Alright well I'm looking at getting new headers. CT seems a bit out of my price range so I'm thinking about going with the redesigned DC Sports headers(HHC5528). The lowest price I'm finding is about $400. Anybody know where the best(cheapest) place to buy them is?

Also for the install, do you think I could do it myself? Like degree of difficulty out of 10?

Thanks

 

Difficulty is pretty easy, but depends on you're experience. You got a torque wrench?

You can get a little better of a deal than that for the DC headers.

 

Hmmm nope, no torque wrench. Any recommendation on a specific torque wrench? (cheap and reliable is key lol)

And am I correct in thinking that this will bolt on directly to my stock '03 TL Type S?

 

Yes they bolt right on, you can get them cheaper I only paid 300$ for my set.

 

Oh man that sounds much more appealing than $400. Where?

 

I got mine from streetsideauto.com but there out of stock. Just search google, you might have to go through a few pages if not look at our vendors website.

 

Alrighty I'm making some progress, so far I've found one for $350 shipped. Did you notice a big/small difference in power? Low end or high? Thanks for answering all my questions lol

 

In terms of a cheap torque wrench, buy a craftsman beam type wrench. They're 20 to 25 bucks.

 

Okay so the best price I could find was $336 shipped (http://2nrparts.com/dc_sports/dc_spo.../i-130510.aspx) so I bought it there. Hoping to do the install next weekend if it arrives by then.

Anyone who's done this install before, please drop some tips here!

 

Its one of the only things you can really notice a difference when you ur it on. It's good for 20-30hp at the wheels. Installation is fairly easy front and bottom is easy, the rear you have to work at but just take your time.

 

Buy a click type torque wrench NOT a beam type. You won't be able to see the numbers as you torque the rear header. You will need the click type.

 

I have the DC headers and they will make a big diff. I swear I got mine for under 300 shipped. Try eBay?

 

You can get a decent torque wrench for $10 at Harbor Freight.

 

Front is a breeze. Rear is a pain. I'd start taking them off at the cat. Those bolts will be the most difficult to remove. There's 3 and usually due to exposure to elements and constant heat they will most likely be pretty seized. I didn't fuck around w PB Blaster, I just heated them cherry red and turned them off. Then remove the o2 sensor, you'll have best results using a line wrench or flare but wrench. Different terms but same tool. This will help avoid rounding the corners of the sensor so you can reuse it. Use some PB blaster or WD-40 on the rubber hanger then a punch or other skinny tool to slide the J pipe off. 4 bolts from header to J pipe and that's free. Next remove the headers from the heads. 5 nuts each side. Save, wipe clean, and reuse the gaskets they will be fine. You may need to remove the rear motor mount to get the rear header off. I'm not 100% sure on that part. I took mine off because I was replacing it same time as headers. Lots more room with it off. Once you're to this point you're pretty much in the clear. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS when you install new headers. You'll put one gasket and one header on only finger tight. Then other header goes on then j pipe. TORQUE the bolts as instructed. This isn't an area where "tight" is an option. Good luck, this mod is by far the one you feel most besides supercharging/turbo.

 

As for raising the car to get under it, is having a lift a must? If so I'm screwed

 

And will this cause issues with passing inspeciton?

 

No and no.

 

The best tip i can give you is, Get a good penetrating oil and start spraying ALL the bolts every night a few days before you attempt to install them. Especially the bolts that attach the Header to the cat. Those can be the most stubborn to remove.

 

Thanks for all the tips guys. Just found out the headers are on backorder so I've got some time to figure all this out lol

 

Check with our vendor Excelerate or Heeltoe. They may have them in stock. If they do cancel your order and order thru them. They are both great to deal with and will take care of you.

 

Are you in California? If so it may fail the visual inspection.

 

Pennsylvania, think it'll be okay?

And I checked Heeltoe and Excelerate, both on backorder. Guess I'll be forking out $400 on ebay

 

As far as I know, only Cali has the silly visual inspection.

As for vendors, have you tried autoaccessoriesgarage or thmotorsport? thmotorsport usually has coupon codes floating around.

 

I started buying parts at the right time! Headers and pulley set getting hard to find it seems. Can't wait for my next major parts I'm throwing on hopefully in a little over a month. After that I am going to start saving up for tranny failure/swap (PLEASE #2).

 

http://www.racinglab.com/dc-header-c-acura-001.html

 

That's a nice price. Just emailed them asking if it's in stock

 

Probably a dumb question, but on that site (racinglab) it says that it's:
Off-Road Only
CARB N/A
Please contact DC Sports for CARB detail

Is any of that going to be a problem? I'm assuming it's fine but I want to double check lol

 

No They usually just put that on there so they are not blamed for selling it to a Smog inspection state. Its just a loophole in the law they use in order to sell these parts. It just places the fault of ignorance on the buy and off the website incase you get in trouble (you probably never will).
You will be fine.

 

Ahhh okay thanks that makes sense. I'm praying there won't be any problems with inspection lol

 

You will have no issues

 

You will have no problems. I have had them on my car for about a year. I would recommend taking them and a flash light into a dark room to inspect the welds when you get them. I had a bad set where there was a hole where they come off the block and merge together. I called the company and they sent me Abrams new set