How To: 2.0 Header Installation
- Thread starter Captain KRM P5
- Start date
Damn shoulda gotten the OBX instead of the ractive. My ractive stays as 4 pipes until it's underneath the car, and the fitment on it has it rubbing up against the seam between the block and the oil pan. Plus, it doesn't even have the second O2 sensor bung. I eventually have to get a midpipe so that I can pass emissions testing during the summer.
I got this header used and noticed that the thread on the EGR connector that connects to the egr pipe, broke or got bend outa shape, only on the first two lines... but enough so i am not able to get the bolt to connect the EGR pipe to fit. is there a shop I can take this too that can clean up the thread or even restore it? or do I have to find and old header and have the shop cut that off and reweld it to the OBX header so i have a good thread to connect to?
Blade4804 said:
My EGR threads got bent out of shape during the original install. Pick up a small triangular diamond file for a couple bucks at a hardware store and try to clean up and reshape the threads. Mount the header loose to the head to give yourself a little "wiggle" room and thread the EGR fiiting using a little 3in1 oil. Screw it on, back it off, add oil - repeat until it's all the way on. THEN ... snug down the bolts to the head @ 14-16 ft/lbs. Take your time, it will work!
Edit: Image added
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Bala de Plata said:My EGR threads got bent out of shape during the original install. Pick up a small triangular diamond file for a couple bucks at a hardware store and try to clean up and reshape the threads. Mount the header loose to the head to give yourself a little "wiggle" room and thread the EGR fiiting using a little 3in1 oil. Screw it on, back it off, add oil - repeat until it's all the way on. THEN ... snug down the bolts to the head @ 14-16 ft/lbs. Take your time, it will work!
Edit: Image added
ok will try that, did you get your ceramic coated? or chromed? mine is like all purple and stuff..
Blade4804 said:
Jet-Hot ceramic coated: http://www.jet-hot.com/index.html They can coat a header in any condition and make it look like this. However, cleaning yours up with a little elbow grease isn't too hard. People have had good results with light sanding and scotchbrite. After you clean it up (and install it) REALLY wipe it down with a mild degreaser and it should bronze a nice even color.
A couple of things to add.
Most of the problems I ran into were related to keeping up with my son while trying to do this install.
You can immediately see why you get gains just by comparing the two. If your obx header comes with bubble wrap it is a good distractor for your two year old to allow you to continue your install.
Be careful when drilling our your nonfouler. I did it with some vice grips over the lawn. It creates a lot of metal shavings that two year olds with bare feet like to step on. This is bad when the wife sees this. She can't care less about my header install.
Can't get the donut off? I didn't feel like buying anotherone. Start with a razor around the edges and tap it in with a hammer all the way around. This will give you enough space to move up to a screwdriver. It came off with some even prying all the way around.
Parts blast everything. WD 40 works fine. Let it sit for a few minutes. Mark your top O2 sensor connectors. I did not try to see if they are interchangeable but it would suck if they got switched during reinstall.
Needle nose pliers are perfect for disconnecting the O2 sensors. They squeeze in just the right places if ya know what I mean.
I know this is just little stuff but if it helps someone else out great! The OBX header I got from protegegarage.com did come with a gasket though the description on the site did not say if it would. Thanks again Ken!
Most of the problems I ran into were related to keeping up with my son while trying to do this install.
You can immediately see why you get gains just by comparing the two. If your obx header comes with bubble wrap it is a good distractor for your two year old to allow you to continue your install.
Be careful when drilling our your nonfouler. I did it with some vice grips over the lawn. It creates a lot of metal shavings that two year olds with bare feet like to step on. This is bad when the wife sees this. She can't care less about my header install.
Can't get the donut off? I didn't feel like buying anotherone. Start with a razor around the edges and tap it in with a hammer all the way around. This will give you enough space to move up to a screwdriver. It came off with some even prying all the way around.
Parts blast everything. WD 40 works fine. Let it sit for a few minutes. Mark your top O2 sensor connectors. I did not try to see if they are interchangeable but it would suck if they got switched during reinstall.
Needle nose pliers are perfect for disconnecting the O2 sensors. They squeeze in just the right places if ya know what I mean.
I know this is just little stuff but if it helps someone else out great! The OBX header I got from protegegarage.com did come with a gasket though the description on the site did not say if it would. Thanks again Ken!
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Boston5761
Member
- :
- 03' Familia
tad off topic: does this look like a real obx to you guys?
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=87722
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=87722
GMalatrasi
Member
- :
- 2003 Mazda Proteg5, soon to be Turbo
Ken this has to be the best "How-to" I've ever seen, thanks for the headers.
GMalatrasi
Member
- :
- 2003 Mazda Proteg5, soon to be Turbo
I doubt that Ken would sell anything that's poor quality.
The quality of the header is good, and I would still recommend it. But the gasket they provide isn't so great. I'm just sharing my experience to save others aggravation when their engine bay gets noisy and the engine starts ticking under throttle.
