I know this is probably a dumb question but...

What exactly is your exhaust manifold? And where is it...

the exhaust manifold is also known as the header. it takes exhaust gasses and routes them down though the catylitic converter then to the muffler and finally the atmosphere. the exhaust manifold itself stops just before the cat. on just about any honda any normal person can get their hands on, excluding some of the new motors, this is located at the front of the motor. it is covered by a heat shield, which some motors have a hole in for the dipstick. hope that helps.

The manifold is covered by a heat sheild like he said. Depending on your engine setup it might or might not have a hole for the dipstick. To find the manifold look between the radiator/air conditioner and the engine block. It's the big metal thing right on the front of the engine block.

Ok, just because i am anal sometimes i have to add this:
a manifold is what 95% of cars come with. it is a basically untuned collection pipe.
a header on the other hand (as seen in the post above mine) has pipes of tuned length so that the pulses of exhaust gases meet at the right time causesing a very smooth and fast flow.
saturn put headers onto their early 90's SC2s for a couple of years and the EPA bitched them out so they went back to manifolds, and is why most cars come without headers.

ok i was just makin sure thanx....i knew the other stuff jsut wasn't sure that was called what its called...

Originally posted by higgimonster
and is why most cars come without headers.


Actualy in the effort to get more HP from smaller and smaller engines, that are running leaner in the hope of making them more efficant almost all cars now come with some kind of tuned length manifold. Whether its cast or made from bent steel pipe is irrelvant.
And it is becoming increasingly harder to get any good gains over stock by only replacing most modern exhasut manifolds.