i am looking to buy a header for my d16z6. i know everybody says that dc sports and acouple others are way up on the top of the list as far as quality. but i was just wondering what makes them so much better. if they are all smooth bent and same size opening...what is the difference.

i thought about buying a chikara or something. i am asking about power differences or if it is just looks and price. i would like to know before i buy a cheap one. thanks

 

I'm a firm believer in the fact that a name brand carries a premium just because it's that...a name brand...I can't vouch for any others, but I would imagine they're all pretty much the same. Of course you'll get better perf. from a 4-1 than a 4-2-1...

 

Look around on the crx resource, I can't remember the name, but a lot of guys were recommending a header that would probably be considered 'not a good brand.'

 

u pay for brand name
u dont really pay for quality (not all the time with everything)\
when it comes to headers, any other headeer other than the stock one its going to give u a performance gain.....
when it comes to DC sports and other brands like pacesetter. , in my opinion they all are good..... the quality of DC sports, since they are more xpensive, they are mandrel bended, made of good material and high price....... on pacesetter u get a iron one, wich in my opinion they are mandrel bent also(xperience talking here)... but doesnt matter really the outside, bc the air flow its inside the piping.. for xample. the pipings are not polished inside.....they are smooth but not polished.......so airflow its the same as in any other name brand headers.....
if i were u, get a pacesetter or some **** like that.... u will not see a big diff of power gain ..... nuttin worthed the xtra 150 bucks...... not even a 4 hp gain from each diff header... its dyno proven...... too bad i cant find the charts!

 

I saw on a post here a couple of weeks ago that some of the cheaper brands don't use equal length tubing, which will result in a performance loss.

Some of the cheaper ones don't have as thick of a mounting flange, which leads to warping, constant leaks, and constant re-torqing.

Also, not really name brand specific, but if you don't get one thats stainless or ceramic coated, plan on repainting it constantly or having it rust away in a few years

 

Well, if you are making a "cheap product" do you take the time and money to R&D it? NO. Do you have a strict quality control on welds/bends/inner obstructions, via flow testing? No. Just with any product you buy, you get what you pay for.

Of course you'll get better perf. from a 4-1 than a 4-2-1...[/QUOTE]
Now that all depends on what your engine is, what is your application/use is? Are you an AutoXer or a 1/4 mile racer? What is your "power band" of your engine? What rpms do you use most when driving? Does your engine "lack" torque? Must I go on? It comes down to do you want low end torque, or do you want high end horsepower?

 

Go with the Chikara (4-2-1 Tork-Step)

I bought one, and it woke up my engine quite a bit (D16A6).

I've heard people tell me that they went from a Chikara to a DC sports, and didn't notice a difference at all... It's the best bang for your buck.

 

uhh, i can't answer all those questions but....i have a sohc vtec in a rex, normal driving i shift at 3k. i am a street racer not an autox-er. i would like a little more torque bottom end just for regular driving purposes, but mostly i would be buying it to be a tad faster racing somebody... but i do appreciate all the info...learning more and more..

 

OBX as chikara seems to be the choice for cheap ones. OBX looks like a knock-off the DC.
stan

 

ok i'm wondering.....i can get the base line chikara, come black for like 127.90 shipped.(4-2-1) or i can get the dc sports ceramic coated for like 327.90 shipped and that is 4-1 style. hmmmmm decisions decisions. how much more power would you actually get from the dc 4-1 header than you would from the chikara 4-2-1...i think i need to decide before tomorrow night because that is when i'll be ordering?

 

when I goto Chikara's site all I see is domestics listed for the Tork Step header?

 

I NEVER said 'cheap'...so don't misquote and assume that's what I meant...I was trying to help...no need to hate, he asked about name brands...and you seem to be the ONLY one here that is saying that "you get what you pay for" yeah you do...for some things...like paint, bodywork, and tires...but as far as performance...it's easier for a company to market a part at a higher price just because they've made something else that sells well and their name is well known...I'm not hating on you...just i've never seen you before...


[Modified by PSUCRX, 2:41 AM 8/18/2002]

 

Ok so you want some low rpm torque, plus the engine you have is a D16Z6, a good reason you should get a 4-2-1 header, who cares what brand you get, just get something that fit's the function. If you get a 4-1 they are designed to give top gains in the higher rpms. From my experience on tuning the D16Z6 when you have all of the Intake,header,race cat/pipe,cat-back exhaust, the engine is a little on the lean/side when at WOT. You can compensate with a FPR, SAFC,fuel injectors, just something that fits your budget. Or just leave it alone, cause if it works it works, what's to be fixed?


[Modified by HybridFiend, 9:26 AM 8/18/2002]

 

what does "WOT" mean? and about the lean/rich factor. i have an intake, soon to be header, and cat back exhaust. i would like to get a vafc and have it tuned after the header.....my friend got mass improvments when it was tuned. but thanks.

i just made a new post asking this....... will a header from a d16a6(crx Si) work on my d16z6? thanks

 

Wide Open Throttle.

 

ok, thanks...makes sence now

 

ebay headers

 

i have a black chikara header on my d16a6 right now, i had it for about 3 years, its a lil rustty lookin now, but still works, i would prefer a ceramic coated. but you get what you pay for

 

What makes different headers different is the way they are tuned. Consider a B16A header. The DC B16A 4-2-1 header has relatively short primaries, long secondaries, and a small collector. But the A'PEXi header has long primaries, short secondaries, and a larger collector. This can affect the RPM range(s) in which power is increased, as well as the magnitude of the increases.

 

hey hybrid you have my avatar i thought i was the only one
cool we should be buddies now

anyways my experience is that dc headers suck on the welds they tend to crack