Campee

Hi. I have a 1998 Honda Civic LX. My headers have cracked, no idea why. I heard that some other people had problems with their stock headers on 1998 models cracking for no apparent reason also. I need some aftermarket replacement headers and I've heard that DC sports is the best...but they don't make them for any 1996+ Civic other than the EX model. What are us poor non-EX owners going to do for headers? Can anyone suggest where I could find headers for my car? I'd rather not buy them from Honda...they want $700 or something absurd. Thanks!

cre18

hey my stock header has a crack in it too, right down the middle, but luckily it has not begun to leak. is your engine a d16y7? i've run into a couple problems while looking for a header for my 97 DX hatch. first off, the cat is right below the stock header, so replacing the stock header with an aftermarket one will require a new or different cat. i've heard you can get around this by using a 96+ EX cat. second, the d16y7 has (2) o2 sensors, the problem one being at the base of the stock header and cat. i'm not really too sure what to do? will replacing the stock cat with an EX cat eliminate the second o2 sensor problem?

ElectronBlueGSR

Hey I think this is a common problem on D16Y7s or maybe just Civics in general. I have had my header crack on my 98 DX also and I know a friend who has had the same problem as well. What I did was I bought a header off a 98 EX for $50 which does not have the cat. I then found out that it does not bolt on without modification. I ended up going to Honda and buying a new one which cost me $400. I should have just went to some muffler shop to put on the EX muffler but it's too late. If you're interested, I still have the header and I'll let it go for $40. I'm in the bay area also, near San Jose.

Campee

My header makes my car sound like my dad's 40 year old lawn mower whenever I depress the accelerator. Other than everyone on my block laughing at me whenever I leave my apartment, it's not really a problem. I just want the noise fixed I guess heh. Here are some informative links that I've found that might be of interest....

First off, summitracing has told me that this header will work with my car:

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...t=16088&view=1

These work for any 1.6L Honda Civic engine. They look sorta cheap though, but whatever.

Also, Ive found these headers on EBay which claim to work with the 96+ DX/LX/HX motors;

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1866840402

I've emailed the guy running the auction (who apparently also makes these header) to confirm if they do in fact work with my car.

Anyone have any thoughts on these? If I were to buy these would I need to buy a new catalytic converter? Or would I need to buy anything else for my car? Any advice is greatly appreciated, none of the people around here have any idea what I need.

Campee

If I buy your EX header for $40 what else will I need to purchase and how much do you think it will cost? By the way, I live in San Diego now...

Civic242

You will buy the EX style header and not have a Cat unless you add on a used OEM one or High Flow one after the header and shorted A pipe.

==> http://home.mpinet.net/t-hero/headers!!.htm

cre18

thanks for the great link
so for those of us with 2 o2 sensors, i guess it's time to look for a ex/si cat

Campee

So, the recipe for replacing cracked headers on a 96+ DX/LX/CX/HX is to purchase headers that support DX/Etc motors and an EX cat? Or do we get EX headers w/ an EX cat? Just want to be sure before I buy everything.

cre18

no the Ex cat is only if you decide to go with aftermarket headers. although i believe you need an EX cat also if you go with the EX header. if you only replace the stock DX header with another DX then you should be good to go

Anubis44

so, what is a good aftermarket catalytic converter? I have the same problem being that I have a 99 lx. But I'm just goin to get an aftermarket header for 99 EX, buy an aftermarket cat and just do a custom exhaust.

Campee

I'll be going with aftermarket headers. The Honda ones are like $400+. Aftermarket headers are like $150 or so. Why can't I just take the CAT off of my stock headers and put it on the new aftermarket headers? Doesn't fit or what? How much do EX cats cost? Does anyone know of a place where I can buy a used DX header?

HENRY

You need a cat for an EX which has a secondary O2 bung at the end of the cat. You can get an aftermarket bolt-on one from SMSP (he's a H-T member). He uses carsound cats and custom makes them to your specifications. For all 96+ DX/LX/HX Civics, if you replace the stock exhaust manifold with aftermarket headers, you'll also need an EX cat and cat-back exhaust for an EX (or at least the b-pipe). Keep in mind though, aftermarket headers can crack too (my DC ceramic ones did).

RUNJDM

I gotta 99 dx vp and my headers cracked down the middle too! I just ordered all aftermarket parts.. I got ex header, ex catback and I'm just gonna replace the catalytic convertor with a strait pipe, not too sure if that's legal but I don't gotta smog test til next yr so I'm good! Oh and Igot all my parts off amazon from g force usa(95% positive rating) and it cost me 225 after tax. Lemme know if you want the link

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Nice job searching but don't bump 11 year old dead threads. I think after that time they fixed their issue.