Greetings:

I just recently brought xs headers from a member here, and they are being installed soon. After reading the xs owner's thread I have some questions that I hope you fellow AZiner's can chime in on:

What do you recommend for the install:

I already have the upgraded nuts and bolts

The gaskets that came with the xs headers should they be replaced or should
something else

Any other suggestions would be helpful:

I did not want to post in the xs owner's thread about these questions, since I don't have it installed, just want the xs headers install to go smoothly.

Thanks again.

Oh btw the headers are new, and they are being installed on an 03 cl - p.

 

sent pm

 

If you already have new bolts to replace the ones that come with it then just get new gaskets from your Acura dealer and you should be set. May want to get some exhaust wrap to wrap the flexpipe if you get resonance.

 

let me know...im going to install my new xs headers into my cls6 soon.....not sure what i need i just have everything that came with the box..

 

So far heres my list:

Upgraded nuts and bolts ( check)
Stock OEM gaskets (the ones that come with xs headers are crap)
Thanks to 02CLNOS for your suggestions

Any others ???? Keep it coming

 

looks like you got everything under control. all you need now is a good nights rest (you're gonna need the strength) and a good stretch (to get to the hard to get bolts) before you tackle this diy. good luck

 

Hit the bolts with some Liquid Wrench a day or two before and then again a while before you start the day of the install. It'll make it much easier to get everything apart.

 

I have XS power headers on my car, but they got cracked somehow, had them welded. Best thing to do is either get OEM gaskets, or OEM aftermarket gaskets. Since you already got the bolts and nuts upgraded, you seem pretty good to go. The only thing I recommend is using a torch or days of Liquid Wrench or PB Blaster on where the flex pipe meets the Cat. Those bolts were a PITB for me. Also, I used some liquid gasket maker, high temp type of course, inbetween the headers, gasket, and motor, just to be sure I didn't get any leaks what so ever. Other then the extra precautions, your pretty much good to go. Oh I also suggest gloves for getting the rear header off and on. I cut up my hands pretty bad, and it was super cold, which didn't help at all. Anyways, good luck with the install, and drink plenty of milk, you will need the strength, haha.

 

no need to replace the manifold gaskets, they can be reused.

dont tighten every thing up at once. Install the manifold pieces loose first, then install the Y pipe loose making sure everything is lining up and fits in the hanger. then start tightening things up starting with the Y then moving up to the manifold pieces.

 

I'm with theweez on this one. Wrapping the headers from top to bottom seems to eliminate the resonance that some have complained of but it also improves the heat retention of the headers which in turn allows the exhaust gasses to exit more rapidly (better flow). It also keeps the heat down in the engine bay.

2 rolls of 25'x1" should cover both headers and the downpipe over the flex pipe and right to the cat.

 

I heard somewhere that using heat wrap on aftermarket headers can cause the welds to heat up and warp. Any truth to this?

 

I'd only wrap the flex pipe and only do it if you have resonance.

 

Yes some dont recommend it. One member on the TL side had his ceramic coated and they turned out really nice.

Also those that wrap the flex pipe to get rid of resonance should just buy a new and Better flex pipe and have it welded in to replace the one that came on it.

 

JetCoating would be cool too. I agree that the flex pipe should ideally be replaced if it's causing noise but exhaust wrap is a cheap solution.

 

I've had mine on for about a year with no issues.

 

Keep looking to order mine but SSAutoChrome won't fix their secure certificate so transactions aren't secure when ordering. Emailed them about it but got no response 2 weeks ago.

 

I'm gettin the M10 bolts today. Do you guys know if the gaskets that came with my headers are good? Or should I go to Acura and use those?

 

Gaskets that come with the headers are junk. Get new ones from Acura.

 

Right on....will probably wait till tomorrow and just go get everything

 

I'm hearing different things...Some people say its okay to reuse the gaskets on the car when installing the headers, some people are saying you should buy new OEM gaskets. Already the gaskets that came with the xs headers are crap, should somebody please explain...thanks

 

Wait. which gaskets are you guys talking about. the manifold to header? or the the header to exhaust?

 

manifold to header... its better knowing that you have new oem ones in their than to rick the chance of a leak/ rust from the ones provided. yeah know...

 

yea i figured that so for the pipe to exhaust its safe to use the ones that came with the headers?

 

The gasket from the header to pipe should be replaced with a new one from Acura. Don't use the one that came with the headers. For the header to the block I would suggest you buy the gaskets from Acura but don't install them unless the original ones leak when you install the headers as they cost a bit more. Return them if you don't need them but I'd have them around in the event that the old ones leak. Don't use any of the hardware or gaskets that come with the headers.

