2.0L Racing headers?

[Sleezer1533]

In the coming months I am planning on buying and installing a 4-1 racing header. Regardless of type (BBP/OBX/Option Import/Vibrant etc.) I am curious to hear from anyone who has installed a set on their protege.
For example: How do the sound? How is the performance increase? Will they pass inspection (NY specifically) Will they trip the check engine light? Ease of installation?
-Thanks

 

[P-Funk!]

1. No big increase in sound (on my stock exhaust).
2. Nice bump in performance - especially paired with an underdrive/lightweight crank pulley.
3. Mine passes MD visual (they still see a cat under there ) and CEL inspection because (4) I have the MIL eliminator (a capacitor and a resistor wired to the second O2 sensor. the other (better ) option is to do the non-fouler trick (search the forum/find plenty of discussion). You will trigger a check engine light with just a header.

 

[Sleezer1533]

Thanks for the info, helps a lot. BTW, how difficult is it to install lightweight pulleys?

 

[P-Funk!]

With an electric impact - piece of cake!

I did mine while doing the timing belt and water pump.

 

[Sleezer1533]

If I remember correctly you gotta lift the engine partway out to do that right??

 

[el_Don]

Not to remove the pulley, no. Just unbolt the wheel well on the front passenger side and that will give you access to the bolt.

 

[JLBMP5]

A suggestion would be to have it ceramic coated I did mine and after 2+ years it still looks the same as the day I put it on. and on installing an underdrive Pulley I belive I found installiation instructions on here as to how to remove the crank pulley and there is no moving the engine to do it.
here is a pic of ceramic coated and it was about 100.00 to have it done

 

[justanothermp5]

dam. that looks ******* awesome

where did you have that done?

 

[JLBMP5]

dam. that looks ******* awesome

where did you have that done?

I had it done in raleigh. that was so long ago I cannot remember the place. if you do a yellowpages search for local ceramic coaters it will give you a list of closest to you. Also I had mine done brand new so it really did not require any prep work. I remember him telling me that for it to be done on used headers they need to be cleaned and that adds more to the end bill. The coating is done inside and outside of the headers. and it works because after running my car usuially after about 15 minutes of cool down time I can touch the headers without getting burned so it does reduce the under the hood heat.

 

[03Cobra]

really? 4-1 headers actually produce decent gains on a 2.0?

any dynographs?