Headers....worth it?

[collk88]

turbo isnt looking too realistic right now, i just dont have the money and i think id rather spend the money on some tein flex's. but as for the engine, is it worth spending the money on headers. for a while i thought only hotshot made headers for the ka24 but i found that hopupracing.com has a DC sports ceramic header for $350. looks tempting. im wondering though will it really do anything, i figured that since iv done the intake and exhaust route, imight as well go with headers and high flow cat. but if its not going to help me out any than why bother. thanks

[corn322]

yeah, they do help. but if your gunna go turbo eventually, it's just a waste of money. save up for turbo stuff

[collk88]

well the thing is, im in college, the car is at home, and i dont have a job right now so its gonna be at least a couple years before i have the time/money for a turbo set up. so i was thinking to do headers, cat, and some cams for now and then suspension. what kind of increases are you seeing with the headers. can you feel it?

[collk88]

JWT also makes a ka header, has anyone had any experience with this?

[nnkfws333]

I would say if your gonna wait 2 years than wait. Your gonna end up selling it for cheap and losing money. Just save it up. A header is what 300-400 dollars...That can buy a lot...hotpipe/bov to a good intercooler (no piping) to then gauges or an SAFC2...waittt!

[Axel Grungy]

yeah id only mod the ka if i was gonna keep it forever. save the money or spend it on suspension i say

[Neejay]

turbo isnt looking too realistic right now, i just dont have the money and i think id rather spend the money on some tein flex's. but as for the engine, is it worth spending the money on headers. for a while i thought only hotshot made headers for the ka24 but i found that hopupracing.com has a DC sports ceramic header for $350. looks tempting. im wondering though will it really do anything, i figured that since iv done the intake and exhaust route, imight as well go with headers and high flow cat. but if its not going to help me out any than why bother. thanks

Were're slightly in the same boat right now. My ca18det swap and mods would cost about $6k...no dice right about now. College student, still living at home, etc. etc.

As Axel Grungy said, I'd spend it on suspension first. Im actually gonna still get a header, because the way I figure it, in 2 years I'll be trying to move out on my own rather than pay 6 grand on a car. If you just have to spend the money: suspension.

Ive already kinda got exahust (sounds like *** due to $40 ebay muffler), so Im gonna still get a intake and header to suit me.

[InsanityInc]

if you know anyone who can weld, they can probably turn the header into a turbo manifold/downpipe for you if you do go turbo.

[98s14inaz]

Not really worth it with out ecu tuning. Even then I still wish I had boost to begin with. I can't wait to get my kit in.

[onosqv]

Well, I'm gonna be the black sheep here and say it's worth it even if you are going turbo. If anything, for the experience.

In my experience, no matter what you do or how you save up, plans change, that's why you lose money. Of course the more you don't spend, the more you save, but what are you losing on? Experience... and instant gratification . Well, of course if you already have tons of car modding experience, go ahead and save up.

Well, I put in my header (along with hi-flow cat and larger exhaust and intake) and have notice a pretty good difference. It's louder, it pulls harder, makes me feel like my hard work paid off. Of course, the header and intake are going down the tubes in a few months once I finally decide to install my turbo (sitting in my room right now).

So, I've lost about $300 or so. However, I feel a lot better and more comfortable working on my car now that I've done some installations. I'm less likely to mess things up (like I did w/ my suspension) when I install my turbo.

I was not ever planning on going turbo (too scary at the time), but after I kept working on the car and learning how to fix certain things, now I "need" to have a turbo. I'm also a poor college student... actually poor recent college graduate, yay.

Well, in the bottom line, do what you like. You are never entirely losing "too much" money because you gain a lot of experience doing these things, you will have a better understanding of your car. You can always just work on your friends' cars and save money . You can always just invest in things you think may be going toward your turbo (suspension, exhaust, electronic equip, etc), but things change a lot in the course of 2 years, or even 2 months. The longer you can wait, the more power to you; I'm just not like that (maybe that's why I'm so dead broke).

It's basically like most things in life: the longer you wait, the better of a product or what-not you'll get and the lower the cost, but it's just more fun to do things NOW .

[Neejay]

Basically what he said^

Like I said, Id do suspension first, as even a more aggressive stance or look will satisfy you a little bit, as well as improve response and handling.

The only way I WOULD NOT get a header is if you were planning to go turbo in like 2-4 months. If its gonna be like like 8+ months...get the header and hi-flow cat.

REALISTICALLY, about how long is it gonna be before you go turbo?

[nissandrift]

I'm in agreement with the last 2 guys, a header is a good idea. But...since its gonna go turbo buy a used header for cheap and sell it when you start gettin the turbo parts together. Also suspension is def. a worthwhile place to start.

[Ace 2.0]

back when i had my CRX i put headers on it and they are well worth it!!!

[98s14inaz]

Experience wise they are worth every penny, I will agree on that. If you are expecting the 25whp HS promises you will be disapointed. NA mods are fun but seldom give results that the manufacturers claim. Basically take what ever number they give you and divide by 2.

[SilGuy]

You could also consider a cheap header like me...OBX stainless, 170-200 shipped...ok gains i guess and fitment is perfect(at least for mine). I didn't feel like ditchin out 3-4 bills for a hotshot header. In my opinion, its not ideal to spend an *** load on i/h....that usually nets like 5 hp for the basic setup besides the aggressive sound tones. For me, I just did the obx and a KN filter which i feel is good enough...especially we're all in that "turbo in the future" boat. For pictures of the header.... http://www.fotki.com/wusta515 then to car pix folder.....

payce

[kclo4]

Don't forget any drivetrain upgrades that will become more nessesary as you add more power. Most notably will be a LSD if you don't already have one.