Heres my question, Has anyone ran both the factory ZC try-Y header 4-2-1 and a aftermarket and is there much of a difference . I know there is a difference with the SI but what about this. I have the complete factory manifold now and have been running it. Would I see a noticible difference if I got a header,or not. I know the Si and some of the others are pieces of crap, but this one actually looks fairly decent. I'm not talking about 1 or 2 hp increases you barely notice on a dyno but real seat of the pants noticable differences.

 

ON a ZC I say go for a used dc replacement!
On B16's the stock exh. manifold flows pretty good from the factory.

 

I don't think many people have had the chance to drive a ZC with a stock manifold. Most of the ones they get are cut at the B-pipe.

You're guess is as good as mine. I'd say forget the headers because you probably won't notice much difference except for more noise.

 

the B pipe on this is like the TEG a dual pipe clear to the collector right at the cat. THe upper is a 4-2 like everyone knows and the B pipe is the 2-1 with the collector to the rear of the oil pan. It looked like a decent peice and don't want to spend sh*tload of cash on something for a minimal improvement. I'm sure there may be a "small" improvement but was fairly sure it wouldn't be a huge one like those who had to resort to manifolds off of the Si or god fobid the HF, STD, or the DX ones. I know those are major restrictive. Like walking around with a huge sausage jammed up your rear.


[Modified by virginia_dude, 12:51 PM 4/11/2002]

 

Thats funny!

I've heard that the ZC manifold is pretty good. I wouldn't spend the money, but I'm cheap.

 

I ran the ZC stock one for about 6 months and then bought an N2. It makes more of a difference than intake, cat back, or cam gears did, but not as much as the turbo that replaced it !

It's worth the money. It made mine waaaayyyy louder too. You'll notice the difference, especially in the midrange area.

 

Great thats what I was wondering. Before I wasted the money. I'll do it for a noticable increase, not for a small one. I don't race thats why. I need a new cat and system soon anyway. By the way What brand was the N2 never remember hearing that name before. Its not Neuspeed is it. I guess the DC is as good or better from what I hear. a lot of people went straight to the header when they swapped or used a far worse exhaust manifold then and going to a header as a result. Mine was intact when I bought my motor so I kept it to stay on a budget. It looks better than most, close to a tubular header , therefore thats why I was asking.


[Modified by virginia_dude, 3:28 PM 4/11/2002]

 

The N2 is a neuspeed header. It is cermaic coated and pretty nice.

 

Thanks, its on my list of things to do soon. If the cheap SOB's I work for don't lay my butt off too.

 

I originally had the complete ZC 4-2-1 unit for about 2 years and then got the "ideal" DC *(88-91 teg upper,88-91civic/crx lower) and I guess I noticed maybe a little bit more mid-range but I cant say it was worth what it cost. Who knows, maybe I my expectations were too high (also added 60mm tb and matched intake and B&M fpr) or my tunning sucks or my *** dyno needs callibrated? IMO, dont waste the money on a new one if you can pick one up used cheap.

 

The factory ZC 4-2-1 is exactly what I have right now. It was complete and undamaged when I bought my motor. I was lucky, my TPS was undamaged, all the sensors and the distributer cap and plug wires were in great shape. Sure I replaced them but not till after I knew the motor was good. I'm not going to dyno the car, its a fun sporty work car with guts, not a race car. I have the JDM ZC ECU so I have a 112 mmph limiter that I don't care about. I know a lot of the other engines that had the single tube "B' ppipe stand to gain much more than this engine with the original manifold that I have. So my understanding is I'll notice a difference, but maybe not a huge one. I'll bump it down on my to do list under the new system I'll need (tailpipe is rusted off), and the CAI, I'm going to do the do-it-yourself one with a K&N (has to be a lot better than the stock DX modified to fit the ZC), the one with the 2.5 inch mandrel bent pipe there was a recent thread on. I'l post a picture soon of my ride.


[Modified by virginia_dude, 9:02 AM 4/12/2002]


[Modified by virginia_dude, 9:04 AM 4/12/2002]

 

I'll keep my eye opened for a local used one for a good price. I don't have the funds for a new one at this monent. I guess the amount difference I would see would also matter a great deal on the exhuast system that is on the car (stock DX right now)and the intake (also stock DX ) also since I think those are probibly greater limiting factors than the exhaust manifold is by itself.


[Modified by virginia_dude, 9:43 AM 4/12/2002]

 

Have you ever actually held one of those things?! They weigh like 80lbs and the configuration on them SUCKS ***. This could just be me though, but I think it flows pretty shitty.

-ryan

 

Heres a question, The "Ideal" setup, does DC let you order it split like that or do you really have to get two sets to mix and match. My guess is that how people do it two used sets. I honestly am afraid to prot match a header since you grind away the porcieline coating to do that, have any had their headers burn through or rust out at that point since that was done, or am I just overly paranoid.

 

dude i didnt have a lot of money either so i bought a $120 topspeed header and noticed instant differeneces in low end torque and midrange....my exhaust note was a little deeper, but i put my cat. back in, and get another resinator installed, but thats my...i dont like the noise....installed the silencer yesterday...so im a wolf in sheeps clothing

the cheapies are good just gotta find the right one, if you want to look into the topspeed brand my friend is a dealer
919-759-0210 ask for glenn
loc NC


[Modified by Hyper9, 11:38 AM 4/12/2002]

 

Just FYI-Neuspeed discontinued all Honda headers.

 

The biggest difference is sound and weight. You wont notice too big of a difference in power. I am gonna be getting a ZC downpipe soon to use my zc manifold.

 

Good. I should have added that to my first post. Even though the N2 performed well, it was basically rusted to hell in the first year and looked horrible. It's on my garage floor now and it looks like it sat on the ocean floor for months. I looked at a DC and N2 side by side, and they looked very very similar.

I say skip the header, save up some cash, and buy a turbo kit!

 

I didn't want the cheapo painted ones for that reason, we do use salt on the roads in winter and don't want to buy a new one every year. as far as a turbo or a SC I get a stiffy at the thought of that but how I use the car basicly makes doing that unlikely. I do field service work so rack up a lot of miles. Since Worldcom is too damn cheap to give me a company vehicle and they only pay $0.29 a mile I can't put a lot into the car and not loose my shirt. I bought this car, had it painted put GSR rims and tires, KYB struts and Suspenion techniques springs, front and back seats out of a '93 Civic HB, swapped The ZC and Si Trans and a new clutch and put a stereo into it for about $2,500 total investment. Thats not to bad if I say so. Go figure your average new car price depreciate 100,000 miles over 4 years factor insureance gas, maintenance and repairs. and see what it really cost you to drive every mile, you'll see why I watch the bottom line so much. If it was 100% for my fun and when and where I want to drive, I would have a B16 with turbo sitting in it now. But I would be spending money on someone else if I did it now. Maybe my next Hybrid This thing is a blast to drive. With a turbo I can only imagine how much fun it would be.


[Modified by virginia_dude, 3:49 PM 4/12/2002]


[Modified by virginia_dude, 3:52 PM 4/12/2002]


[Modified by virginia_dude, 3:53 PM 4/12/2002]