Best headers?

blackdragon11

Member
:
2003 Mazda Protege5
Just curious about who makes the best headers for the Pro5's? Ive seen the AWR, but they seem VERY pricey, DC Sports says coming soon, ive heard bad about Essential Speed, and OBX just seems too cheap. Any opinions, or some I dont know about?
 
i have sold over 200 obx headers and almost everyone loves them. i am going to be doing a group buy on them soon if there is interest. what is your concern with them?

i also carry DC sports products but I do not feel they will ever release the header. i have driven cars with both the AWR and obx and do not feel there is a difference that justifies the price.
 
not that I know of. Oh and stay away from SR Motorsports they sell the OBX header but for 599 (of course they don't call it the OBX header on their site hehe)
 
I had an OBX header before i went to the darkside and it served me well. Brandon in Tucson bought it from me. Throw a MIL fix on the second O2 and you're golden. And being in the desert you don't have to worry about corrosion/rust from snow/salt.

blackdragon11 said:
Just curious about who makes the best headers for the Pro5's? Ive seen the AWR, but they seem VERY pricey, DC Sports says coming soon, ive heard bad about Essential Speed, and OBX just seems too cheap. Any opinions, or some I dont know about?
 
blackdragon11 said:
Does mazdaspeed or autoexe make them?

mazdaspeed motorsports uses the AWR and autoexe does not make them. seriously, what is wrong with the obx?
 
Get the wagner shorty header...alot of people disagree.... but it keeps the primary cat so you will still pass emissions and you can always get there hi flow down-pipe to replace the factory primary cat....just my 2 cents

wagnermotorsports.com
 
There is also the Ractive. I have that one. The only thing is, you gotta have the 2nd o2 sensor bung welded in. Took 20 minutes and 25 bucks at a local muffler shop. I love it.


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OBX has 2 bungs already, took 0 minutes and 0 bucks to have a second one welded in ;)

I've been very happy with my OBX - I highly recommend it

not to mention, group buy pricing on it absolutely rocks
 
Total cost for me: $25 + stock header. So I got the better deal. ha!

Seriously, if i did not find that hookup, I would have gotten the OBX, only because of the 2nd bung pre-installed. And a group-buy the header is also a great deal!

nate0123 said:
OBX has 2 bungs already, took 0 minutes and 0 bucks to have a second one welded in ;)

I've been very happy with my OBX - I highly recommend it

not to mention, group buy pricing on it absolutely rocks
 
Boston5761 said:
Get the wagner shorty header...alot of people disagree.... but it keeps the primary cat so you will still pass emissions and you can always get there hi flow down-pipe to replace the factory primary cat....just my 2 cents

wagnermotorsports.com

Depending on the state's emissions testing process, you can still pass as long as the computer doesn't throw a CEL.

And why bother throwing a header in there if you're keeping the first cat? You aren't really removing exhaust restrictions and helping flow too much...
 
The only benifit of doing a full header is removing the pre-cat. Without the pre-cat the car seems to rev a bit smoother and power doesn't die off as sudden.

Disclaimer about OBX header, or any header on an FS-DE:

Do not expect power gains, just a better curve and better power delivery.
 
hmm mine definitely pulls harder in the 4500+ range with the header
 
nate0123 said:
hmm mine definitely pulls harder in the 4500+ range with the header

Yeah, most of the gains are after the vics or whatever it's called. When the secondary intake runners open, roughly around 5200. Watch your tach sometime....
 
Replica said:
Yeah, most of the gains are after the vics or whatever it's called. When the secondary intake runners open, roughly around 5200. Watch your tach sometime....
it might be closer to 5200, I was just guessing

but all I know is I never felt a surge up there until I installed the header... before it would just sorta start to fall off above 5k
 
i have heard that the racing mazda header is prone to break, no disrespect to them, just what a few members here have had happen
 

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