Well, I bought the headers last Friday from Danny, the guy doing the group buy from the AV6 forum. I called a dyno shop about getting a baseline run, but everybody was busy for about two weeks, and I wasn't going to wait. Saturday afternoon, I was at my buddy's shop installing them.

When I get to the shop and tell my friend how much I bought them for, he was in shock. He sells a lot of different performance parts, including Comptech and OBX. The reason I didn't buy from him is because the headers are on back-order at OBX fro about 3 weeks, and I didn't want to wait. Anyways, he inspects the headers and said the were VERY good quality, identical knock offs of the Comptech's. So he began installing.

Install was very easy, all except torquing the rear headers (pain in the ass). From start to finish it took about 1.5 hours. He took it for a test drive to make sure everything was fine and when he got back, all he had to say was "Damn man, your car is quick!!"

Then I took the car for a test drive. All I have to say is "IT"S ABOUT TIME!!" The car now feels the was I always thought should have been made. With VSA off (of course), first gear takes of so hard that if I floor it, I will just stand there spinning. Going through first gear, switching to second, I broke the tires loose for about 2-3seconds. Considering that ever since I got the SO-3's, I couldn't even come close to spinning 1-->2, I consider the very impressive. But the best gear is third......it just keeps pulling hard, and keeps taking off. The thing that amazed me was the 4th gear started working again. All of you guys know that 4th gear sucks FAT A$$, it's like we have 2 overdrives.

I knew it was faster, but I wanted to know how much faster it was. On friday night, my and one of my friends on a mustang were racing, so I had somekind of comparison. He has a 1991 LX 5.0 5spd with a bunch of engine, and is pretty fast. So I called him and we got together that evening and had a bunch of runs.
On Friday, when he would get a good launch, he would take of a little and have about 1.5-2 car lengths on me by 100mph. If he got a bad launch, I would take off a bit, but then he would catch up and have almost a car on me by 100mph. I always had good launchs because I was toruque braking and my tires stick like maniacs.
Saturday Night: Our first run, he got a very good launch and jumped out but not far because I was right there with him. At 60 we dead even and I put it in third. I slowly start pulling on him and had about 3/4 of a car by 100. The following run, he got a bad launch and I took off, and he couldn't catch up. By 100mph, I had almost 2 car lengths. Next run he got a normal launch and I had 1 car length that by 100mph.

My buddy that I was racing was amazed. Being a mustang guy, he woulnd never believe that CL-S headers inrease about 30hp. He always asked me if it was 30 rice-power . He is no longer joking around. The only thing he could say was GOOD $HIT!!!

Most of the guys from SF/Bay Area who have gone racing with me through twisties (during meets), know that my car can handle with the best of them. Now I can play, and kick ass, on straight aways too. Moomaster: next time you take off up 280 at 140mph, I will right there beside, instead of TRYING to catch up.

In conclusion, these headers are amazing. I would recommend them to anyone who wants headers, and can't justify paying $1000-1200 for them. Maybe now comptech will come down from their little pedistal and provide reasonable pricing.

 

nice reviews! can we still get a dyno ?

 

SWEET

 

i am planning on doing a dyno soon. I don't know how conclusive they will be since I have I/H/E and 18" rims. Either way, when i get the dyno done, I will post results.

 

Great review. Can't wait til I get mine!

 

man...now i want the headers even more....that's it....IM ORDERINGGGG!!!

 

Guys,

contact me if you have any questions...

Congrats Quick Silver on the OBX headers.. I told you the installation is pretty easy. You will enjoy the ride.

And you can check my dyno for the acutal gains....

Remember Gary the drag tuner who installed my headers was like

And today.. I was packing myself and 4 passengers with a total weight of more than 1000 lbs and the CLS kept its pace with no complains...

I do not need to be lowered with 1000 lbs load

 

Great Write Up ! and Grats on getting the headers.

 

Out of curiosity, wouldnt Acura not cover a tranny if headers were installed? Adding 30 more horses would make the tranny probabley blow up! I am very anxious to order these so please tell us how the MPG is?

 

many people have headers, and the warranty is usually honored. I am keeping my stock headers, so if my tranny ever goes out.....1.5 hours and the stock headers are back on!

 

QuickSilver,
Where did you get your OBX headers installed at? I'm looking for a place in a the bay area that does it reasonably cheap. Thanks for any info.

 

QuickSilver ...time to update your sig

 

good thinking, my headers are in the mail. I wonder what the gains will be on a cl-p. This will be my first mod, i've had the car for 2 months, i wonder if i'll be able to beat a stock type s. Anyway i'll have fun trying.

 

The man who will be putting on my headers will be the one who replaces my trans so I am unconcerned.


