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.

 

Nice write-up, thanks. Us slush-box drivers gotta watch out for each other. I'm planning the same setup eventually except for a precisionmuffler.com axle-back for Auto.

 

what he said

Thanks for the write up, ive been wondering how the DC header would be on an auto xB

 

Awesome, thanks for that write-up! Always appreciate info for our automatics. Looks like a header is in my future (right after a precisionmuffler.com axle-back for automatics!)

 

yeah nice job on your description, I just got mine installed as well. So, now I have the manifold back system and the DC header installed. No lag on performance at all, I can actually kill some civics now!!! YES I did it!!(Or at least kept up with them!) Good news to the LA folk, I am going to toyota fest (TORC) in Long Beach this saturday. AND I am going to bring some auto axle backs with me too!! Any takers?

 

I've had mine for a couple months now and still haven't installed it Waiting to do a dyno first.

 

question for the autos with the DC header...

Did the donut off your stock header fit on the DC header? Mine was to small. I didn't want to pound it on since it started to flake apart. I went to Napa and found another but it's solid (not compressable). I'm wondering if I don't have a tight seal because of this. Added the AEM air induction (short ram) at the same time and it sounds good at most times except when punching it hard it sounds a little rough.

Since i still have the stock muffler I don't expect much from my current setup but the rough sound has me a little concerned.

Stylis. What are my options for a manifold back exhaust for my auto xb?

thanks