Draxxas header install?

[Nutari]

ok. same friend that bought the borla exhaust somehow found a draxxas header and asked me to install it. He said he took it to every auto place in town and no one will touch it. I took a look and it seems simple enough.

Whats up with the header?

 

[Nutari]

what other parts do i need? gaskets etc?

 

[Nutari]

bump.

 

[mazda3zoom]

It really shouldnt be that hard to do, i had to unbolt mine when i was pulling the engine and it wasnt too hard. You just need some extensions and swivels and stuff if you wanna make it easy. And for the gasket, i reused mine and its fine, its a metal type gasket.
maybe no one wants to do it cuz it would mean ditching the cat and o2 sensor. i dont know if the draxas one has a spot for the o2 ssensor but the factory exhaust manifold has the first cat like 10" from the engine, then an o2 sensor, then the 2nd cat is after the flange.

 

[AzMz3]

The stock one is a pain int hhe ass to get out. And I'm sure they wont touch because it deletes the stock cat as stated.
I wouldn't call it easy. Definately time consuming.

 

[mazda3zoom]

The stock one is a pain int hhe ass to get out. And I'm sure they wont touch because it deletes the stock cat as stated.
I wouldn't call it easy. Definately time consuming.

why werent you at the drive on sunday the 19th??? it would have been nice to see a boosted 3, no one around here has one.

 

[Nutari]

how can i tell if its the 1st gen or 2nd gen header design? i dont want to have to take off the stock manifold to find out..

 

[briand805]

The stock one is a pain int hhe ass to get out. And I'm sure they wont touch because it deletes the stock cat as stated.
I wouldn't call it easy. Definately time consuming.

When Juan installed my turbo he showed me the easy way to get the stock manifold out.
Just pull off the wipers and all the fasterners which hold the plastic and metal piece which is shown in this photo circled and it pulls right out.
No cutting needed.

Took Juan all of 20 minutes or so.(with lift)

 

[AzMz3]

Yeah there is no easier way than that. The first time I removed the stock header I cut the brackets off the cat and it was still hell getting it out.

To make it really easy after you remove the wiper cowl have an extra set of hands. The stock flex pipe is very very flexalbe and will get caught on everything when trying to pull the header out. Have some on guide it out from underneth as you pull it out from uptop.

 

[Nutari]

how can i tell if its the 1st gen or 2nd gen header design? i dont want to have to take off the stock manifold to find out..

bump ^^

 

[ssinstaller]

I think the second gen header is one piece..

 

[Protephile]

I had heard the first gen Draxas did not have a flex pipe. Could be wrong, though.
Try this place for a confirmation:

http://www.mazda3forums.com/?

Draxas is a big-time sponsor there and lots of info available.

 

[Nutari]

I had heard the first gen Draxas did not have a flex pipe. Could be wrong, though.
Try this place for a confirmation:

http://www.mazda3forums.com/?

Draxas is a big-time sponsor there and lots of info available.

i read the entire thread on their header. could not find any info on the difference between the two.. cept that one had a longer flex part.

 

[Protephile]

i read the entire thread on their header. could not find any info on the difference between the two.. cept that one had a longer flex part.

Eh, maybe that's what it was. Been a while.
I don't think we're gonna have that problem with the Thunder. But we'll know for sure in a few weeks.