ok i am wanting to get a new 4-1 soon but i have searched and found alot of 'you have to fabricate the crossmember' 'its a waste' and just to get a 4-2-1 but i want 4-1 so can someone with a b16 in a crx please tell me what 'fabrication' is needed or pics would help alot

i know it depends on what header but people say its a waste

 

bump need info

 

To my knowledge, the reason you have to "fabricate" the crossmember is fit the larger header in as it runs closer to the crossmember then a 4-2-1 header. You have to "notch" out a space in the crossmember so you will have clearence. I run a 4-2-1 header just cuz I didnt want to get into cuttin up my crossmember, some say its not safe but Im sure there are still lot of people who do it and everything is fine. If you get an aftermarket crossmember such as JimFab, full-race or anything like that then that will allow you to run a 4-1.

As of a waste, Im sure thats all up to opinion. 4-1 will give more top end power witch is good for a B16 and a 4-2-1 will give more midrange. I think another clearence problem with 4-1 headers is ground clearence. If you car is lowerd quite a bit then you would have to be careful not to drag the header cuz I believe they also ride a lil lower then 4-2-1 headers.

Hope this helps.

Matt

 

i took the liberty of drawing up a quick diagram showing fitment of 4-1 into an EF chassis.


and also the ground clearance with a 4-1 header on an EF lowered approx 2" (b18a1, ebay "vtecnician" mild steel crossmember/traction bar)

 

i have a 4-1 header in my CRX... just banged the cross member up with a 5lbs sledge hammer still i had enough clearance. some cut it up and have a fab shop weld in plates others by a Jim Fab or Z10 and now Full race cross member to help with this problem. to my understanding it is not safe to just cut the cross member and leave it. Im sure some will say its not even safe to wack it with a hammer. I've been running with mine this way for about a year or so now... i still feel safe in my car, but am looking forward to getting a full race cross member when $ is a available.

as for ground clearance i have alot since my car is only about an inch to an inch and a half lower than stock. still has some pretty deep scars though.

 

i do.. i cut it out and welded new one in...
looks clean... want pics email me

 

BUMP I am interested in the same question, the archives have been cleaned out alittle too much. Obviously ground clearance and clearance versus the cross member is going to vary between headers. It seems to me that there are no 4-1s that full fill both without being custom fabricated by like SMSP, Headertech, or DTR which is a big jump in price from the bolt ons. The AN-R seems to fit but it requires AC removal and that is not acceptable for me. Most of the 4-1s that I have seen do not seem to be EF friendly.

 

I'm having the same issue. I really want a 4-1 but I don't want to bang up the crossmember unless there is no other way without buying an aftermarket crossmember. Pictures of what the beat or cut crossmember look like would probably help.

 

If I were you I would just get an aftermarket crossmember, such as a full race and z10, which are also traction bars. Or you could even go with the place racing.

 

i drew that diagram. you have to cut a big *** notch out of the center of it. with a d series and a 4-1 DC, i got by with just smashing the crossmember flat in the spot where it would hit and it cleared.