I called the Honda parts guy because I'm looking for an exhaust manifold for my '98 Civic and he told me that in '99 Honda changed the exhaust manifold. What I want to know is two fold: 1. When did Honda start using stainless steel exhaust manifolds and 2. Is this the difference between the '99-00 exhaust manifold and the '96-98 exhaust manifold? If not, what ARE the differences?

 

'96 - '98 are cast iron, and identical to the earlier Z6 manifolds. '99 - '00 Looks more like an aftermarket header IIRC.

 

I wonder if one is better than the other?

 

Not sure, but I do know this, the earlier downpipes used a much thicker flange (like twice as thick) where the met the catalytic converter and lasted a lot longer. If you look at most '96 - '00 Civics and '97 - '01 CR-Vs run in areas that use salt that flange is almost completely rotted off, '92 - '95 Civic usually still look pretty good despite being older, makes me rage.

 

I can take some pics of a '98 EX manifold if needed. It's on an engine in my garage right now. There's a car in front of it so I don't know how great the pics will be...

And Deetz! I missed your message since my browser is doing that stupid always-on-top thing it likes to do. I'm on now though and can see.

 

Sorry I wasn't specific enough, I mean for the D15B7/D16Y7 engines..

 

Crap! I even saw 4 - 1 but it never registered. Y7 manifold has the cat in the manifold, D15B7 had it under the car like an EX/Si. I wasn't aware than Honda ever updated the Y7 manifold, if they did it was probably because they were notorious for cracking around the O2 sensor.

 

Does anyone know if a 2001+ manifold will bolt on to the stock exhaust system of a car with a Y5/Y7 engine? Or do I need the entire downpipe? I was thinking of going stainless steel so that I don't end up with a cracked exhaust manifold again.

 

Pretty sure you'd need the downpipe too, even then i'm not sure if it lines up right.

It didn't really have anything to do with being cast iron, it was just made too thin in that area I think, the older VX/USDM CX hatches had a similar setup to the Y5/Y7 but they didn't crack, they should also bolt right on as long as you get both the manifold and downpipe.

 

Do brand new civic exhaust/catalytic converters from Honda America Motor Company fix the issue with the cracking or did Honda not bother fixing it at all and they're just parts made in 1996-2000?

 

More likely the latter.

 

96-98


99-00



Also the 99-00 The primary O2 is placed downstream closer to the cat (See #9)

 

That's for EX, not DX/LX/CX/HX...

 

the header to down pipe flange is different. the bolt holes do not line up. Just ran ito it the other night. so I need a 99-00 downpipe