Open Headers or Cat?
#1
Registered!!
Thread Starter
Open Headers or Cat?
my cat is kinda ****ed up and very rusty so instead of coughing up money for a new one, could i just instal open headers? been looking around and they’re about the same price. any downsides to open heads?
d17a1
d17a1
#2
Click Here
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Age: 23
Posts: 3,317
Received 1,155 Likes
on
902 Posts
Rep Power: 99 Re: Open Headers or Cat?
It'd be unbearably loud, for one. Two, you'd fail inspections depending on where you are. Three, it'll throw an engine light. Four, you'll lose a bunch of bottom end torque due to insufficient back pressure. Did I mention how loud it would be?
Just get a cat.
Just get a cat.
#3
Registered!!
Thread Starter
Re: Open Headers or Cat?
#4
Administrator
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Administrator
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Age: 39
Posts: 21,456
Received 1,149 Likes
on
803 Posts
Rep Power: 485 Re: Open Headers or Cat?
I accidentally ran almost open header on my D17A2 (2002 ex coupe MT). When I installed my header, I unknowingly offset the downpipe connection by like.. a quarter inch (don't ask how I managed to do that). It sounded like a harley, was, as mentioned, almost unbearably loud, and I had a metric crap ton of trouble getting up a semi-steep driveway due to the lack of low end torque. I had to rev it up to like 3000-3500 and almost dump the clutch to get it to move up that driveway
now, I notice you're talking about "installing open head"... do you mean a catless exhaust mani? Open header is way different. Open header means you're disconnecting the downpipe/midpipe at the exhaust manifold connection and letting it dump right there. Catless means you have a header that's a cat delete (either a test pipe or straight up exhaust runners going to a singe or 4-2-1 collector) and still allows exhaust gases to run the length of the mid-pipe, through the muffler, and out the tailpipe.
now, I notice you're talking about "installing open head"... do you mean a catless exhaust mani? Open header is way different. Open header means you're disconnecting the downpipe/midpipe at the exhaust manifold connection and letting it dump right there. Catless means you have a header that's a cat delete (either a test pipe or straight up exhaust runners going to a singe or 4-2-1 collector) and still allows exhaust gases to run the length of the mid-pipe, through the muffler, and out the tailpipe.
#5
Registered!!
Thread Starter
Re: Open Headers or Cat?
I accidentally ran almost open header on my D17A2 (2002 ex coupe MT). When I installed my header, I unknowingly offset the downpipe connection by like.. a quarter inch (don't ask how I managed to do that). It sounded like a harley, was, as mentioned, almost unbearably loud, and I had a metric crap ton of trouble getting up a semi-steep driveway due to the lack of low end torque. I had to rev it up to like 3000-3500 and almost dump the clutch to get it to move up that driveway
now, I notice you're talking about "installing open head"... do you mean a catless exhaust mani? Open header is way different. Open header means you're disconnecting the downpipe/midpipe at the exhaust manifold connection and letting it dump right there. Catless means you have a header that's a cat delete (either a test pipe or straight up exhaust runners going to a singe or 4-2-1 collector) and still allows exhaust gases to run the length of the mid-pipe, through the muffler, and out the tailpipe.
now, I notice you're talking about "installing open head"... do you mean a catless exhaust mani? Open header is way different. Open header means you're disconnecting the downpipe/midpipe at the exhaust manifold connection and letting it dump right there. Catless means you have a header that's a cat delete (either a test pipe or straight up exhaust runners going to a singe or 4-2-1 collector) and still allows exhaust gases to run the length of the mid-pipe, through the muffler, and out the tailpipe.
something like this
#7
Administrator
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Administrator
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Age: 39
Posts: 21,456
Received 1,149 Likes
on
803 Posts
Rep Power: 485 Re: Open Headers or Cat?
you can always convert to an EX exhaust setup which would give you access to a **** ton more options. You'd have to buy O2 sensor extension harnesses since the EX cat is located just about under the shifter assembly as opposed to integrated into the exhaust manifold.
(here's a diagram I drew up in case you're unfamiliar with the differences)
As far as I know, the axle back portions are identical. If you decide to go full exhaust, I'd stick to 2.5" piping at the most. 2.25" is ideal. I ran a 2.36" (60mm) b-pipe (A'PEXi World Sport 2 cat-back) with a 2.5" downpipe (Random Technologies high flow catted downpipe -- now defunct, I believe) and that was actually pretty good. That was connected to a Kamikaze (now defunct) ceramic coated header. Got lots of compliments on my exhaust sound
(here's a diagram I drew up in case you're unfamiliar with the differences)
As far as I know, the axle back portions are identical. If you decide to go full exhaust, I'd stick to 2.5" piping at the most. 2.25" is ideal. I ran a 2.36" (60mm) b-pipe (A'PEXi World Sport 2 cat-back) with a 2.5" downpipe (Random Technologies high flow catted downpipe -- now defunct, I believe) and that was actually pretty good. That was connected to a Kamikaze (now defunct) ceramic coated header. Got lots of compliments on my exhaust sound
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
ZeSquid
6th Generation Civic 1996 - 2000
3
10-03-2012 10:33 PM