'98 HX w/ cracked exhaust header

[vegasvic]

Well, I read the 1st 10 pages and didnt see anything written about my problem. I want to replace a cracked exhaust manifold on a '98 civic HX. The dealer price is close to $800 because the manifold and cat are one piece. I figured I could get an aftermarket header that will outperform the OEM header at a cheaper price. However no one makes a header for the HX. Ive been told that I could use the EX header and bring it to a muffler shop and have them realign the pipes. Is this correct? Has anyone done this to a HX? Then the question about the Cat. Should I just use a cat from the muffler shop? A high flow? What brand of header should I use? OBX, and DCSports are two I have looked at. By the way, this HX will not be used for racing. Im just trying to replace a cracked header while getting a bit more performance out of it. Thanks...

[Civic_D16Y5]

you dont need to take it to a muffler shop, jsut take the new cool new ex header you bought, and then get a a bigger cat, like from a gsr, and if ur a tree hater, get a hi flo cat. itll smell like shit tho. connect your header to the block, then the cat to the header, then the cat to the rest of the exhaust piping. voila, a wonderful 2-5hp gai, and no more crazked exhaust

[vegasvic]

Ok, Thats great and all, but as I said before, I have an HX model, and the reason these aftermarket companies dont make one for this model is that they dont line up to the existing pipes... So my question is, is this correct to use an EX model manifold for this car. Is this the correct way of fixing the problem of having a cracked header?

[GScivic7]

aftermarket companies don't make a header for your car because the pipes don't align right, they would make it align right. It's because your manifold and cat are one piece. You need to either replace the manifold with a stock one or get a header for an EX and the cat and have a muffler shop do any cutting, fitting and welding that needs to be done to make it all fit.

[vegasvic]

perhaps I wasn't clear...
and perhaps aftermarket companies dont make a header for this car, not because the manifold and cat are one piece, (as you said, they would make one) but because there is not a demand for these racing companies to make one for a non-racing car, the HX. I understand the business side of this...
If you read my first posting, I infact said the exact same thing as you did. My question is if the correct way to fix the problem with a cracked header is to replace it with an EX. I understand that the EX will align with the block, but then you have to cut and fit it with the existing pipes. I don't want a car that is just sorta rigged so it'll work. I want to know if this is the correct way to fix the problem. Then I just wanted some opinions on a brand for a non-racing, daily driven car. OBX, DCSports, some other I don't know of. So far, I've learned that I dont want a high flow cat, because of the emissions it allows. Thanks for that answer... And thanks for future answers.

[Civic_D16Y5]

i was under the impression that the exhaust manifold for my car would jsut line up exactly where the pipes begin for say an ex one, just without the cat, cuz its already there

[GScivic7]

I did your homework for you

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t271836.html

[superbluecivicsi]

the OEM SOHC header is so vulnrable to cracking.