I need to replace the O2 sensor on my DA and am having a hell of a time getting it out, so I figure I might as well replace the header as well, if it's at all worth doing.

The car is stock so far, with slightly opened up intake but that's it. I doubt that I'll do anything major to it.

Will a reasonably priced header give me any performance gain? That would be the only reason to replace it - I don't want to do so just for sound, and I don't care what the car looks like. If so, any recommendations? Any disadvantage to ceramic coated vs stainless, aside from looks?

thanks.

 

First off I had a hell of a time replacing my O2 sensor on my DA also.. lol...as far a performance gains it will be little to none with just headers unless you replace the entire exhaust system...and a mechanic from Jotech told me that stainless steel is better b/c ceramic headers tend to rust on the inside...now thats just what I heard

 

I could use new exhaust before too long, same with the cat, how much better would it be to do them too?

 

Well yeah it would be great to get everything done at once...with a high flow cat and straight through exhaust you'll have better low to mid range torque and a better flow due to less restriction...not to sure about exact numbers as they vary with diff. cars....but you gonna be throwin down some bread for real... for a GOOD system the cheapest i found for a DA was a HKS Hi-Power system...it was on sell for $$540 not to mention labor..but this is in Texas it may be cheaper in Cali.......another option would be an EBAY kit for about 200 ...but remember you get what you pay for...Good Luck

 

There's a local exhaust shop that I can get to make up an all stainless mandrel bent catback for fairly cheap, I see no real reason to buy a premade one instead.

 

Megan Racing makes pretty good and inexpensive headers for the DA Integra. That's what I have on mine.

http://www.meganracing.com/pro...id=67

 

Oh, I'd also prefer CARB approval if possible - I live in CA and have to smog the car every 2 years...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Junkie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Oh, I'd also prefer CARB approval if possible - I live in CA and have to smog the car every 2 years...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh, that makes sense. I live in Kansas where there is very little, if any, regulation about such things.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Junkie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Oh, I'd also prefer CARB approval if possible - I live in CA and have to smog the car every 2 years...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Just take it off every two years before smog. It's a simple thing to do and also its good because you can inspect everything everytime you do get under and make sure everything is okay or if something has to be replaced. But if you do need a CARB legal header, you can go to DC sports header, but your going to pay double the price of the megan header.