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View Full Version : Advice on new Header(s) for Civic


Dime5150
08-21-2003, 04:43 PM
Hi everyone I'm new to this board.

I have a couple of questions.

I recently discovered huge cracks in my stock exhaust manifold. I decided of course its not worth it to try to pay someone to repair by welding as they look in kinda bad shape. So I called honda and they said $285 for exhaust manifold stock. Holy crap! So I found some decent ones on ebay. Stainless steel Ractive header(s).

I was told the heatshield won't fit. Is there something I need to do? Do i need to paint the headers with some kind of paint to keep the heat down? So the paint doesn't bubble on hood? (for some reason my clear coat is bubbling on places but thats a diff issue :))

OH and my car is 1993 Civic EX 1.6L. The seller told me its a bolt on job thats not to hard. Should I go ahead and have someone else install it? I can do things on car my dad and I replaced brushes on alternator and that kind of stuff.

I wasn't so much looking for performance gains. Just replacing the old header(s) (i could smell carbon monixide getting into cabin sometimes and smelled bad under hood and was hearing loud noises now).

My car is a driver. Not a racer. So will I have much problems on the highway with the headers or the heat?

Thanks for any info!! I appreciate it a lot!

ebpda9
08-21-2003, 10:00 PM
well i would stay away from ractive products. they tend to be on the same level with APCrap. maybe you should look into a dc sports or a hedman hedders chickara :yes:

AzCivic
08-21-2003, 10:32 PM
heat will not be an issue, dont worry about it. its very easy to replace the stock exhaust manifold so dont pay someone.

JDMB16
08-22-2003, 10:11 AM
We have one header

Ractive sucks, stay away from them!!

Heatshield usually doesn't fit with an aftermarket header, but it will be fine.

Replacing the header is easy as hell!! If you need a how-to, I'll be happy to give you one.

Check your catalytic converter also since you smell weird smells.

You won't have any problems

STAY AWAY FROM RACTIVE!!!! If you want a nice, semi-cheap header, go with DC Sports.

pdiggitydogg
08-22-2003, 11:26 AM
speaking of this...i need to replace my broke-ass, cracked, rusted to shiat, worthless powertech header...but I dont remeber the nut removal/installation order...someone remind me

GirlSolRacer
08-22-2003, 11:29 AM
Yep, DC sports, not Ractive. You do get what you pay for in car parts, unless you go to a dealership that is. And like these guys said, you won't have any problems with heat or anything. I have header wrap on mine, and even after driving all day, when I stop, I can actually touch them! I wouldn't even get close without that header wrap. But I've been hearing some negative things about keeping all the heat inside the headers, like when it cools condensation may form inside and cause rust/build up. Mine are ceramic, but I don't know about this theory. I think I might be trying a new kind of header soon, so I guess I'll have to see what the old one looks like when it comes off.

AzCivic
08-22-2003, 11:43 AM
Originally posted by pdiggitydogg
speaking of this...i need to replace my broke-ass, cracked, rusted to shiat, worthless powertech header...but I dont remeber the nut removal/installation order...someone remind me

just do a criss-cross pattern, with the engine cold. i didnt do any special order.

JDMB16
08-22-2003, 12:10 PM
Originally posted by GirlSolRacer
Yep, DC sports, not Ractive. You do get what you pay for in car parts, unless you go to a dealership that is. And like these guys said, you won't have any problems with heat or anything. I have header wrap on mine, and even after driving all day, when I stop, I can actually touch them! I wouldn't even get close without that header wrap. But I've been hearing some negative things about keeping all the heat inside the headers, like when it cools condensation may form inside and cause rust/build up. Mine are ceramic, but I don't know about this theory. I think I might be trying a new kind of header soon, so I guess I'll have to see what the old one looks like when it comes off.


www.jet-hot.com

Shaved &/or Laid
08-22-2003, 07:20 PM
CRX HF manifold and a t25 turbo.

pdiggitydogg
08-24-2003, 09:56 PM
Originally posted by AzCivic
just do a criss-cross pattern, with the engine cold. i didnt do any special order.

righty-o then...its off to the garage in the mornin...oh wait...rear suspension still needs to be finished...*sigh*...maybe later then...

arigatou :)