Minsk99
05-21-2004, 01:42 AM
After going back and forth on whether or not to put an aftermarket header on my auto xB, I said screw it and threw the DC on there. I am very happy with the result.
Installation was actually very easy and took under 45 minute. I used an air impact wrench and 10" extension to get the spring bolts off and on. I had to jack up the front and slide under the car to do this, but they came off in about 5 seconds this way. I used hand tools for everything else.
What had concerned me about adding the DC header was that while I knew that it would add some power in the mid to high RPMs, I didn't know if the resulting loss of HP in the low end would be noticeable or not. This was particularly important to me because our auto trans xB's can't afford any constraints off the line. So, after installing it I decided to give it a real world dyno in rush hour traffic in Hollywood. I'm sure that if dynoed there is some sort of measurable loss in the low end, but I could not feel it at all. I took it out right before installation and then right after and acceleration from stand still to 3000 rpm seemed the same to me.
However, the mid range really came alive (relatively speaking that is). I don't want to get carried away here and tell you that putting the DC header on is like having a whole new xB, but I did really notice a power gain starting at 3000 rpm and especially around 4000 and up. the best gains were in second gear (auto trans second gear) at around 4500 and up. Where it was particularly nice to have this added power was on the Freeway when a hit the overdrive button and accelerated to pass cars or to change lanes.
Noise level was perhaps a little louder, but certainly not enough for anyone to make a purchasing decision over.
I'm running the DC with a Injen short ram intake and a Borla axle back. I'll have to get a mid section built one of these days and I'm sure I'll get even some nicer gains out to this air / exhaust setup.
I'll post some pictures if people really want, but I think that there are already a bunch of DC pics on the forums already. Let me know.
Installation was actually very easy and took under 45 minute. I used an air impact wrench and 10" extension to get the spring bolts off and on. I had to jack up the front and slide under the car to do this, but they came off in about 5 seconds this way. I used hand tools for everything else.
What had concerned me about adding the DC header was that while I knew that it would add some power in the mid to high RPMs, I didn't know if the resulting loss of HP in the low end would be noticeable or not. This was particularly important to me because our auto trans xB's can't afford any constraints off the line. So, after installing it I decided to give it a real world dyno in rush hour traffic in Hollywood. I'm sure that if dynoed there is some sort of measurable loss in the low end, but I could not feel it at all. I took it out right before installation and then right after and acceleration from stand still to 3000 rpm seemed the same to me.
However, the mid range really came alive (relatively speaking that is). I don't want to get carried away here and tell you that putting the DC header on is like having a whole new xB, but I did really notice a power gain starting at 3000 rpm and especially around 4000 and up. the best gains were in second gear (auto trans second gear) at around 4500 and up. Where it was particularly nice to have this added power was on the Freeway when a hit the overdrive button and accelerated to pass cars or to change lanes.
Noise level was perhaps a little louder, but certainly not enough for anyone to make a purchasing decision over.
I'm running the DC with a Injen short ram intake and a Borla axle back. I'll have to get a mid section built one of these days and I'm sure I'll get even some nicer gains out to this air / exhaust setup.
I'll post some pictures if people really want, but I think that there are already a bunch of DC pics on the forums already. Let me know.