all you need are the larger better quality bolts.

 

"8.8 is the strength. you will want 10x40 1.25 or 1.50 pitch Metric bolts (or the equilivent size in standard)" that kind of bolt right? (and could i just find that at a home depot or lowes?)

 

^ correct

 

Hi all,
first time poster, long time reader, but this past weekend i put on the XS headers and let me tell you they are a pain in the butt to put on! The only bad part was getting the bolts off, (i rounded 2 of them, the o2 sensor and a bolt from the header to the down pipe, had to go to a mechanic to get those off). But overall the install was not bad. I spent about 8 hours installing them and about 6 of it was wasted waiting for everything to cool down, search for the socket i dropped in the bay, and to get the bolts off. I did the install by myself, and i am in no way a mechanics/car expert. This is my first car ever where i modded anything. Anyways just be sure to have the correct tools, the 12" socket extension was an almost must have for me, as i did all of the rear manifold stuff from the bottom of the car, as well as interlocking wrenches for leverage, thank you physics! Anyways the headers are on and everything is ok. I get a slight resonance issue at around ~2k rpm's but i think i can fix that. Right now i left the rubber bracket off, because i was too tired to mess with that (arms, abs, back sore from getting bolts off) so i will put that back on and see if it helps, otherwise i will have to check everything again. Thanks to fsttyms1 for all his tips and help he's posted on this thread and others. And to Rpappi i am having my exhaust resonator taken out this weekend and will have a similar setup to yours (headers, intake, stock exhaust), i will let you know if I have the same noise issues as you. Thank you acurazine!

 

You have to spray the bolts beforehand and use 6 point sockets to avoid rounding. I did my rears from the top, easy. You'll like the headers. I took a video last night of my TL-P holeshot I'll post later today.

 

yeah i sprayed the bolts with liquid wrench and wd40 but they were stilll stuck on pretty tight. I had to use leverage to get them off with out scraping my fingers off. I found it easier to unbolt the rear from the bottom, although i had to tighten one bolt from the top. and yeah good point about using the 6 point socket, i used a 12 point socket for a while cause that's all i had Definitely go out and buy a 6 point socket or you'll be hating life like i did. Good tips dave.

 

Actually the rears are much easier to remove from the top. even easier with a blanket to lay on on top of the motor and to make it easier you could remove the strut bar

 

^^ Exactly what I did without the strutbar removal! Piece of cake.

 

+3

 

I tried that but i swear it was hard to get to, unless you guys are contortionists or something! either way its on! hopefully the rubber bracket will fix the resonance/howling issue. argh......

 

most people end up taking it off. because it caused more problems having it. get a few 6 inch extentions to get in there.

im having sound issues but they cant figure out why.
its either somthing broken in the cat
or in the muffler.

 

This is how mine sounds and performs: https://acurazine.com/forums/acurazine-clubs-meets-15/%2A%2A%2Aattn%2A%2A%2A%2A-bay-area-cls-meet-comming-up-146794/

 

Taking what off because it caused what problems?

 

I think he was talking about the rubber bracket that the downpipe is mounted to. I have mine off currently because i read it caused noise problems, and i was too lazy to remount it. This weekend i am going to put it back on and see if it fix's my resonance problems.

 

ya thats what i was talking about. in some of the cars the bracket is causing tension issues.

 

I ordered my XS headers last week, so next weekend I'll be off getting greasy putting them in!
I can't wait. Maybe while I'm under there I'll see if I can figure out why my coilovers are squeaking.

 

Here's my contribution of how my combo of I/H/E sounds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xutwFoidAjw

Shitty video quality cause my camera sucks at night, but it gets to 100 alot quicker than it did before..

 

These Headers are a gift and a curse! ever since i got them i've been thinking i'm speed racer and been wanting to get into vtec and hear the engine....well this friday i got pulled over.....argh my fault but gosh these headers are nice. I put on the rubber bracket and still get some noise issues, so i think im gonna losen everything this weekend and lign everything up perfectly....on another note, any suggestions on how to get out of a speeding ticket in CA?

 

try ticketassassin.com

 

the oem header to engine gaskets can be found only at our dealer right?

and for the bolts where can I get them. What brand are the ones to use. I don't know nothing about which bolts to look for. I never seen the bolts used for my stock headers...

 

Just reuse the manifold to head gaskets. They will be just fine. The bolts can be found at any hardware store. M10x30 or 40 Pitch 1.25 or 1.50

 

oK it's been a while since people have had these headers on...

PLEASE UPDATE:

thanks

 

Had mine since August, perfectly fine and am extremely happy with them.

 

try reading the threads on them the CL forum as well. Ive got 20k on mine. Mine are just like the day i got them. Trouble free.

 

cant believe i didnt read through this thread before. Hopefully will be picking some of these up soon as my last mod to the tl.
fsttyms- how do you like your exhaust tone with the headers and resonators removed? any droning? I had exhaust on my last car, an sc300, but it got old after a while with the droning.

 

I started this thread last July..

- I developed moderate vibrating noises at just above 2000 RPMs soon after the install

- More recently, I noticed that there's a hissing sound that gets louder at higher RPMs... I think there's a crack on one of the welds? I'm on spring break right now, but once I get back I'll investigate further and take some pics if I can.

 

It has a loud drone with out the quiet tips in. Im going to be redoing the complete exhaust this spring to get it better flowing (still have teh tiny TL-P exhaust and 220+k cat on.

 

is the drone just from the resonator removal?

 

Sorta. If you asking if the header caused it no. It was already there. Did it make it louder?? maybe ever so slightly

 

Are these headers legal in california? i don't want to fail a smog check either. Anybody know?

 

The only headers I am aware of that have a CARB number were Comptechs.

 

Damn that sucks, so these would not be legal in California. Wow, I know a lot of members that picked these up that are in Cali, guess they don't care.

 

ive had mine on for about a 1k miles, im lovin it so far, the power gain is defi worth any sound the headers make

 

Got mine installed last night. No noises no fitment problems. Installed in a little under 3 hours all by my lonesome.

I'm located in Cali and even though I know these won't pass, I wouldn't mind paying the smog guy a couple more 20's to ignore the headers.
And if that doesn't work its really not that hard to install the oe headers.

 

it should not make it fail emmissions unless they search the engine for aftermarket parts without CARB markers

 

Does anybody know if they check for aftermarket parts with the CARB sticker? I really want to get these headers but it's not worth it if I'm going to have trouble with smog or my warranty. I don't want to be installing and then removing them everytime I gotta get checked out.

 

Looks like the two sellers that listed the XS headers not only stopped selling but pulled off eBay altogther (their usernames say "Not Registered User")... sucks! From most people's experience, the XS seem like decent/quality stuff - plus I was just about to pick up a set

These are now floating around instead, going for roughly the same price ($150 shipped): http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-99...02300996QQrdZ1

No brand names or anything though, want to see what you guys think?

also, OBX are going for ~$260, and DC sport are ~$390

 

at those. 4-2-1 headers

 

Looks like they just spray painted them with silver to me hehe.. right on!

 

never mind! found out what happened on the CL boards

yes those 4-2-1's are pretty ... haha