Headers

[Black_Protege_5]

Yea. But if you want to stay completely emissions friendly then its great. It will add about 3-5hp and with the downpipe you will get the additional 3-4.

 

[kid prodigy]

now where to get the wagner downpipe... or can i just buy any other downpipe with it ?

 

[Black_Protege_5]

the downpipes are hard to find. There was an old thread of some who was making them and selling them. I don't know if he still is. One could be made but it wont be cheap. You might get lucky as I did and find someone selling one. I got mine off ebay.

 

[kid prodigy]

well if you guys can keep a look out for me that would be great (yes) , but do other downpipes work with it ?

 

[fLyPiNoY7]

well, just to chime in here, there was a thread a few months back with some interest to produce one, but as i remember, that never came into fruition...however, i do remember one of the posts in there saying that a hiboost downpipe would fit after the stock precat...also, if i remember correctly, the mam msp midpipe (the longer one with the downpipe part attached) would also fit in the same way...but with these two options, that still includes the stock precat, which you are wanting to replace with a hi-flow version...

edit: heres the old thread about the n/a downpipe...a few good ideas if youre not willing to wait for the actual downpipe to be produced...(which is very unlikely)
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86150&highlight=n/a+downpipe

 

[Black_Protege_5]

None that are still in business. There was one in canada called essentialspeed but they were too expensive and not one bought.

 

[kid prodigy]

so if i get this wagner header then buy the mam downpipe and midpipe, everything will be just fine ?

 

[fLyPiNoY7]

well, if u get the mam downpipe (which i assume is the msp one that i was talking about earlier), its one piece with the midpipe...ill try to find a pic of this...

 

[kid prodigy]

btw my car is auto so everything will be good still right? and if possible can i have prices for everything so i know how much money i'll have left in my banking account haha.

 

[fLyPiNoY7]

lol...i got my midpipe from o.g. skater a few weeks ago for a very very good deal, but i highly doubt u could find that price...i think mam is running a sale this week on the midpipe (non msp) so u could check out that...i think its $199 for an ss midpipe with hi flow cat...as for the msp version (with the little downpipe attachment), im not sure...pm beau and he'll let u kno whats that about...im still looking for a pic of the msp midpipe, but basically, if u know what the non msp midpipe looks like (staight pipe with flanges at both ends, hangers, and a cat installed in some cases), then just imagine that but with a little extension and a short upward bend on one side...

and yes, your car should be fine with everything...im running an obx header, mam midpipe, and stock catback and im auto as well...besides a few small rattles that can be solved by adjusting the hangers, all is good...

 

[Black_Protege_5]

Hey Albert. Arent you selling your old header?

 

[fLyPiNoY7]

yeah, kid already pmed me about that so ill get back to him once i get an estimate on how much to get that piece welded back in...

 

[kid prodigy]

so the wagner header + stock downpipe + mam midpipe + msp catback exhaust would be ok for now until i get a replacement for the downpipe....

 

[Black_Protege_5]

Oh yea. You will still get some pretty good gains. When I installed the header alone I felt the difference. The downpipe will drop the torque and up the hp and vise versa.

 

[kid prodigy]

Thats good to hear. Just need to purchase the mam midpipe and the wagner header and i'll be happy till i get my next paycheck....then i'll have to buy myself another new mod haha.

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

because you're REMOVING a cat from a specifically designed location for proper, LEGAL emission levels... you're also relegating the primary cat function to the one under the car

installing headers are ILLEGAL, so read the laws before you post anything more

Yeah yeah yeah I'm removing a specifically designed piece the factory put on there...DUH no s***. Now try explaining the functional differences between the oem & OBX primary cat. They have the same thing in that area-space. The second cat has s*** in it besides air. Try reading & comprehending the post you are replying to. I've been running headers on vehicles for 30 years, I know their legality & the laws so I don't need your lame ass suggestions about reading. Answer the question, what is the difference besides the material & thickness??????????????????

 

[Bala]

Alrighty, simma down now. The factory pre-cat is that coffee can looking hunk of metal held in place with five bolts directly underneath the exhaust manifold. It lights off quick and is there primarily to help with cold start emissions ... there is no pre-cat on the OBX. Not all headers are illegal, If the manufacturer goes through the trouble of getting their product CARB approved (California Air Resource Board) and prove with objective data that their header does not alter the performance of the factory exhaust (pollution wise) they will get a CARB # and will provide a plaque or sticker with there header to place under your hood for the visual part of emissions testing. If it flies in Cali, most states allow these certified products for use on your ride as well. The problem is that this approval process is cost prohibitive for most outfits. Wagner's shorty header that retains the pre-cat likely does not pollute any more than the stock exhaust manifold, but he never had it CARB approved (and never will now that his shop is out of business) so guess what ... Illegal as well. To date, there are no Protege headers that have been certified, and with these cars already three years out of production ... highly unlikely. As far as the OBX being "CARB Exempt", it's because they market their header as an "off-road / race only" part therefore exempt for the need of CARB approval. At any rate, deleting the pre-cat with the OBX and running a high flow cat in the mid-pipe will net you some noticeable gains. You should be able to sleep well at night knowing you are only polluting fractionally more from a cold start ... but you are still on the other side of the law ... Rebels.

*Edit - Image added from my grocery gitter ...

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

The questions I have are...What is in that area under the oem manifold with the 5 bolts that makes it a "cat"? Is it the shape of it? Isn't it empty space inside? What is the difference between that space & the same space on the header where the 1st o2 sensor is placed before it gets smaller and goes under the motor? What is it that that space does on the oem mani that won't happen on the header to some degree other than heating up as quick? I understand the CARB cert thing & that headers in general are illegal & that cast iron will heat quicker/stay hot longer than stainless & OBXs advertisement disclaimer & that it may be polluting more(I get places faster to turn it off sooner & ride bicycles a lot to make up for it) LOL. I am not trying to say this header should be considered legal-I don't care, it passes TX emmissions test. I'm not trying to garner support that the OBX really has a cat or not. It just seems comical that something is considered a "cat" just because of it's shape & material it is made of. Exhaust gas preheater maybe but cat just seems to stretch the definition IMO.

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

*Edit - Image added from my grocery gitter ...

BTW, nice car color, digging on the coating on header & the custom battery cage & the overflow canister & the oil cap. Nice clean organized setup.

 

[Black_Protege_5]

The cat is a giant filter. If you remove the upper portion of the hearder you will see a screen with like a honey comb type design inside. The screens prevent a lot of air to flow through rapidly. And that is where all of the restrictions are. If you want to look completely stock but get a power boost. Just gut the cat to allow the air to flow through.