I'm contemplating the purchase of a DC JDM 4-1 header.
I understand that I won't be able to use the factory heat shields due to the lack of brackets, although I think I can rig something. Someone break it down for me please.
Ceramic vs. Stainless? ...is it all just for looks? If so, will the lack of a heat shield ruin my accessories?

 

I am probably going to pick one of those up also within the next couple of weeks. I've asked this question several times to little avail. But I'll share what little I have learned.

Stainless will last longer, but ceramic keeps the heat down more. Some people claim that ceramic cracks under heat, but I've heard that engines don't get that hot. Several people on ths board have coated their header, weather it be Spoon, Mugen or whatever. I know that on domestics, ceramic coated headers are more expensive than stainless. My feeling on it is that if they both perform the same, and the ceramic won't rust, and it's cheaper, then I'm probably going to get ceramic and get something else with the money that I save, maybe put it towards a cat.

Hope this helps, if anyone has more to add, or if I am wrong about something, please don't hesitate to post.

P.S. I don't think the lack of a heat shield will hurt anything. I think that the worst that could happen is that if you get pulled over and they ask you to pop th hood, then they see the aftermarket godies.

Edit: Stupid typos


[Modified by SoCal ITR, 7:08 AM 12/29/2001]

 

Thanks for the input. I too am leaning toward the cheap route. As for the ceramic cracking... ? I dunno. maybe SMSP could chime in right about now.

 

Okay, there's your cue SMSP......


[Modified by SoCal ITR, 12:05 PM 12/29/2001]

 

I'd shell the extra bux for SS....
on my friend's Prelude....(yeah I know it's not a Type-R) but when we put on a DC/ceramic header and I opened his hood for the 1st time....

I thought the lenses on my glasses were gonna melt and he shrieked like a woman sayin his contacts dried out.... it was HOT under there compared to the stock setup..... we also noticed that the fan would come on more often....

Though the car definately felt faster, the heat it produced was crazy..... He was better off buying the SS header and wrapping and or coating it with something better....

I'm sure the coating SMSP offers is better than the **** they use for DC though...

I've heard nothing but good things about swaintech.... but then thas upping the cost of a relatively cheap header to the cost of the OEM JDM with heatshields no?

Choices choices choices......

 

CC coated keeps the temp down, but it will not last very long. SS lasts longer. Do not wrap either one! I wrap a DC CC when I had my old 96 LS and I had to reaplce the header after 1 yr. I then bought a Comptech SS.

 

Thanks for the input RA, I thought about SMSP just because he knowsa lot about headers and has posted some good stuff. I guess he does that too .

 

Jet Hot is your friend


If you're cheap like me, just get the JDM Honda 4-1 and the upper heat shield. If you're set on the DC, send it out to get Jet Hot coated. I believe it's under $150 to get it coated. Looks purdy, too.

 

Thanks everyone... I wonder if it's possible to use the factory heatshields on the DC? Someone in here has bound to had rigged something... ? ?