Header Installed! Pics!

[Petrucci914]

Finally got the DC Sports Header installed today. It wasn't that bad of an install. Removing the old manifold was easy but getting the new one down is pretty difficult. I had to remove the engine cover and unscrew the cruise control unit to get it down. Use plenty of liquid wrench and anti-seize on the bolts when taking them off and putting them off. Only broke one bolt off on the old manifold heatshield. Instructions never mention removing the bracket that is attached to the engine. It is a support piece that is not used with the new system. I was able to reuse both gaskets. The exhaust manifold gasket is all steel so just needed to be cleaned. The donut gasket can be easily pryed off. Here is the order me and my dad did the install1. Jack up car on both sides (use jack stands as a safety precaution) disconnect battery2. Remove top heatshield and O2 Sensor3. Remove two spring bolts holding the flanges together4. Unattach the rubber connection after the last catalytic convertor so you can move the exhaust5. Remove the one nut underneath on the engine support6. Remove engine cover and remove two bolts holding the cruise control unit7. Remove 5 nuts holding the manifold to the engine8. Pull old manifold from the top9. Slide in headers from the side (push aside the cruise control and it'll slide down)10. Now just do everything in reverse order. Use the anti-seize on the bolts and 02 sensor. I cleaned my sensor with the MAF cleaner that is safe on sensors. Make sure the 02 sensor is attached to the fire wall. My dad had a special part to attach to a bolt that worked much better than a zip-tie (check the pics)11. Let engine idle for 10-20 minutes and check for exhaust leaks.Sounds really nice and has the extra torque. Should improve in the next few days.You'll need to unzip the file.

[Raven]

I just bought the same header 2 days ago, should arrive some time next week. I got mine for $271.00 plus shipping on Ebay (raceoptions), where did you get yours?Oh by the way, your pics don't show up.

[Petrucci914]

Got mine from Neverenuf.com I think I paid about the same amount.

[Lancer]

About time! What's next? Exhaust, pulleys, piggyback ECU?Yeah, the header does sound really nice with the CAI. I loved the sound of those two together.Got my car back and running purdy good (still have exhaust issues). Come on down for some 'break-in' miles.

[Petrucci914]

From here I'd like to do the Magnaflow exhaust and Progress RSB. I'd like to do the Camcon thing but I'm not sure if it's worth the money or not and I wanna make sure I can do all the tweaking myself. I also want to do a tranny cooler. I had her flushed out and replaced with expensive-as-hell Amsoil and I wanna make sure it still nice and purdy. I definetely have to come down sometime soon. I'm sure I'll drive yours and then cry as I have to drive mine home, haha.

[Vibe_dude]

sorry, dont see any pics

[Petrucci914]

Don't know why the zip files showed up. How can I attach a bunch of pics?

Attached files

[NascarXprt]

the file was problay too big try spliting the file up into like two parts and then two different posts. the file size cannot be larger than 4000000 bytes.

[tcam]

lookin good Have u given a guess for about how much toque you have now?

[Lancer]

The tranny cooler is easy and cheap. Only $40 for a big one like mine and the fluid to top it off.Quote, originally posted by tcam »Have u given a guess for about how much toque you have now?Most likely he lost a little low end, but gained it back in midrange and a little more top end.

Attached files

[JohnC]

Nice install, looks pretty tight in there. Thanks for the info.

[kerrykerrykerry]

Have you noticed any noticable power changes?? Im considering purchasing either these or hotchkis sway bars next, i need something fun install.

[ToolGuy]

Looks good! Good job! Report back with results for sure! And thanks for not calling it headers installed! Arggg... I hate when people call a single, 4 cylinder header, Headers!

[Petrucci914]

There is a noticeable power increase but not as much as I expected. My stock exhaust is still holding it back. I lost some low-end torque but gained some mid and high-end torque. When stepping on it now it doesn't downshift hard and rev way up it's more a steady increase around the entire power band. It's kind of hard to explain but I'm sure I won't notice it as much until the next few days when the ECU is fully used to its goodness.

[northvibe]

are you looking into a exhaust sytem yet?

[Petrucci914]

Ya, I want to get the Magnaflow setup but I'm trying to save some of my money. I get a little 'buy toys' happy during the summer. I'm very very tempted, though. I wish I could find it much cheaper.

[ToolGuy]

Eliminate the cat or get a less restrictive high flow cat too...

[Petrucci914]

update! After 4-5 days of driving my car after the install I have a lot more power. I was disappointed right at first but it has gotten very good now. I used to be able to predict when I didn't have much power and that it would shift, now I am surprised all the time at how much my car wants to go!

Attached files

[BlueCrush]

Great! Glad to hear it is working out for you.At what RPM do you start to notice the increase in power.

[Petrucci914]

I would say probably around 2500rpm and then she just soars. Seems to shift a lot better now too in a way. Instead of stepping on it and having it downshift like crazy it just keeps going. Very nice. Makes me wonder what the exhaust system and a supercharger would do.

[AKLGT]

nice set up!

[Raven]

I installed my header yesterday and all I can say is WOW! With the CAI and Magnaflow exhaust, the torque increase is amazing. It pulls smoothly from idle right up to redline. The first few times I ran through the gears, I kept hitting the rev-limiter because it got there so much faster. The only problem I had was getting the donut seal between the header and exhaust to stop leaking. The trick is to torque the bolts down when the exhaust is really hot. This is the most noticalbe power gain of any mods so far. Oh ya, I put on a DC Sports strut bar as well, took all of 2 minutes.