Header stuff

[Darkwing]

First off: Hey! Me back! Been a while as I have been saving up money so I don't have to work this semester and just now felt confident enough to buy stuff for my car again.

So here's a few parts: part one-my experience at the install place : part two-review of the header I bought : part three-catylitic converter question.

Part One:

Ok. So I get my DC Sports 4-2-1 ceramic one peice header for my 1995 Honda Civic EX and I'm all jazzed right? Yeah. Untill I get to the only place in a hundred miles that will install an aftermarket header. Yeah they'll do it. For $120. So what can I do? I say fine, $120. So I'm watching and the dumbshit is bangin the header on shit as he's putting it in and I'm like hey dumbass watch what you're doin! But he just ignores me. Then as he's gettin the O2 sensor out of the old header he stripps the threads on it and comes over to me and says: "uh ur gonna need a new sensor" So I tell him he better get me one! An hour later a girl brings one to the shop and they go to lunch. Another hour later they come back and he finishes the install. I check out his work and he's tightening the screws in in a line across the top then bottom and I say hey you are doin it wrong its supposed to be inside to the outside and he says it dont matter. Dumbass. I look and the header is scratched, chipped even in one spot. So I say hey fix that! But they can't. So it looks a bit like crap now! Ok so to the best part: I go to pay for it and they give me a bill for $225!! I'm like WTF! Turns out I gotta pay for the O2 sensor he fucked up. And they don't take checks or credit cards. Only cash. Now I don't carry no $250 in my freakin wallet. They got my car so I can't go get money. So the fuckin mechanic drives me in his POS truck to the bank so I can get cash. What a load of crap I'll never go back there no matter what I'll drive to Canada first. Oh yeah, one more thing: I ask for them to put the old parts in the car, and guess what, they didn't. I noticed though before I left, and put them in myself. I left in as big a hurry as was humanly possible.

Part Two:

So now that I've finally got it installed after a 5 hour ordeal, I go test drive it. Sounds almost exactly the same. That's actually a good thing. A little louder, a little whooshier, but pretty much the same. It is DEFINATELY lighter. I'd say almost half the weight. So anything that lightens the front end is a big bonus. I noticed little change in accelleration, but in all fairness I didn't do a dyno or even a stopwatch. Aside from the scratches and ding, it looks nice in the engine bay. The part only cost $295 on modacar after shipping. So I would say it was good for the price. (ps-I dare you to find a lower price than $269 for the part!)

Part Three:

When I was in the shop (USA auto plus ) the dude said that I wouldn't get much power unless I removed the catylitic converter. I was wondering if the difference was really significant. Do I even get more power with my I/H/E if this doodad is still in there? He offered me a quote of $65 to take it out and put in a pipe. Now I know this is illegal and there is a fine for like $3000 or something for doing it, so why would he be offering? And would I get slapped for a fine if I did it or just the shop? This whole experience has been disorienting and I am left more confused than happy at getting the part installed....

Final summary: Never go to USA Auto Plus; Header is a 8/10; what's the beef with the Catylitic Converter?

Thanks - DW

[GScivic7]

first of all...you are a dumbass for having someone install a header for you. Second, your cat is one of the more restricted parts of the entire exhaust system. Replacing it with a test pipe will help, but nothing too noticeable. Seeing as how your driving an automatic EX, there isn't a point in taking it out.

[Ricochet]

Originally Posted by GScivic7

first of all...you are a dumbass for having someone install a header for you.

Reading halfway through that first paragraph I was itching to say the same exact thing.

Dude if you were so uptight about every little thing they were doing to install it, why didn't you just do it yourself? Technically you paid $520 for the header to get on your car, so yeah, I can beat that price. About the cat converter and the whole i/h/e crap on a sohc, I think it's retarded to even buy one of those if you're scrounging for money like you say. But anyways, live and learn, and I'm sorry you had to go through that.

[GScivic7]

Dude, if you had been here back in the day, you would have been saying that after the first two sentences. This kid has been around for a while and has proved that he is quite the moron.

[LunchBox]

Just my two pennies here...

