I have been thinking of buying some DC Sports headers, but I only have a Tanabe axel back exhaust, and I am planning on geting a K&N drop in filter. Is this a worthless mod or will I see and hear a big or small differance? Before you comment on my numbers please remember there are estimates. Say my 2006 xB 5-speed M makes 92hp too the wheels, with a K&N drop-in (1-3hp), DC headers (5hp) and Tanabe axelback (3-5hp) do you think I will really feel a differance in power or will I loose low end and gain raspy exhaust note and that will not really be worth it? Please no comments on "GET A COLD AIR INTAKE" not an option for me and do not plan on one. So DC sports headers or sumthin else?

 

i have a DC header and axleback (with a SRI though), I noticed improvement the most in 3rd and 4th gear, over 3000 rpms. I think it's worth the money.

 

the header will make you gain some punch throughout high end, as it's a 4-1 design, so you'll really feel it in the 4-6K range. you wont really lose noticeable low end. again, as you pointed out, your estimates on those gains are a bit optimistic.
it's worth it, if not for the high end, then for the throatiness.

 

Just for my own edification... why is an intake not an option for you?

A TRD drop-in and removal of the intake snorkel will make a difference to ya.

 

Drive my xB in all weather and we get alot of rain in the spring, hydrolock has been a issue for some people I know around my area. Im just not gona risk it a new motor is kinda out of my price range right now. My dads shop just replaced a 96 eclipse motor because of hydrolock cost this chick $2500, all she had was a CAI and cat-back exhaust.

 

this is from the AEM site---
Waterproof Your Cold Air System! AEM’s patented Air Bypass Valve virtually eliminates the chance of hydro-lock if the filter of your AEM Cold Air induction system is submerged in water.

Virtually eliminates chance of intake system ingesting water if filter becomes submerged
Installs along upper portion of AEM intake systems with minor modifications
Patent #6,394,128

most cold air systems come with these already, i know my aem one did in 04, so hydrolock should not be an issue for you.
intake header and exause all work together to get you maximum gains by letting the engine "breathe" better. you can do an intake and get a minimal gain, and do an exaust and get a minimal gain, or a header and get a minimal gain, or you can do 2 out of the 3, and get a slightly better gain in HP, but to get the max gain, do all 3, if you are dead set against running a cold air intake, get the k&n drop in, and for god sakes man, remove the snorkel from the airbox! i have the dc headers, and i love them. with my setup, intake header exaust combo, i noticed a slight decline in my low end power, but a major increase in my mid and high end... but the headers were worth the money. don't expect to feel a major difference though in power if you get them, but you will notice a little more pick up, and freeway driving gains, nothing to tent your levi's but, w/o going forced induction, tharts as good as it gets.
realistically, you would be at the 92hp area with the intake, headers and exaust, not before, depending on the parts combo. i would be skeptical that you would even be able to break 100hp, unless you really did your homework, and got only the parts that have the highested proven dyno numbers, and then pray that they all work together seamlessly, netting the highest gains..
one last thing to consider is that a cold air on an mitsu eclipse is about 4-6 inches off the ground, if the car has been lowered, even closer. the cold air intakes for our xb's sit right behind the fog light, so you have to drive through a pretty deep "puddle" to get water into it. also the snorkel sits right next to your headlight, so it's only what 6 -8 inches MAX higher then the cold air filter..
now, if you were presented with a "puddle" that came up to your fog lights, would you drive through it? hall no!!! if i see a car try to drive through something, and the water comes up to the bottom of the side skirt, i turn around and find another route, but mainly i do that because i don't want my box getting dirty!

 

^^^ what he said.
most CAI's have the bypass valve on it to address hydrolock, so CAI's really shouldnt be an issue. SRI's on the other hand might be an issue.

 

Not only that, but there are other intakes that will work.

The Blitz SUS and AFE sit within the engine bay.
The Volant and Blitz inductor sit right where the stock air box are.
The Perrin shortram is fine as long as you're not running an open grille.

So yea, there are options.

 

I have the VOLANT intake on my box and unless you are in water up to your grill you are not getting it hydrolocked

I still need to install my DC header...its been sitting in my garage for ever

 

Read this article.
http://www.importtuner.com/powerpage..._xb/index.html

So install an intake, exhaust, and header and you're only talking 6.8 HP and 4.5 ft lbs at the wheels. An intake alone will get you 4.9 HP and 4.2 ft lbs. Installing a header and exhaust may look and sound cooler, but those mods do not get you much power.

 

Why aren't there any 'full' exhaust systems? I don't see the point in axle back units, except for sound. Headers are useless without larger tubing to compliment throughout, right? SO, if I got a header and installed a straight thru (no cat) exhause to an axle back system, I SHOULD see/feel a decent improvement, YA? No?

 

i had a '79 rx7 and i did a header back exhaust with 3.5" pipe all the way back to a resonator and tip...gained a lot of horsies and it was the meanest sounding 1.1L i have ever heard

 

^^"Please no comments on "GET A COLD AIR INTAKE" not an option for me and do not plan on one. So DC sports headers or sumthin else?"

I like how this turned into a post about intakes did you not read above .^

Thanks to the people who have headers with good input. Im gona ask again, with my setup(k&n dropin & tanabe axel back) are the DC sport headers worth my money?

 

I would say yes... but remove the snorkel from the stock airbox for better flow.

And... the reason it turned into an intake discussion is because the reason it wasn't an option was due to water... note that all of the intake options listed here resolve the above issue by either adding a bypass or by housing the filter away from the elements.

 

Here is what I have heard, felt, tested, etc.

The hp figures on any part of the intake, header, exhaust system is false. You get the most by doing all three. You can do a header and be fine, but you won't get much power improvement out of it. If you do an exhaust then find one specifically for your xB. Too big of a header/exhaust can be bad for NA motors and too small of piping for a header/exhaust can take away power.

 

That's because a header and exhaust without an intake is a waste of time and money if you're after more power. Drop $350+ on an exhaust and header and you get... 1.9 HP and 0.3 ft-lb torque? I doubt you would feel the difference. Spend $40 on iridium spark plugs and you'll be able to feel more of an improvement.

 

I can only speak about the header I have. I dont know how it compares to the others.
I have the Weapon R/ MMW 4-2-1 stainless header.
I did a dyno pull and it showed about a 4hp increase, and I can definatly feel it in the 3k+ RPM range.

As far as sound goes, I didnt notice it being any louder. Maybe just a tiny hair deeper, but not a big difference from stock.

My engine sounded alot better when I put my CAI on it... I have a volant CAI with the ram air attachment, and also the attachment that gets air from the fender. I felt a difference after I added on those attachments, but I havn't dynoed it after I added those.

As far as water lock goes... I think anyone who drives through water high enough to lock the engine deserves it. I mean cmon, if you see high water why would you drive through it?
Living in Houston, I've been in many situations that could have lead to water lock, but I chose NOT to drive through High water.
Its stupid to try and use your car as a boat, isnt it!?!

Another note about a post earlier mentioning losing the CAT.
Somebody told me that you could actually lose HP & Torque because of less back pressure. I dont think it would benifit you unless you're going Supercharger or Turbo.