I have a 97 si with a b18 swap in it. I would like to get myself a nice set of headers for it. I was wondering if i should go 4-2-1 or 4-1? My car has the b16 tranny in it so it is constantly reving mid range.(Its not a highway car, 4 grand in 5th at 100) I realize the 421 offer more midrange power and the 41 offer more top end but I was wondering if anyone has the done anything similar and the results. Or am I just going to have to experiment and see what I like better.

 

I've never driven a b16 trans, only LS and GSr. I have rode in a setup like yours in a hatch though - ran pretty good before it got a vtec head. That car had a 4-1 on it.

I liked a 4-2-1 on my gsr better than a 4-1 for street driving.

I liked it so much that I'll be using one again on my b20.

 

Header. Singular.

That being said, I have a mildly built B18B1 swap with a CTR transmission, so same gears as you, and I have a 4-1 on it. Honest opinion: sure, it screams all the way to the top, but (and this is a big but), it's a royal ******* pain in the *** to deal with. A full bar tow truck (what almost all of them are around here) can't get under the front wheels - it hits the header. You can't get towed from the rear, either - the header will drag across the ground. Speed bump? Find another route. My car isn't slammed. It isn't even "tucked". It's just a bit lower than stock, and that damn header finds anything and everything in the road to hit.

It's just the nature of a 4-1. They sit lower. They have to. The minuscule difference in the powerband just isn't worth the massive hassle of having one. Go with a 4-2-1, so you don't have to worry about the header.

 

I liked the plm rmf narrow. No clearance issues looks nice and makes good power.

 

There's an eBay style 4-1 long tube header - takes a few to find it but if you're hell bent on a 4-1 that'll do it. You'll have to modify the end of it to work with your catback exhaust but it looks to tuck better than a traditional 4-1.

Planning to use one on my RD1, when that will be I don't know but when it happens I'll get back to yall hopefully with pics as well.

 

https://www.privatelabelmfg.com/prod...-sp-header.htm

I picked one of these up a little over two years ago.
Zero' problems-Great header IMO.

 

just bought a parts car with 4-1 dc headers on it. guess im going 4-1 lol and a magnaflow high flow cat and full muffler. CANT WAIT TO HEAR THIS BITCH ROAR!!! Ill post a vid if i can when shes done.
thanks for the advice everyone.

 

If youre only planning on running one cat it MAY be a bit loud...

Im running one cat and the silencer in the muffler on mine and probably wont take the silencer out until I get a resonator in line. Muffled sound is very important to me...