? It seems that the Greddy is what i'm looking for because its a piggyback system to the ECU and holds the maps and tunes for whatever is being adjusted. But i see both being used and don't have enough know-how or knowledge about either system.

Any help would be great. Sorry so long, but I wanted to make sure there isn't any confusion about what I'm asking.

 

a tune will give u them most power out of the mods u have done, but its not necessary. only the greddy will hold the tune, its been said that the stock ecu overrides the neo (never happened to me, but i only used it when i sprayed). if i were u, id get more bolt ons and then tune it with everything on

 

Non-boost/nitrous bolt-ons don't require the aftermarket ECU and professional tuning. Be sure to disconnect the battery from the car, bolt your mods up, and let the engine warm up and settle into idle / get the thermostat open and what not before going out and seeing what you've done.

You'll see a nice benefit from a decent header.

Things to make sure you have:

Can of PB-Blaster
Impact wrench
Mechanics gloves
anti-seizing compound for the header bolts and reinserting the O2 sensor.
Good floor jack(s) and a jack stand
Lighting that attaches magnetically or doesnt require hands. That rear bank is a little tricky getting to everything
PATIENCE - it take a bit to get these apart and back together
Dremel with metal grinding bits - some headers and the front cross member don't play so nice together - you'll know pretty quickly.
Good set of metric rachets and wrenches, along with a short cheater bar for leverage in tight spots

You might gain a little bit more per bolt on mod with an aftermarket ECU tuned to your specific engine setup. As long as you let the computer learn the new flow characteristics - it's also going to take advantage. Save the dyno time and the ecu/tuning/cash for numerous modifications, and speficially for forced induction or nitrous setups which require such additions.

 

Yo what size shot did you spray your car with? Wet or dry? Also how did you retard the timing? Last did you put colder plugs in it? I have a wet kit with a fogger nozzle just sitting I would like to put it to use. Let me know

 

Alright, so the tuning isn't worth it with just the headers and cai? I mean how much of a difference would the tune make without anything else? I mean if I can only get another 10hp out of a tune, than i'd def rather save a few hundred for the next bolt on.

Yeah everyone mentioned disconnecting the batter while installing and I figured that was a no-brainer. I just wasn't sure if a tune was necessary after the headers. figured it would help to ge the most out of 'em. But if resetting things and letting the car get used to it is enough than I'll save the cash.

 

I wouldn't get a tune until you get a complete aftermarket exhaust from the headers.

Then you might benefit from a tune...just a little though...nothing significant.

But yeah...you need some more mods to make it worth the money.

Long story short...save your money.

 

I have personally gained 17whp with an apexi neo. All i had was headers and CAI. Also the guy tuning my car was very good at his job. Also about your nitrous question you can spay a 75 shot w/o having to retard timing and you will need one step colder plugs.

 

I am gonna get it tunned after i get headers...
so far I have Lightweight pulley / CAI / IM spacer and TB spacer and now Headers are last, then im DONE modding my car (i hope) so i will take it somewhere to get it tuned when Im done modding it.. Anyone where in North NJ i can get this done and about how much it cost to do a tunning?

 

http://www.av-engineered.com/site/

poke around that site so you can get a good idea what a quality tuning shop is all about. Tuning is expensive, so save up and get it done by a professional.

 

If you're not rocking an aftermarket ECU, then they're not going to be able to do much for you.

 

Alright, this def helped. So Then my big question is why do so many people do headers without any other major bolt ons? Does it sound different? Or is even the minimal power gain still worth the money? I guess I should look into exhaust for a decent power gain after the tune?

 

You want to get an exhaust before a tune...

 

Thats what I figured. Thats like the one mod i'm most picky about. I'm really picky about how i want it to sound. Would changing the exhaust by keeping the stock mufflers work?

 

The stock mufflers aren't bad.

You could go to an exhaust shop and have them run a custom 2.5" cat-back exhaust.

Would be cheaper than aftermarket and should still sound conservative.

