M1K3

I searched, and didnt see much info about this header on the site.

Heres a quick run down on the install and thoughts about the header..

Install
Well what can i say, every part i've put on this car dealing with the engine has been a PITA. switching out the AEM CAI's, magnaflow catback muffler-resonator issue, so I came prepared to this install, some what ready for an obstacle or two.. Make sure you have a friend helping you, thankfully i had my cousin with me who is very knowledgeable with cars..

One member had already installed it and said it was a pretty tough install, and after completing it i can safley say that it was pretty challenging.

First thing i did was remove the stock down pipe, in doing this i found out i had a nice exhaust leak, nothing Mr. Gasket couldnt handle (there had'nt been one there ever since i installed the magnaflow cat back). Now comes the fun.

First trouble, heat shield. that heat shield isnt coming out as long as that O2 sensor is in there. Quick trip to advance discount auto parts fixed that quick, i got an O2 sensor socket thing, which made it lots easier. after all the other bolts were loosened we just simply lifted the header out of the engine bay.

Second trouble, EGR Tube. After fitting the WRH (Weapon R Header) into the engine bay it became very obvious that it wasnt going to line up, the secondary 02 sensor was right in the way to make it even more challenging, so we ended up taking the header back out and loosening up all the bolts. after we did that we put it back in and just clamped down every thing best we could and it fit into place, but that EGR tube is not coming out. we torqued the header to the head at apprx 30 ft lbs.

after stuffing the gasket into place between the header and down pipe and clamping it down things became easier then we just bolted it up to the exhaust and we were done.

First Impression
first start up, i thought ' damn this thing is loud!' but then i backed it out of the garage..

throttle response has definetly improved, and so had the db level, but sweet jesus once you floor it the thing pulls! i fell as if some low end power was lost since there isnt as much back pressure, and there is a bit of hesitation if you're at like 2K RPM or so and you floor it, oh well. It sounds really nice at WOT. Kurt's car is probably much louder than mine since he has the greddy TIC exhaust which is much louder then my magnaflow.

Personal thoughts
If you are comtemplating on whether or not to get the header, ask your self this:
1. Am I willing to deal with the extra noise?
2. Can I deal with the installation?

if you answered yes, then get it, even if you answered no, the noise isnt that loud and just get a car savvy friend to help you with the install. Most shops wont do this because it requires you to remove the catalytic converter. You will most likely fail emissions tests with this header in place as well.

its a pretty nice piece, plain and simple. very nice welds on the header but the fitment could have been better..

After driving with it for a few weeks...
Its still pretty loud, but hey what could you expect with a race header. At first the car back fired almost every single time i rev'd the engine or down shifted but i took it to an exhaust shop and had them fix some exhaust leaks (i had three of them, thanks magnaflow ) they re-welded 3 areas and while its still pretty loud, it doesnt back fire nearly as much as it did..

a new rattle has developed and im going to check on it, it started last night but it didnt happen this morning, hopefully it was a one time thing.

If i could go back in time with my current knowledge, i would still get it. Since i probably wont get an si for a while i figured 'hey i might as well have fun with my LX'

All in all my r18 with the i/h/e mods definetly has a little more power, and if any one wants more kick out of their r18 then i reccomend you get some sort of i/h/e (there arent many to choose from..)

Pics:

What comes in the package:
ups came and dropped off the goods


what it looks like inside (seems as if it was packaged well enough)


gasket


the header it self


header + down pipe + bolts/etc.


bolts that connect the down pipe to exhaust

where the header connecs with the down pipe, gasket and two spring loaded bolts


down pipe ready to be connected with the exhaust


random shot of the down pipe


i think these two bolts connect the EGR tube to the header



whole thing





the whole thing


O2 sensor is really close with the EGR tube


this thing saved my life!




Vids:
start up + 1 rev (my camera sucks)

WOT


(keep in mind that its a little louder in person)

oh yeah, one more thing, no CEL thanks to this little thing






Modified by M1K3 at 2:06 PM 6/6/2007

Type X

awesome post
I'll add to the sticky later

IT GUY

nice write up

it was tough to read through the use of "header" in reference to the r18 since that's not what it really is, but all in all a good write up

gus738

crap its a rece header i wanna stay legal any H/E anyone think i should get? i got aem cai with cel havnt had time to remove it and ship for recalled

anyways nice write and goddamn arent you reving the engine too much?

Nighthawk R18

your new mod gives me an idea

IGotNoSwap

good review. third video was the best.

Declectic

iTrader: (2)

very nice!! I'm impressed in fact... makes me want to get it since I don't think I'll be turbo or anything like that anytime within the next 5 years lol

any reason you're stickin with the Magnaflow exhaust system with all the troubles you've had with it?

– really appreciate your write up/time/efforts into all of the hard work and post

SiYouLater

Weapon R has stepped it up. Nice welds.

Fg2Ryan

Good job, I didn't know the non-Si have such a cute little header..lol btw Nice vids!

xanatos

Wow thats sweet, do you need like a heat shield for that thing? it looks and sounds awesome. I wonder if i should do it? I probably won't though. PROPS FOR YOU BRO!

M1K3

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SeanJohn1802 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">very nice!! I'm impressed in fact... makes me want to get it since I don't think I'll be turbo or anything like that anytime within the next 5 years lol

any reason you're stickin with the Magnaflow exhaust system with all the troubles you've had with it?

– really appreciate your write up/time/efforts into all of the hard work and post </TD></TR></TABLE>
i might switch to the tanabe system later, after a few people have installed it and can give me feed back.

the magnaflow was kind of an impulse buy... and it sounds alright, but i dunno. ill stick with it for now.

greddy tic is out of the question unless i get rid of the header because some one on 8thcivic has it and its so freakin loud..

Nighthawk R18

is that the defouler in the last pic? is there a specific one you bought or they all look like that?

and if that is the o2 sensor, what is the plug for at the top of the header?

Declectic

iTrader: (2)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nighthawk R18 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">is that the defouler in the last pic? is there a specific one you bought or they all look like that?

and if that is the o2 sensor, what is the plug for at the top of the header?</TD></TR></TABLE>

if I'm not mistaken, it's part of the package when you by the "header".

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by M1K3 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">greddy tic is out of the question unless i get rid of the header because some one on 8thcivic has it and its so freakin loud..</TD></TR></TABLE>

when I checked out your links on youtube, had some other dood on there with the Greddy Ti-C and WRH, i likes!

M1K3

defouler came from strutking.com, $27 dollars shipped after discount

and that plug near the O2 sensor isnt coming out..... unless i get a dremel :D