Also - adding 30hp can break a trans? That's pretty funny. Most stock transmissions are good for at least 50-100 additional crank hp without being any worse for wear.

GM 4speed autos are notoriously robust (even in modded GTPs when taking into account that car is technically starting with 40hp and 80(?) torque more than the default GT which has the same trans.)

I believe the 5speed trans in our auto CLS isn't all that strong when shifting (hence why it's a shitty 3rd gear clutch pack that fails so easily) but basic bolt-ons aren't enough alone to kill even our trans. Logically it would be a combination of heat and poor design/construction that are killing it. It would be wise to add a trans cooler even on a stock CLS 5speed.

 

your car can "take the twisties with teh best of them" but you dont even have sways? make those your next mod, you dont kno wat ur missing out on

 

Don't need them........just get SO-3's and they will do the job.

 

I have SO3's and a decent drop and I still notice the car dipping into corners. My friend's 330ci makes my car feel like goo. Next mod is definitely sways!

 

Like I said yesterday in another post, new obx headers and sways goin' on w/in the next two weeks. I would have put these on first for the price peeps are gettin' them for now if they were available then. I thought ct springs wld make a difference-they did. As did 18 Kumho Ecstas, but I still NEED sways, I can tell. One of the best mods for the $$ members say.

 

Just put in my order took about 30 sec and ships tomarrow.
woohoo!!

 

i'll see you at the next bay area meet

 

I still don't believe Nashua's dyno...hey, Mike, let me know....we'll take it to DynoSpot....and then it would be a much better idea of what gains are v. the CTs...as I got mine dyno'd there...

 

Welcome to the forum Neube. Sure if u ever get em on anytime soon u can take on my CLS, just a CAI. But I really would like to see that race happen.


Juker008

 

Hey QuickSilver,
Can you write up a detail step by step header install for us? I think we are going to do it ourselves. I think the process is quite straight forward, although, some instructions would be extremely valuable. Thx

 

Cool, good write-up man.

I was also wondering, where did you go in the Bay Area to install them? I know it's your buddy, but what would he charge to a complete stranger who's an "acura-cl" brother?

I'm trying to justify the cost for the headers, but the cost of the install is now even more significant that the headers are much cheaper. Since it took 1.5 hrs, can I estimate that $75.00 * 1.5 = ~ $115 would be a reasonable price?

Or am I going to wind up being charged $200+?

 

All this talk is making me re-think trading in my CL-S! My tranny went and believe me, that wasn't fun! But good headers for cheap...hmmm.....

BTW, S-03's (or comparable tires) + cheap headers + sways = ultimate first 3 mods...I only have one

 

I talked to my buddy and he said that it will cost around $125-$150 to install the headers. Let me know, and I can set up an appointment for you.

 

WHO MAKES SO-3's??..... BRIDGESTONE?

 

Yes...

 

I just got mine installed yesterday and so fast my car feels so much better. What a difference tires make.

 

Does your buddy work in a shop or in a house? Does he take VISA? I haven't purchased the headers yet, but if I do this week, can he install them no later than the 23rd of this month? Timing is the key here since I'll be taking off for vegas by Thursday the 24th.

 

Its a shop, and I believe he takes VISA. I am not sure because I always pay him cash Let me know when you get the headers (email or PM) and I let him know so he blocks of some time for you.

 

Thanks. I'm still trying to work out something to get the headers locally. I guess the main issue is getting a hold of the headers in teh first place. Oct. 19 at the very earliest....kinda cutting it too close for me.

 

The 19th is a Saturday. If you get the headers in the morning, you can probably have them installed in the afternoon, if you let me know a couple of days in advance. Worst case senerio, you get them installed on Monday.

Let me know.............

 

Nice review...I havent realy kept up on these things, but they seem realy good...am i correct that these DONT work for the 6 speed? I thought that i read that somewere. Let me know cause if they do then i would definitly get them cause they are such a good deal.

Thanks

 

damn man, what should i get first a CAI or obx headers, i need my report card $$$

 

one more thing, you said you never spun on the 1-2 shift w/o the headers, and with the headers you spun crazy, wont this slow down your 1/4 mile time if you spin between 1-2.

and what rpm can you actually feel the new headers workin??

 

i was just wondering how you guys like the sound of the obx headers because i have the megan headers and they make my car sound like a lawn mower and i was just wondering if u guys with the obx headers have the same problem ?

 

wow this thread is over 3 years old.

 

That's not correct...Grand Prix GTPs have a different auto tranny in them than the regular Grand Prix's. GTPs are equipped with GM's 4T65E, which is a slightly beefed up version of the standard 4T60E found in most of the W bodies (Lumina, Intrigue, Regal, Grand Prix). GM used their heads and increased the torque handling capacity when they added the blower on the GTP. A rare "smart" move on their part