Guys,
I am in the market for header and exhaust. After looking at the Great Header test I was quite impressed to see the comptech header perform just as well if not better than the JDM 4-1 and DC JDM 4-1 header. But it still leaves questions in my mind as to why. The comptech quality is unquestionsed, they are buit very well. But why did it do so well in the test with smaller primaries and collector. How mant hp can this header take before it looses power? It seems to be cheaper to buy the DC JDM 4-1 but you still need to buy a new cat and /or test pipe. After this the price is the same! What are everyone's opinions? BTW, I was also looking into the comptech and Thermal RD exhausts.

 

Maybe it did so well because it is a 4-2-1 design. 4-1 designs are not necessarily the best application for the street. The 4-2-1 design gives you better mid-range and that's what you need in the street.

People focus too much on the peak HP. It is better to have slightly lower peak HP, if you can get to peak HP faster. Another good header & exhaust to consider is the APEXi GT Header and N1 exhaust. You can check it out here:

http://www.apexi-usa.com/exhausts_gtmanifold.asp

 

I have the exhaust,and I'm really happy with it.I have the header and the icebox too(not yet on).Like you said the quality is great.Sure there are better headers and exhaust out there.For your bolt ons I/E/H I think it's great.I would not use the header and exhaust if I was going to built the motor in any way........Just my .02

 

Comptech = Severely Overpriced

 

Correct!
Top end power of the R has ever been strong. It`s weak from the bottom and to improve that must be primary target.

The comptech header performed well because the R weared a comptech intake. The header was designed to work together with that.

 

Why is low end power so important?
THis car was designed with high rpm power in mind.
If you wanted low end grunt, you should get a gsr instead.

 

Actually, I should mention this is on a GSR. Its true, I would rather have usuable power and that means the middle not on top. Isn't it always the most area under the curve that counts? I have a Icebox now and love it. My question comes back to is it better to stick with the comptech and keep the stock cat or is it better to loose some usuable power and go with the cheaper DC JDM header and get a high flow cat?

 

Peak power is irrelevant. I am talking about power over 5000rpm, primarily
in vtec. That to me is usable power. If you want low rpm power, you will
lose high rpm power. That is the tradeoff.

If you dont plan to do any mods, then the comptech header is fine.
If you do more, then the comptech header is too small.

Do yourself a favor, dont get a skunk2 intake manifold.

 

Why do you say this?

 

i have the comptech header, exhaust and hi-flow cat and i like it alot. it sounds nice and doesnt look like a giant fart can....but sgt is right if you plan to do alot of mods to the engine you would be better off getting one that is a little bigger

 

Because you will lose your low end.

 

I think the Comptech header did so well on the great header test because it was also using a high flow cat. Not just bolted up to a stock cat..

I think their build quality is top notch and if you only used an intake and header, they will all be extremely close. It's when you start really doing mods that will make the difference needing more flow..


[Modified by mattlehrer, 12:09 AM 1/28/2002]

 

How does the comptech exhaust compare to the thermal? Both are full stainless, but the thermal is about 100 bucks cheaper. Any opinions?

 

comptech = mandrel bent piping and magnaflow muffler

 

So the thermal you like better? What do you recommmend?

 

Not thermal and not comptech.
I like and recommend greddy or SMS.

 

I would agree that SMS or greddy make good exhausts, but here is my dilemma.... I live in CT where snow and salt are very common. If I buy an exhaust that is not full stainless it will rust and be usless! Thats why I am staying away from greddy. Thermal, DC and Comptech are the only exhausts on the market that are full stainless. Correct me if I am wrong! Keep the ideas flowing....

 

Stainless doesnt mean it wont rust.
I have seen all of the above RUST through in harsh environments.
And dont think that they will last longer than a non stainless.

 

1st) Top end power is already good. Low end is awul
2nd) It`s impossible to drive in VTEC range in our streets. They are sometimes so small, that one car has to pull to the side and keep waiting to make room for another car if they encounter.
3rd) My R is daily driven. Except the Autobahndriving, I need 85% 0-5000rpm and 15% 5000-7000rpm.
4th) When we have a race event it happens very often that you have to take curves of more than 110degrees uphill...(mountain-race)... Believe me... low end power is VERY helpful.. It`s not the US here
5 th) We have no GSR. The only Teg we have is the Type R




[Modified by Maijk190, 8:49 AM 1/28/2002]

 

Stephen,
Just curious... You seem to be against all exhausts, what do you have? I don't want loud exhausts, i want quiet!

 

I don't need low end torque. When I want to accelerate as fast as possible, I just shift 1 or 2 gears back!!! And when I don't want to accelerate as fast as possible I don't shift back!

 

You speak of straight line acceleration.. coming out of a U-turn would mean you shift back to 1st... not possible.. You`d need the low end in 2nd to push you forward.

But hey.... It`s your choice..be lucky with it

 

If it's really necessary you can double clutch and shift into 1st. I do it sometimes when the car is rolling and I want to accelerate but 2nd gear is too high.....

 

2nd gear is short enough to give me enough power to the point that if im not
careful i can easily induce power understeer.
Low end as you guys think it is, is incredibly overrated. All these mods that
complement the ITR's top end will supplement the low end a little as well.
All the mods you want to do to increase low end will end up taking away from
your high end power. Its that age old tradeoff.

Regarding exhausts, of course the system that makes the most power will make
the most noise, remember that trade off? I personally would rather have
quiet rather than power, and after driving for a couple years on a 2.5" straight
exhaust(and I mean STRAIGHT) i have decided that i would like to hear my
stereo again. Im going to take a slight hit in power, but im not gonna cry about
it either like a lot of people do.

 

sgt, as for the exhaust noise/power question I totally agree.

I agree too when you say that modding the low end is not the best thing for top end. But get my point please:

85% all the time I do NOT need to rev higher than 5000-6000rpm. So where is the sense in doing mods to upgrade the 6000-cutoff ????

There are no quartermile race events where I live. In fact, there are NO race events for the non or semi-professional driver. Only the car-clubs do organize some racing events (like our trip to Nürburgring Nordschleife two times a year).

Two times a year racing and the rest of the year daily driving.... daily driving does not mean to drive through the small streets of a populated area with high revs.. Often I have to climb upward gradients and I don`t like that violently downshifting during daily driving.

Your mods depend on the target, which you pursue. Would you second that ?