I just recently installed an AEM Cold Air Intake and I wanna get new headers and exhaust for my 2001 Prelude. I was wondering what I should go with to get the best performance. Any ideas? Something else I was wondering about is what's the different between the 4-2-1 and 4-1 headers? Any help would be appreciated on this one. I just wanna use everyone's experience so I don't make a mistake.

 

Well, it all depends on the amount of money that you want to spend on your header, since theres a significant spread in cost. On the low-end, you can go w/ a DC 4-2-1 either stainless steel or ceramic, the thermal properties of the two materials are a little different, the ceramic usually runs cooler [under hood temps.] and the gases on the interior of the header are slightly hotter, and hence flow slightly faster!
And then there are the high end pieces, such as Spoon replacement exhaust manifold, which allows you to use the oem downpipe, and it runs ~ $500. Then there is the Mugen piece that runs roughly ~ $800, and is stainless steel and a 4-2-1, piece! Sometimes you can get them used for around $600!
Lastly, are the HyTech headers which run for ~ $1200, and are custom made per application and desired specs! And, I believe that the finish and gauge of material can be decided by you!
As far as the configutaion of the header, its a rule of thumb that the 4-1 design is more intneded for high-end power, and a 4-2-1 is more used for low-end pull, and usually preserves or makes some torque!
Personally, I have a DC 4-2-1 on my 99 Prelude Non-SH and I honestly didnt notice a difference, maybe a little, if anything. So, had I to do it all over again, I would have either kept the stock header or gotten a custom HyTech piece!
Good Luck

 

Welcome BB6H22A (whatever you name is)... You sound very knowledgable.. Im glad you responded, I didn't want to type all that! Pretty much everything he said is right on.. I don't believe DC makes a 4-1 header for the prelude or I don't know if anyone else does.. You can get one made im sure by hytech, but you would probably have to pull the fans out to get the header in there then put the fans back in..

The only way to get REAL horsepower from headers is to have a 2.5" or bigger collector on them.. I belive the Mugen is that big and hytech will build them..

If you have a 5g lude, skip headers, unless you go out all..

 

Does APEXi makes headers for the Lude

 

hey how about 4th gens?? since its pretty arbirtrary to get headers for 5th gen, whats the deal with 4th gens? you have one.. do you have headers?

 

Go with Hi-tech. You can't go wrong.

 

NOW THAT IS A ******* HEADER!! Holy ****!!


Headers are a good Idea on 4g preludes, they simply have a crappy manifold that is pretty restrictive.. Plus, the 92-95 are OBD-I and can gain better results from bolts on's..

 

As far as 4g headers go Greddy/Trust make a header and RSR "did" make one some time ago, you may want to contact A&J Racing up in Canada to see if they could get you one. Im not sure about APEXi, headers or mods on a 4g are a good idea since you have the lovely obd1 ecu, and if you ever want to reprogram it or buy a different ecu, Spoon and Mines both have programs for the obd1 p13's!

 

..for the welcome. And, your right there is no "off the shelf" 4-1 header for the 5g prelude nor for the 4g's. But, Im sure that you could have one fitted. Also, the 4g and 5g headers are not interchangable, since the 5g a pipe is slighly shorter than the 4g!
As far as the Mugen header, when I spoke to King, they told me the 5g 4-2-1 would bolt up directly w/ USDM emissions equipment and cat's! So, that would led me to believe that the inner diameter of the header is slightly larger than other headers on the market!
I agree, skip headers, unless you go custom..

 

Well I have to disagree. First off Kamakize make a 4-1 header for the 5th gen. It sucks but someone does make one.

As for headers not being worth it, that's where I have to disagree. No they don't provide a lot of power for the money but they are a gateway for other mods. If you do much more than i/e on your car the header will become the bottleneck. Plus the stock header is pretty heavy and most aftermarket headers are lighter.

Gabe

 

..I forgot about that one, but from everything that I have read about using the Kamikaze header [on the Endyne pages for example] it seems like the 4-1 Kamikaze header is more beneficial on supercharged motors.
I have to say though that the weight savings of the aftermarket headers are reason enough to get one, just don't expect anything more than marginal gains..

 

Yeah the Kami is great for SC apps since it has short primaries and a large collector (or at least the endyn model does) but on an NA car it really sucks. I agree though, marginal gains at best.

Gabe

 

Well said, I couldn't have said it better myself
edit: typo


[Modified by Mike95lude, 12:17 PM 8/8/2001]