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In 2002, my friend bought a used HP 4-1 header with high flow cat. This thing became quite popular between me and my group of friends who were 7th gen owners as one of them was trying to figure out info on it pertaining it's issue with installing because the transmission motor mount gets in the way for M/T Civics (and thus has to be slightly shaved. Automatics have no issue with installing this part.) The next guy went to purchase it and discovered HP does not produce the header (and for a moment they "stopped production" on it per se. It's made by a no name company and HP is just one of it's distributors. The next set of headers with high flow cats came with no HP badge but they came with a bung hole in one of the tubes for DX and LXers. The original design remained the same. Pretty much, you could purchase this header from the original company and put "7thGenCivic.com" badges on it if you wanted to & sell it as your own.

I bring this up because I decided to buy the ever-so-popular Top Speed Header w/high flow cat converter/downpipe, which looks like this:






This one replicates the design of the standard EX header.

That's not mine.

The funny thing is, I was sent "HP's" version in the mail, which of course is a 4-1 header with long tubes that goes into the high flow cat. It looks like this:





What the hell...? I did NOT want this header because you have to shave part of the transmission motor mount off for it to install and fit without rattling. I wasn't sure if the so-called Top Speed header would fit the M/T Civics and I was going to be the first to find out but why do I have HP's? I ordered my part from Top Speed themselves and they said this was their only two piece header?

What the hell... ? I am horribly confused and disappointed because now I have to send it back already knowing it won't cause a fitting issue with the motor mount. Circa-X was (as far as I know) the only person who distributed the Top Speed header and i refused to order from him because he did not have both parts of the set. But at least my case is proven that HP DOES NOT MAKE THIS HEADER... and obviously Top Speed doesn't either.

 
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That's wierd because I thought HP was a brand name company. But I guess they are nothing more then a production company trying to make the bucs off of other companies.

I am assuming if it's the same design/same header then it wouldn't matter which you got. Sorry to hear about that, and the only other thing I can think of it getting the hwk downpipe with a kamikaze header or something.

 
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It probably happens a lot more than you think. I bet AEM gets their intakes off of eBay.

 
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wow! thats a real eye opener. it does make you think how often this does happen. sorry to hear what happened slammedblueEM2, that sucks

 
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If you guys remember way back when, there was this rumor going on about HP saying they changed their design. Although this was verified by HP themselves that it was false, one did say they called HP and that they are changing the design to fit the Civics. It never happened, because they never constructed it.

 
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You think HP isn't even the main manufaturer, that maybe another no name company is?

 
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I think that's what he's getting at. Saying that HP gets the header from some no-namers and sells it for more money with their name slapped on it.

 
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This "Top Speed Header" I received is the SAME EXACT HEADER as the one HP was giving to everyone. I don't even need to try to install it to recognize it.

EDIT: I just realized something - the 1st version of the original Top Speed header looks a lot like HP's shorty header... the top piece. (Won't be surprised if they didn't make it either.) At any rate, if it is the same exact header, is there a seperate downpipe/high flow cat piece for our cars out there? I really want this part and if that's the case then there is a header/high flow cat set-up out there that might be meant to fit our cars.

 
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Oh yeah, and looking at the previous popular Top Speed header thread (on this forum, in Tech) the header is stainless steel supposedly. Not chrome. HP sold chrome headers... hmm...

 
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This is the header I received from Top Speed.

 
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I did not bother taking a picture of the high flow cat.

 
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I think that's true. I used to own the HP JSPEC cat-back. The parts are all made in Korea, and sold under HP's name. The parts they carry are exactly the same in appearance as other fireball style mufflers... etc etc. I think that the quality is good though. The exhaust was pretty nice too.

But an example of this is:

thecivicstore.com.

They sell HP Racing products... and their own "TCS" products. Both are the same though. It all comes down to who's getting the nameplate slapped on.

Again... that isn't to say that the quality is bad, because it seemed pretty solid to me.

 
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well since u learn that most of these parts are from a generic manufacture in asia, you should realize that the top speed header is pretty much the same too.

