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Do new headers make that much difference??

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Old Dec 30, 2003
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Question Do new headers make that much difference??

Im interested in buying the DC Sports header as I already have the Injen CAI and the DC Sports Catback Exhaust for my 02' Civic, but Im wondering how much of a difference will I notice, if any at all? Also, how hard is this to install myself if I have no prior knowledge? Thanks for any info you can provide me!
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Old Dec 30, 2003
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DC headers suck! don't waste ya money!
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Old Dec 30, 2003
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Well I live in Chicago and will have to pass emmissions test eventually and I dont want to be installing and removing parts each time I have to go for emissions and I keep hearing that the DC Sports header is the only one that will pass the test.
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Old Dec 30, 2003
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Well if you are just replacing the top section than it doesn't really matter which header you get. You will still have your stock cat. DC Sports header is not much of a difference over stock. Get a generic one. I got a Megan Racing header off of Ebay and it cost $100 shipped. Its very nice. With having an intake and exhaust. You will notice a bit of difference when you add the header.

As for installing it. It took me about 15 minutes to install mine today. I used air tools though. But if you don't have air tools, it will still be an easy install. just take a little bit longer. Ironfist did a DYI on his install of his HP header. Search for it.
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Old Dec 30, 2003
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The Kamikaze header kicks ***, dont waste ur money on anything else
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Old Dec 30, 2003
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I actually have a question on the same topic........i heard if you get a header it will increase the sound your exhaust makes......is that true or false......i mean obviously it'll be passing more air through but will it increase sound?
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Old Dec 30, 2003
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screw that!!! just get a generic header and get a generic downpipe+cat

Instant exhaust....same **** as kamikaze....
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Old Dec 30, 2003
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kamikaze isnt street legal
wont pass emissions
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Old Dec 31, 2003
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See my sig. Lots of pics and stuff and a DIY for the HP top portion header. I suppose the DIY could be applied to any top portion header, tho.

edit - My DIY is only for installing a header on an EX, because the EX has the cat after the header in the exhaust pipe. DX's and LX's have the cat built into the header so changing to an aftermarket header will remove the cat which will mean you won't pass emissions.

Also, here's a pic of the stock header vs. the HP header. Notice the bigger pipes and smoother bends in the hp header.


Last edited by IronFist; Dec 31, 2003 at 01:30 AM.
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Old Dec 31, 2003
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So would we all agree that the HP Headers are the best? I heard some people say that since I have the DC TCS Exhaust that the DC Headers would be better than normal. Is this true? Im trying to make the best decision here possible guys, so I really appreciate any educated info you can give me and not just DC SUXXORZ cAuZ3 th3Y jUUzT dooOo!!
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Old Dec 31, 2003
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Thats what I have. The dc header, k&n air filter, and tcs. Everyone needs to stop raging on the dc company. There a aftermarket company like any other. They have a very good rep and their products are carb legal, unlike others. I felt a good gain, but it nothing like a turbo kit. I/H/E will not give you any kind of increased power all across the board.
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Old Dec 31, 2003
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Originally posted by Civic02playa
I actually have a question on the same topic........i heard if you get a header it will increase the sound your exhaust makes......is that true or false......i mean obviously it'll be passing more air through but will it increase sound?
They do a little. There is a break in period for headers and exhausts. When I installed the dc tcs it was one sound. Then I installed the header and the sound got a litle deeper. Then as I drove my car more, the sound became deeper and quieter. At idle, with the a/c off, you can barly hear the exhaust.
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Old Dec 31, 2003
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it's pretty much been said, but with an ex you won't get hardly a diiference because you car comes fatory with a 4-1 header and even though some aftermarket ones are bigger that doesn't mean they're better. the lx on the other hand is just an exhaust manifold it's not really header so that's why it sucks bad and after market header will benefit the car a lot except for the emissions thing, but i dont really care cause were i live an old fart does the test and he doesn't even check. even if i did care a header would only take 30 minutes or so to take out and swap so you'r not losin that much time and it's not like you have to take an emissions test 50 times a year so why the hell not.

