I finally installed the MMW header. I had tabs and bolts welded on, so the stock heatshield could be retained. It makes for a nice deep tone out the back of the 2" custom cat back. Instant torque, and pulls nice. Total $ in complete exhaust, from tip to header, 490.

 

interesting .... good example of customization!
props on the new header.

 

Nice....Mad props.

My only problem with the "updated" design is the deletion of those tabs.....I'll have to attempt to do something like you've done to correct it.

 

They no longer have tabs for the factory heat shield?

 

No, they dont. Its real easy to do. Lucky for me my welder cut me out some 1/8th in stainless plates and I drilled em and cut em. I also have the 6mm nuts. I took it all back over to him, and he had it welded up in less than 10 minutes. Had I known this ahead of time, I would have gone for the OBX 4-2-1 header, since they look almost identical. Oh well, its done.

 

My MMW has the heatshield tabs...

 

IMO that was a dumb move by MMW....... The tabs for the heatshield was one of the only things that made it stand out from the other 4-2-1 designs. Wonder is any vendors have some old stlye ones with the tabs in stock?

 

Yea, at least the MMW is still threaded at the collector.

 

No its not, that was the biggest pia, putting those two exhaust nuts on, I needed another set of hands. Id have saved a few bucks and went with the OBX 4-2-1 had I known that. Too late...

 

Oh darn, did I just repeat myself again...??

 

Whoa, its' not even threaded anymore?

That really sucks.

 

Okay, after living with the header for a few months now, Im a little dissapointed with the lack of torque on the very initital hit. Add to that the ac and someone else in the passenger seat, and your not moving very well. The design is good, but the head pipes need to be a tad smaller, for a braoder power curve. I believe its made for a modded motor or racing, and to its credit, it does do its job fairly well. No 10 HP as claimed, but real gains in the mid to upper ranges. Im going to look into trading out for an 08 Xb with a stick. This little engine with an auto just gives up too much. This after a volant intake system, 2" cat back custom exhaust, and the header. Not enough torque.

 

Autos always rob power and with a car that's already low on juice to begin with, it's not the best combo. Try a manual xb (not an xb2) and see if you like the difference.

 

If you have a stock mid pipe all you have to do is make a bigger down pipe. Replace the pipe from the flange to the cat with a 2.25inch pipe and the loss of power will be regained again. The down pipe on the stock xB is a pipe in a pipe that restricts the flow from the header. Replace that pipe, reset your computer and your power should be back. Thats what I did on my xB when I got the MMW header. I used to have the DC sports header and moved to the MMW, much better especially going over hills.

 

Your missing the point here...the header took out some of the low end torque right off the hit with the automatic. Making the pipe bigger takes away more backpressure, thereby taking away more low end torque yet. It runs decent, and theres really no need to go bigger unless you have motor mods and such, or your racing it...nah, dont think so. You have to remember its just a tiny 1.5, not a 2.4. Im probably going to get an aluminum crank pulley to help with the hit, that seems to be the next thing to do. Oh how I wish I had the beans for a turbo with intercooler...8lbs of boost, water injection, etc.