I dont see why you dont want to order form circa-x though, just buy the top portion, shorty top speed header you have pictured from him, that way at least you'll get that part.

then order the bottom highflow cat/downpipe off ebay for like 80-90 bucks shipped.

problem solved.

and yes it'll fit, there's no fitment problem with those two.

how did you order that from top speed? did you call? I bet they got confused from your order, cuz that IS the only two piece header they got. the first one u have shown is two seperate products, not one single one. its not a set deal.

anyways just do as I suggested and u'll get what u wanted.

 
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aite I read ur other thread.

and yeah u just simply bought the wrong thing.

maybe top speed doesn't carry that other short one anymore. but I bet they do or someone out there has that one..

just buy the one from circa-x, and buy a highflow/downpipe from ebay. same thing. trust me.

plus its cheaper.

 
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I would've done that before but I did not know that same downpipe was sold on eBay. That sounds like a good idea and I am definintely going to go with it. I'm sending this 4-1 replica back to them today and once the $ comes back, I'll get the header from Circa-X and find the downpipe on eBay. Thanks!

By the way, I called Top Speed. Their website is http://www.topspeedauto.com.

The direct link to the product I bought is here:
http://www.topspeedauto.com/ProductC...idproduct=1342

 
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Lets not start this up again...

 
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Alright so I called Top Speed...

They do sell the set-up I was looking for.

Their top shorty header is $200, but their "cat eliminator" is out of stock until April/May.

They will credit me back for the header I received and I might just buy their top portion providing that Circa-X does NOT reply to my e-mail. Otherwise, I might get it from Circa-X and ****** the downpipe off from eBay, which runs like $100 and below since no one else seems to have it.

The only other thing is that I have to call Top Speed back in 5 days to make sure they received the header because they are too busy to make sure they get it themselves. I've got 5 work days to make my decision either way on how I want to repurchase everything.

 
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I'm glad I got a Kamikaze.

 
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I'd get Kamakaze but that's not an LX in my sig.

 
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Wsup man...sorry to hear about ur story. First, I ordered my header and straight pipe from Circa-X at $250 straight. When I got it, the upper piece had a badge on there that only said "Top Speed" in a fancy font. Its exactly how u see it in the picture. I didn't have a problem with install (i took it to a shop). The header that they sent you doesn't really resemble the one I got from Circa-X. The entire header and straight pipe (wateva u wanna call it) is entirely Stainless Steel! Not chromed out like the "HP" ones. There is certainly not a install problem with the Top Speed Header in Automatics...I do not know about Manual Trannies tho...alot of opinions have been formed about HP headers and Top Speed headers and I can only come up with the conclusion that one company manufactures the headers, and the other buys them in bulk and slaps a badge on them. But the header I did recieved from Circa-X is indeed a Top Speed header, and I have no problems with it so far. Superior quality, inferior brand name!

 
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I might just try and get both the header and cat off of eBay. I'd love to save some $ right about now.

 
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didn't realize there's an issue with him as a retailer.

 
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I just got off the phone with Top Speed as one of their associates refunded my header purchase. If you want their advertised product that's on their website (which is the same as HP's) I suggest getting it off of eBay for a hell of a lot cheaper. You can find it for like a third of the price Top Speed and HP sell it for. If you get it from Top Speed just be aware that shipping is non-refundable.

 
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hi i dont mean to hijack but does anyone have a stock midpipe/cat for sale ? i have atop speed high flow cat i paid $150 for im willing to trade or sell my car is way too loud because i got i/h/e with no resonator

 
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correction on the shaving metal from the front motor mount this isnt nessecery.
i got the hap racing 4-1 with high flow cat. you just had to remove the motor
mount like this

the only thing i had to cut out a little was the subframe.got alot vibration before.


peace
peace

 
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I have a dc sports and i love it. reputable manufacture great fitment and good power. screw all the generic garbage muahahaha.

 
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haha in the end your paying for a name and that's it. just like the endless intake threads. it's all the same. you just pay for the better brand name.

 
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be glad you live in the states else you wouldt say something like that.
you love your dc and i love my Hp.everyone is happy.did ya put it on a dyno to know if it give so good power or did you test what time you drive on the 1/4 mile?