 

ok thanks

 

So I had excessive resonance coming from my flex pipe. I mean it was just loud! So I did the header wrap on only the flex pipe and it sounds like stock again. I am so happy If you get too much noise from your set of xs the header wrap will do the trick.

 

Thanks everybody for all your suggestions....I will be installing them as I finish finals

 

hello,
i didnt want to start a new thread as i see there are like 4 different ongoing threads regarding these headers and figured this thread has the most relevance to my questions and insight...so here we go...

i just recieved my xs power headers today and want to know how in the hell did u, or anyone for that matter, get the oem compression seal to fit in the A pipe? these pictures were taking with my cell phone so bare with me and look....

here we see the compression seal supplied by xs power and the oem compression seal i bough from acura...


this is the supplied compression seal in the a pipe...
this is oem compression seal trying to be fit in the a pipe...notice the oem compression seal just sits on top with no way of getting it to go... here is another view...


i went to an exhaust shop and asked for some help and to buy some compression seals from them... i showed them both seals and brought the a-pipe with me.. they said the the that compression seals that came with the headers would work just fine...but i would still like to see what the guru's on this site have to say about this and maybe see if there is a trick to forcing the compression seals on the a-pipe...

for the manifold gasket however i agree and i seriously recommend buying some oem replacements from acura... why you ask? we'll let the pictures do the talking...


here we see the supplied manifold gasket, already beginning to rust(the black looking spots are the rust), and the oem gaskets i bought from acura... but look closely to what this supplied xs power gasket is made of...

it is made of some recycled cardboard cereal (i suspect) box with just a metallic finish on either side...


also i bought 3 replacement bolts and 9 nuts from the acura dealership. the 3 bolts i bought are the ones that go from the a pipe to the cat... all i need to do now is find me 6 bolts to connect the manifolds to the a pipe and i think ill be ready to install these bad boys!

i also had another question... does anyone happen to have the instructions from comptech (or a service manual) with an efficient way on how to take out the the existing exhaust manifold and A pipe? i tried searching and found a link to comptech's website but the link was dead thanks in advance!

 

i couldnt torque alot of the bolts with my torque wrench. especially where the headers meet the a pipe :\ did anyone else have to cut the hanger where the vibration mount is? my hanger had a pointy end that prevented me from taking it out of the mount so i just took the whole vibration mount off and hacksawed the pointy part off so i could take the a pipe off. now my problem is my vibration mount isnt correctly lined up so i have to figure out a way to move it back into position...not fun. i thinki have an exhaust leak somewhere since i couldnt torque anything but the cat and im smelling a little bit of exhaust when im stopped at a light. im guessing instead of taking everything off again id rather just take it to midas or something when i have time maybe it would have been better to reuse the self tapping screw setup the exhaust manifold to a pipe had going on

 

Just got my headers installed, it went very smoothly, the only thing is that the check engine light is now on....first thought was the 02 sensors, but they were never touched during the installation...any insight?

 

Bumping it...anybody have an idea? (refer to previous post)

 

Well first of all I want everybody that replied to my thread and gave me suggestions on the xs headers. The install went smoothly, the upgraded nuts and bolts worked perfectly. There is a hint of slight resonance , buts thats about it, other then that, the power is amazing. The only downside was that the check engine light came on, so I'm trying to get the code read and see what the problem is possibly. Thanks again, Acurazine is a wealth of information!

MoeCL- Did you ever get your headers installed, I'm sorry I couldn't your questions were beyond my scope of knowledge, hope all went well.

 

Glad to hear it went well. Got mine and I'll be installing them next week at my friends grandpas shop up north. Lots of open roads to test them out on. Still need to get the header wrap and new bolts and gaskets.

 

Greetings everybody....I got my code read...P0141 02 Sensor, Bank 1 Sensor 2. I just had my oil change done and had the shop looked at the 02 sensor, it appeared to be fine. The shop said that it might have to be replaced , since the 02 sensor is not use to new air flow from the headers, any suggestions ????


TheWeez - Thanks man, now I'm just trying to find out how to solve my check engine light, you have any insight??? Thanks in advance

 

I am getting mine done on saturday!!

 

Hey does anyone know how much the new gaskets cost and about the horse power gain i will have total if i go with xs headers, CAI, and Magnaflow exhaust? i already have the exhaust and intake but i def need some headers?

 

The manifold to block gasket costs $24-$28 at the dealership (I just called 3 local dealerships today). You will need 2 of them. They're $14 online but $10 for shipping pretty much negates the savings. Autozone and other local stores carry them for about $12.99 each from Felpro. Has anyone tried these? I assume it's pretty likely that Felpro is the one making them for Acura in the first place.