Bolt-ons = no ther way but DIY (unless you're keeping it all under waranty, but that's through a dealership, not USA Auto Plus).

[steve8091]

At least I didn't waste my time reading your other 702 posts.

[-=BOOMER=-]

Wow this place is getting worse the h/t.
Anyone that doesn’t install something themselves is an idiot.
if you don’t have a DOHC you’re stupid.
and if your car doesnt look JDM (just like everyone else) its ugly.


Anyway...
I have to say that it is an easy install and it would have been much cheaper to do it yourself.

as for the cat, I have run my SOHC with header and test pipe (replaces cat) for a while and have switched back. While I had the test pipe in I had better power at high revs but it sacrifices low end torque, I personally decided that I would rather have torque on my little Honda that has none anyway then a higher top end.

It’s good to see your still working on your car, just remember when it comes to your car, it’s only your opinion that matters.

[Ricochet]

Originally Posted by -=BOOMER=-

Anyone that doesn’t install something themselves is an idiot.
if you don’t have a DOHC you’re stupid.
and if your car doesnt look JDM (just like everyone else) its ugly.

Nobody said any of that, so quit acting like a fag. What we did say was installing a header is an easy bolt-on, and none of the i/h/e parts are worth it on a stock sohc if you're scrounging for money. Wow I feel like a broken record. Want me to say it again, or did you learn how to read this time?

[Darkwing]

OK WTF has happened to this place? I mean damn people I go through shit and post about it and then you give me shit. For one thing, I am not scrounging for cash. I am doing fine with my finances thankyou. I would have loved to do it myself. But I don't have a pit or a lift as I live at an apartment complex. and you can't install a one-peice header properly if its on the fucking ground. And don't give me no bullshit about not caring if your parts look good. I'm not anal, I just wanted it done without a problem, that's why I took it to a supposedly decent shop. Mistake,yes. Dumbass, no.

Anyways, I really don't give a shit what you think about me or my car, I already know anyway. What I really wanted to know, and thus the reason for this post, is the deal with the catalytic converter. Thank you Boomer for actually being of assistance. I think I do remember you actually as being a sane one. With your information I not only have made a decision, but feel better about telling the guy "hell no" at the shop.

And a SOHC engine can be tuned as well as a DOHC its all in what you want out of it. And when I get done with my car I'll laugh as anyone who races me feels shame at being beat by an auto civic. I am not a moron. I can't believe people would be so bold as to presume that from one post.

Anyways, thanks Boomer.

[riceroni]

sucks that you had to go through that.

if it was me and i saw them fukcing up an install, i would've left....haha (how could i with no header)

but yeah, next time you should kill yourself trying to find a friends garage or something to install it in, instead of letting a dumbass who calls himself a mechanic do a shitty ass job on a nice piece of hardware.

peace

[defmusik]

You know I look at a thread like this and make myself angry, because all ricochet has to say is fucking negative shit. Christ man grow up and stop being a know-it-all..

EDIT: Not only him either, but all the other know-it-alls on this forum, that provide less help and more criticism.

I'm not going to be hypocritical, so here's my opinion: If you don't want to / can't install something like that, go to a reputable place and get quotes from everyone. If no one wants to do it or you dont trust them, ask around, ask friends, ask family. Someones bound to own a shop or know someone who owns a shop. And if you said you weren't strapped for cash, then finding a place shouldn't be too hard. But yeah I will just have to say that you gotta speak up if you realize someone's doing something wrong to your car.

[Ricochet]

I do know it all.

[defmusik]

Originally Posted by Ricochet

I do know it all.

sad.

[GScivic7]

I guess you had to have been around for a while to really realize how much of a moron this guy really is. He used to be flamed on a daily basis cause he is such a dumbass back in the day. Apparently he still hasn't learned.

BTW: I did help him out, I told him it was worthless to take the cat out and replace it with a test pipe.

[defmusik]

All right fine, but you did give him advice, so I guess it's not all that bad..but yeah I didn't know he did that, I've only been reading the forums since the beginning of this year, then I finally made a user name a couple weeks ago..