here's a pic of the lx "header" from a very helpful diy with loads of pics and if you search it it's called somethin like: finally a diy for a 4-1racing header install



Last edited by big_daddy_b_99; Dec 31, 2003 at 12:07 PM.
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Old Dec 31, 2003
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in reference to kamikaze, the hp header won't pass emissions either. and you only have to take your car to be smogged what .. every 2 years after the first 5 years? ... I really wouldn't worry about going through the trouble of taking it off and putting it back on ...

btw. .. I have a kamikaze ex header for sale ... ;P
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Old Dec 31, 2003
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I was thinking about getting a header too. What other brands of headers would pass emissions?
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Old Dec 31, 2003
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if you have an ex and just get the top portion than all of them will pass. if you have an lx than none will cause our cat is built in to the "header", so once you swap it's gone but i'm the kinda person who doesn't care about that.
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Old Dec 31, 2003
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he's not asking what brand to get. he already said what he is interested in.
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Old Dec 31, 2003
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go with hp
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Old Dec 31, 2003
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id go with Megan Racing...cheap and good quality parts
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Old Dec 31, 2003
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I got a header from ebay. It didnt make the exhaust any louder, but keeps the engine in higher rpms longer.
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Old Jan 1, 2004
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Originally posted by Green Civic
Thats what I have. The dc header, k&n air filter, and tcs. Everyone needs to stop raging on the dc company. There a aftermarket company like any other. They have a very good rep and their products are carb legal, unlike others. I felt a good gain, but it nothing like a turbo kit. I/H/E will not give you any kind of increased power all across the board.

http://www.theoldone.com/archive/nitro_on_dc_header.htm <- this guy knows what hes talkin about... a bit old but still good info
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Old Jan 1, 2004
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big daddy is pretty much dead on the aftermarket header deal for our application.

there's a generic version of the kamikaze (or the kamikaze was already a generic, *shrug*) on ebay for a much cheaper price, I recommend that to dx/lx/hx users who doesn't care much about emission issue and the hassle of swaping in and out when time comes to pass smog (if u even have to deal with that)

as for smog check... some places do visual inspection and wont pass the aftermarket header without carb exempt numbers, even if the part doesn't affect emission. pretty lame but valid.
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Old Jan 1, 2004
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Originally posted by importuner86
I got a header from ebay. It didnt make the exhaust any louder, but keeps the engine in higher rpms longer.
Um, that would mean that the rpms climb slower, and as a result you go slower.
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Old Jan 1, 2004
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The header makes my exhaust sound deeper and some higher pitched noises (no not bumble bee sound) went away...so my exhaust "sounds" less loud
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Old Jan 1, 2004
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for the LX... what would happen if I'd buy a header.. any header.. but i decide to buy a high-flow cat to go with it. Would that fit/work??
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Old Jan 1, 2004
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you would have to do the entire exhaust conversion. The downpipe on the lx is not the same as the ex (i may be using the wrong termonology, but you get my gist). You would have to buy an entire exhaust system for the EX. That would be a header, downpipe/cat, and cat-back.
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Old Jan 2, 2004
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My header made no change in exhaust sound, but I have a stock exhaust so that may be why.
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Old Jan 2, 2004
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Will replacing your factory header void your warranty?

I have a 03-4dr EX so I plan to also get an after market Cat as well. I thought that the only thing that would void your warranty is to replace parts inside the motor, is this correct?
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Old Jan 3, 2004
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Supposedly aftermarket parts only void a warranty if they caused the problem. So if you install a header and something goes wrong with your brakes it won't void your warranty because the aftermarket header doesn't affect your brakes.

If you install a header and your engine blows up, then they might say that it was caused by the header.
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Old Jan 3, 2004
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your better off with the underdrive crank pulley which u need a 26 inch belt, it removes A/C and P/S and gains are 15whp ~
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