The OEM mufflers are very quiet...you'd probably have a deeper tone but no "rasp"

Next, pick up one of these new upgraded Cats.

You would then have a pretty good free-flowing exhaust and get more out of your tune.

They're expensive (tuning) so you just want to do it once if you can.

 

Yeah that sounds perfect! I def want to keep it sounding conservative. I don't want it rasping or whining, or popping. I hate that shit! I mean its personal choice, i just don't like it at all. I didn't even know there were such thing as upgraded cats, haha. I'll have to look around for that. Any suggestions off hand?

 

Yeah they recently came up on here in the 2nd Gen CL...

Like yesterday or the day before...

EDIT: Here you go.

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-cl-2001-2003-50/xlr8-high-flow-cat-731673/

 

No shit? I'll have to look around. Black Market or Group Buys?

 

I edited my post...

 

Sweet, thanks!

 

When thinking about exhaust, remember do it right the first time. Custom mandrel bent exhaust, with a high flow cat and resonator to quiet it up.

 

Good advice! I'll have to go around and get some prices. Anyone have a custom setup done? Pricing?

 

I'm thinking like 300 range...

 

If u consider 15-25HP to the wheels is minimal then i want your bolt-on's.
There are many Dyno's out there where people got 25HP from JUST headers to the wheels.

 

I think you have "tuner Vision" 25whp from just headers? I seriously dout that.

 

Try right under 1k for the hi flow cat, resonator, custom mandrel bent piping, and then labor.

 

got 20whp from my first gen dc headers. got dyno sheets to prove it

 

I went to a hole in the wall shop. They linked up the hi flow cat, mandrel bent tubing, hi-flow resonator, and put the quad mag mufflers on. I spent less than 150 dollars for them to do the work. All of the aftermarket exhaust parts are the most costly things.

I hooked up the headers before I had all that work done.

But damn, the exhaust setup on my old CL sounded mean!

If I had to do it all over again, I'd do it the same way too.

 

I just never heard such big gains with headers on our cars, if you have the dyno sheets then it must be legit.

 

That def got me excited. I'd like to see that!

 

Having owned both a CL-P and a CL-S - the CL-P absolutely had substantial gains with the headers and nothing else. I did not notice this as much on the CL-S. Remember, these aren't D motored civics; a 5% - 10% gain on 230+hp cars is pretty substantial power improvement.

Everyone gets caught up with peak numbers too...sure maybe it gave you a peak gain of 20hp, but what did it do to your powerband from 2000rpm to 6000rpm over stock, you know, that part of driving where you're accelerating.

 

Searching 2 min i found i guy before after obx headers.

B4 191Hp-175TQ
After 226HP-191TQ

Thats OVER 30HP and there ARE many more in the 9 years this car was out that Type-s's neted over 20HP even more to the wheels from just headers!

 

Thats why I have been looking for some cheap good headers for the last 6 months!

 

^ not cheap, quality will pay off.

 

Well I got OBX of my boy who had them on his 2001 v6 accord.
I think he paid $300 for them on the OBX site they retail for like $500 but u can get them on ebay for $300 shipped. There not as good as comptech but there 1/3 the price u cant go wrong. I think it comptech are the best followed by DC (the new 3 bolt flange design) the OBX and Megan are prob one step better then the $100 E-bay headers!
Just make sure the megans are the new design with the 1 flex pipe cuz all the headers w/2 flex pipes make alot of resonance noise.
All the cheap E-bay ones have 2 flex pipes!

 

Well I def got a good deal on my Meagan Headers and I think it will be nice to have 'em on until I finish the custom turbo. I'll just sell 'em when I swap them for the new turbo manifold. Gettin quotes for it now! And custom exhaust!

 

What did u pay for your megans (if u dont mind me asking)
I was also leaning toward megans but the cheapest I found them was $270 shipped.. I was gonna order those or DC untill my boy gave me a deal on his 2001 accord V6 OBX headers!

 

I got them froma member on here on the BM. I think they were like 180 + shipping.