Cheap Brand Make any differance?

[12secLS/vtec]

Ive had an aftermarket 2.25 in exhaust with some cheap headers for a while now. Im lookin at getting a factory type R header from honda, but im wondering if using a knock off brand catback will make too much of a difference. As long as it has 2.5 in piping its all good right?

[Tomsriv]

Yeah, catback doesn't make much difference. The header is much more important. 2.5 inch is good for up to 200hp so its overkill for most Honda's. Just make sure it has a good muffler. A high flow cat might be a better investment than the cat back system.

[jcrx]

You want the JDM 98+ ITR header, the others are normal headers, nothing special. And as far as the difference in catbacks, that would be diameter and bends, a lot of crappy manufacturers use crimp bends, instead of mandrel, and they imped flow, and the design of the muffler is pretty important, not to mention, factors like do you want it loud or quiet, so you need to look into the resonator size. Cheap catbacks also will run into fitment issues. OF course if you get the right header, the collector is going to be bigger, so you're going to need a cat that can bolt on to it.

[Tomsriv]

I agree with everything stated above except...
Mandrel bends are not that big a deal. 99.999% of the cars on the road have crimp bends in the exhaust. Some are smoother than others, so look for smooth bends. Since the stock exhaust has crimp bends the new bigger pipe will still have extra room on the bends.

[jcrx]

That is because 99.999% because it's cheaper to manufacter, it has nothing to do it with it being as effecient.

There's just no way to argue that piping with bends that make the diameter smaller at points is going to be as effecient as smooth piping. Anywhere where the exhaust escaping has to slow down is going to imped flow, impedded flow = less performance.

[tokes99]

jcrx I do not think Tomsriv is disagreeing with you, what i think he is saying is that the aftermarket system has a larger diameter than the stock unit so while not being the best in terms of performance it would be an improvement over stock.

[Tranzlogic]

basically just go with an ITR header, a test pipe and an QUALITY exhasut system that suits your needs most adaquite