Header Question

:confused: I have a 1997 Civic Ex w/ intake & exhaust. I am going to buy a header w/in the next 2 weeks so I need everyone's advice again. I know that DC Sports makes one of the best headers on the market. What other companies produce quality headers? Price-wise I plan on spending around $350 at the most. I want to get a 4-1 ceramic coated. Also, if anyone has any dyno results w/ different brands of headers, please post them!

I've got a DC 4-1 Stainless..... i love it.

I would seriously consider stainless if your car is pretty low. It stands up much better against speedbumps, potholes, etc....

I've seen what similar spots nea rme in the road can do to a header, and the SS definitely holds up better.

Then again, PA has some of the worst roads in the nation... lol

Cool, thanks. Yeah, my car is lowered w/ the H&R racing springs. It sits REAL low! I'm concerned w/ the heat though. I know that the ceramic coated stand up better with the heat + the stainless steel cost over $100 more!!:alien:
Anyone have any ideas with good quality headers other than DC Sports?:flash:

Greddy makes nice ones for around 350 as well.....

Phatwhippen... im gonna make a stupid suggest here to him ~ is that ok with you? hahaha... ;)

Why not get the stainless header and then ceramic coat the header yourself? I know its not EXACTLY the same thing but you can get the ceramic stuff from JCWhitney.com ~ then you have the toughness of the Stainless, with the heat loss of a Ceramic... best of both worlds no?

Which header do you prefer, DC Sports or Greddy?

Me? DC........ :)

generally the 4-1 is gonna give you much better midrange power and torque... here's a dyno from a B16, which won't give you exactly the same results, but can kinda show you where the 4-1 gives its power

http://www.clubsi.com/photos/dynoplot/fj_dyno1.jpg

Thanks CivSiGuy!!! I've seen that dyno readout before, but I couldn't find it. Thanks again. I'll probably go w/ the 4-1 DC Sports

Actually....... now that I think of it, a 4-2-1 would fit the characteristics of your engine better. Due to the fact its not a HIGH revving motor, like the b16.

A 4-2-1 would probably add mor epower for your car..... or at least be the better choice for the $$$$

I too am planning to get a DC sports stainless header. after reading a few posts on headers some say tha tthe 4-1 will cause me to lose power over a good portion of the power band....which is really bad. I plan on building an all motor D16....ya ya ya...a swap would be cheaper. but hey, i like a challenge. would the 4-1 or the 4-2-1 be better in the long run for this application. i plan on eventually bumping the compression to 10:1 or 11:1

i have a 4-2-1 ceramic airmass header and i really like it, but that might be because i got it for $200 from a shop that is closing down...that and i've never had anyother kind. From what i hear, stick with the 4-2-1, just becase it's better torque than the 4-1, it's all about the loss of back pressure, like having anything more than 2.25 inch exhaust.

Originally posted by michaelu
i have a 4-2-1 ceramic airmass header and i really like it, but that might be because i got it for $200 from a shop that is closing down...that and i've never had anyother kind. From what i hear, stick with the 4-2-1, just becase it's better torque than the 4-1, it's all about the loss of back pressure, like having anything more than 2.25 inch exhaust.


please read the backpressure post in the "lets get technical" section.

sorry, i got the terminology mixed, but 2.25 and a 4-2-1 header is best for what i'm looking for

:monkeypis MIKE

I think I've made up my mind.....I'm not going to get a header! I'm going to take off my Weapon R muffler, get rid of my "custom 2.25in piping" and throw down $600 to get the Greddy Evolution catback exhaust system. I think my $ will be better spent with getting that instead of spending it on a header.