im shopping around for a header... price isn't too much of a factor because i'm getting a $1K paycheck soon, but i am keeping it in the relatively-low range (300-500) because i'm gonna get a carsound cat as well. so far i am debating between:

1. JDM 4-1
2. Comptech Sport 4-2-1 TIG
3. Apex'i GT-Spec 4-2-1

what else should i consider? which would you choose? thanks

 

jdm 4-1.

 

Its a toss up between the Comptech and JDM 4-1.The comptech did a little better than the JDM 4-1 in the great header test on an R.However If your putting in some raw cams you might want to stick with the JDM,and it does have heat shields.If you staying basic with lets say ITR cams then I would go with Comptech,it does have better ground clearence,and produces gains as good or better with mild cams.
So I would say both headers would be a great choice,depending on your application.

 

dude talk to newgsrdriver he's a moderator, he has some really good deals on the comptech tig and mig, i just got a tig from him for a great price. or go to modcar.com, they sell the mig for 369 and the tig for 469, just got my car back with it installed yesterday and there is a big difference now in the top end power. it flows better because of the torque stepped design and the hp and torque feel smoother throughout the powerband. my suggestion is comptech, the 4-1 designs are great if your running a serious amount of boost or have a supercharger, beside they dent real easy when you bottom out the suspension.

 

get the comptech --- it really is all its cracked up to be - i love mine

 

Might as well get the JDM if your going to get a new cat. I would have gone jdm 4-1 and 2.5 cat if I had the money. Too bad I'm poor so I just got RS*R header and kept the stock cat.

 

dc 4-2-1

 

the dc 421 and 4-1 havent been redesigned since 92. the tubes were originally meant for the 1.7 vtec, so the flow isn't as good as it should be.

 

besides read this one - DC header with a crack in it....anyone experienced this??

 

i am getting the comptech header i have heard it is smoother through the complete band but the dc 4-2-1 gets 1 more hp....more airflow.

 

I'm looking to get the JDM 4-1 for my GSR. I'll be getting a carsound cat or test pipe along with it. I have a couple questions. Does it fit like every other header or do you have to modify your exhuast? Also, can you put it in yourself or is it a 1 piece that requires you need to have someone else do it?

 

I know of many.

I would consider the following headers dLo:
Jdm 4-1 with upper heatshield
DC JDM 4-1
Comptech 4-2-1

That's probably it. The JDM 4-1 has the advatange of looking stock.

 

For a 98 GSR you will have to make slight modifications to get it to fit,somthing with the cat is different with our 98's.Its longer or shorter I'm not sure which is which.Or the headers collector comes down and you need to push the cat further back or get a carsound.


[Modified by maggsgsr, 7:31 PM 8/14/2002]

 

i believe the '00 - '01 GSR has a different exhaust "setup" compared to the older GSR's. i believe the length and placement of the header and cat are different. don't recall if there was any difference for the size/placement of the b-pipe and axle-back portions.

dLo: will there be any issues passing smog tests in cali?

 

ahh modacar...

modacrap....

 

whent he time comes around, i have the stock exhuast, airbox, throttle body, and ex.manifold in my garage

 

IB JG Modified

 

Yeah, I'm the lucky guy with the cracked header. Before that happened, I was very impressed with the performance gains of the DC 4-2-1. I'd buy one again if I had the money.

 

there is NO chance that a DC 4-2-1 makes more power anywhere than a comptech.

 

greddy primary + stock gsr secondary

 

The big difference (besides 4-1 vs 4-2-1 of cource) is the collector, the comptech has a 2.15" where the DC JDM 4-1 has a 2.5"

That means for the DC JDM 4-1 you will also need a new cat that has a 2.5" inlet. The difference depends on what you plan to do with your car. If you were to go with this header, you would either want pure All motor, or N2O. Obviously a turbo replaces the header for a turbo manifold, and superchargers produce power with headers that have short primaries.

If you just plan to go with boltons, stick with the comptech 4-2-1. Its the only 4-2-1 header that is stepped to prevent reverse exhaust flow. You can keep your stock cat till you upgrade it.

If you ever plan on going with high HP, cams, high compression, etc, go for the 4-1. The comptech will just become a bottleneck at that point. Not to mention the B18C is all about top end power, where 4-2-1 is more for midrange than top end.


[Modified by StyleTEG, 11:14 PM 8/14/2002]

 

does the comptech have CARB approval? I'd get either Comptech or the JDM header....

also Modacar

 

Where's a good place to get a DC JDM 4-1?

 

kicked the JDM ITR header's azz all over the place.

A LOT more midrange and some peak hp as well.

 

what's the price range?