hey tl'ers Just had comtech headers and icebox put on. No I didn't do it myself.. First of all let me say looking at the comptech headers beneath the car... what a clean fit. It did take the mech a little over 4hrs to install the headers and ice box. Which is pretty close to what comptech say will take to install. Secondly I asked the mech... easly to install...response not really, so I guess I am kinda glad I did'nt make the attempt..
By the way I have a 2002 TL-s. The firts thing I noticd when started is souds like a little more deeper throughty and also a contant buzz or droan ... I gues this is the resonance everybody takes about with headers, although not that bad. If you put on th radio you can't hear the droan. When driving the droan pretty much goes away, I onle notice at idel.. When But if you walk around the car it is noticble. driving the car ..... KICK ASS... wow!!!!. I could'nt push to hard because of the rain/slush today... but when I nailed it the car pulls hard past redline. When crusing at say 75 not any noticle differnt from when stock. I am going back to the shop next week to ty to future torque the headers hopefully this will reduce the resonace.

 

great is it used or new?

i have one sitting here waiting to install too~

 

btw how much cost you to install both?

4 hrs should be around 200-250

 

Wait awhile. As the computer learns, the car will pull stronger and stronger. After about the third or fourth day, you will feel the difference. It will pull incredibly hard at the top of the RPM range.

And the installer probably had a problem with the old bolts. The nuts on the cat were probably seized. 4 hours is not bad, a little long though if hes done this before, especially since he has a lift and all the tools he should need.

 

these were new comptechs... cost about $300 installation for both.. ;labor rate around here is about $70/hr

any of you with headers solved the resonance problem.. or is this somthing that I am going to have to live with ?

 

Congratulations and good choice.

 

it'll take your car 3-5 days to adjust the computer, then you'll really be feeling the headers. Now you're getting some intake power and a much better sound when accelerating hrough vtec.

 

Get the bolts retightened a week after installation and this will most likely eliminate the resonance and any chance of bolts getting any looser and causing even uglier resonance or breaking. Also do this because of the gasket.

enjoy


^^ i did to my ss obx and eliminated resonance...but it slightly came back like a month ago.

 

enjoy man , my headers only took my mech 1hr 20min to install

 

took me and some friends 8hours!

 

I have a 2004 TL, but previously had a fully modded Comptech TL (minus the S/C) and that TL-S could run circles around my current TL. I'm jealous of you guys w/ your '02 and '03 Type S's .. that is a fast fricken car for the money and the luxury. Enjoy!! I thoroughly enjoyed my TL-S until the tranny died for the fourth time, then it was time to let go and get a new ride.

 

It does not take 3 to five days... that's a bunch of crap (not insulting you, just the idea)... when I installed my headers on my '02 (about 1.5 years ago) ..i thought the same thing...the ECU readjusts immediately, that's the point of the ECU .. the make immediate changes in O2 intake and exhaust. So whatever you experience now is what it'll be like in five days.... you'll just psychologically feel like you're experiencing more power. I loved my headers... it made my TL-S such a sleeper... I was running w/ 5MT M3's (E36's with poor drivers) and G35's (stock) .. it was awesome. I really miss the power of that car...

 

the headers and the icebox are a two really great mods. You will really enjoy the way the car pulls! now all you need to get is the UR pulley and the TB spacers!!!!

 

ya ..I am looking at the pulleys next with an CT axel back

 

I had the CompTech axle-back installed last Friday.

I tried installing them myself, but the original bolts were rusted solid. I used penetrating oil, then my impact gun. None of the bolts would budge.

So, I visited my local Midas Muffler shop. I told them what I had tried. Their original estimate was $50. Add $20 when they had to torch the original bolts off. Add $8 for gaskets (none included from CT). Add sales tax and it was a little over $80, took about 30 minutes.

The next day I ordered the Quiet Tip inserts. I kinda like the sound, but the droning when on the throttle, might get irritating on a long trip.

 

how does the CT axel sound compared to the the sock ?

 

Sounds like a V6 ought to sound. It's not a ricer, fart can sound either

When just cruising, i.e., constant throttle, there's a little noise. When you step on it, you can hear it in the cabin. The Quiet Tip inserts should arrive this week. Hearing what kind of difference they make will be interesting. I'll probably install them for longer trips when my wife goes with me. She hasn't been in the car since the CT axle back was installed. I am guessing her first comment will be something like, "I thought you went to Midas to get an exhaust problem fixed?"

BTW, I could not even hear the stock exhaust in the cabin.

 

I don't know. I've never listened to a sock before!

 

3 day update on CT header impresions... accleration is great car pulls stong from about 5k to 6.5K, one thing at idle, can feel an ever so slight vibration through the steeing wheel. before the headers no vibration whats so ever.. the resonace is still there but only really notice at idle with radio off... is kind of like a constant high pitch drone. I am having things tighten up later this week. maybe this will reduce the resonance

 

so basically you have to keep retightening everytime you hear the resonace??? Does it cost much to get it retighten every so often???

 

Hmmm...never had any vibration or odd sounds with mine.

 

resonance update... Becuase I had both the cold air and headers put on the at the same time I assumed the resonace was from the headers . But the more I thought about it and talked to the guy who installed its not form the headres but from the intake. I did a search on intake resonanace and a post having the exact same sound from an ice box installation kinda of a hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... type noise. I assume it results from the removal of the intake resonator

 

yea intake go hmmm, my v2 does it, rather loudly

 

if all the bolts are tightened down correctly you wont have to retighten anything. You may get an exhaust leak initially but just take it back to the installer and they should re-torque the botls for no extra charge. I havent had any leaks with my headers so far!

 

yea i jus had my megans put on saturday, the guy said i shouldn't have to get em retightened b/c he tightened them pretty damn good. I love them

at WOT, theres a really cool WOOOOSH sound when the gears switch.

 

what are somes signs to look for if it leaks??

 

wait 100 miles to let everything settle and then torque everything down. BTW did you get new header gaskets or did you reuse the old ones?

 

the easiest way to check for a leak is to listen for a raspy noise when ur on the throttle. OR lift the hood and get a friend to press the throttle, you should be able to hear a leak by doing that as well.