Okay, so I'm still very unsure about this but I'd like to gather some more information.

I did look around but this all seems pretty complicated to me and some questions need answers I didn't seem to be able to find. To make it simpler, the questions that need answering are in italics

First, would it even be a good mod idea with the plans and actual mods I have?

I have

VMS Tune (which was tuned for a stock car, not with headers)
K&N Drop-in filter

What I'll add

NOTHING.

It would be my last engine mod, I want no CAI and no aftermarket exhaust.. so would changing the headers still give me good gains for the money spent?


Now, there seems to be LOTS of different sizes to chose from. I'm quite lost there.. here's what I'm looking for:

-Don't want to sacrifice low-end torque
-No raspy-ricy noise, if it was left stock I'd be happy
-I want to keep a catalytic converter
-Don't want to break the bank with that mod
-Clean install (i.e. no cutting or hacking anything so it can all be reverted back to stock)
-Don't want to deal with risks of getting CEL's

Is a header good for me?
Which should I go for in all the types and choices available?
What size is best suited to the 2.4?


Now some seem to come with downpipes and some others don't.

Do you need to have a downpipe too or it's just icing on the cake?


Thanks!

 

it'll make a change, it's probably the best power bang for the buck that doesn't start with "step one: remove engine from car"

a header will be fine, a DP will help a LOT, but be prepared to need some tuning if there is a CEL.

i'd stick with something in the 1.5-1.7 inch primary range, for example, i got a CA v1 header, because that seemed like a pretty good setup for a 2.4, but opinions vary a lot on that.

 

thats what i was thinking too, i ordered the CA V1 Header (no need V2 for 2.4) and XTC downpipe. at first i was gonna go with only header just like ur case, but i thought (from many other posts) that the DP would make an even bigger difference and its much easier and cheaper doing those at once

 

Yeah, its a good use of your money performance-wise. I don't think it will matter too much which one you pick. After all, we just have econoboxes. I would go with a DP as well as the header to maximize gains.

 

i got the DP as well, but due to me being silly, i got the wrong one. kenny is swapping it out for me, as soon as i get up the energy to ship back the catless one.

 

how long does shipping take for you? mine has been a while

 

Ive seen a few threads on here of down pipes falling apart. I dont know how many people have had that problem but a few have and at like 10k on them. As far as bang for the buck, I know that youll be getting better flow there for lowering temps, but without the exhaust being wider, Im not sure how much better flow youll get. Im with yah on keeping it pretty much stock. I will start putting money in my car when its old and paid off because I dont want to sacrifice reliability for know on my daily driver. If you were gonna mod the hell out of it I would get a header but you should probably either go hard or go home. Just my opinion.

 

im looking into header and possibly a downpipe once the weather gets nicer around here. anyways i was thinking about just a header because i hear the downpipes cause cels. if i was to get a downpipe and got it tuned out or the 02 deleted or whatrever u have to do would it affect it passing inspecting

 

Hmmm yeah, thanks for the inputs, anyway I know I can send back the tune to get it tuned back for my new mods.. so maybe I'll get this for next year if I'm not happy with the power I'm getting this summer when I finally install the VMS ECM and K&N drop-in.

I liked the C.A. one it seemed pretty cheap and I didn't see any horror stories with these as opposed to ZZP ones.

What can you do if you get a CEL with this? I thought I should have been ok since I don't want to delete the car nor the o2 sensor..

 

i heard hi flow cat would throw CEL and can be taken out with tune....whether it just disable the sensor or fixes it im not sure...

 

So will no cat, lol. I've driven my 2.4SS around for almost a year and a half with a CEL on. Still gets me to work reliably everyday. 41k miles on it in a year and a half.

 

omg i just hit 10k and i bought mine in december of 06...lol

 

iboguth mine nov 07 and i've put 13K on it

 

Wait so the xtc dp with hi flow throws a code?

 

some say yes some say no, i'm still waiting for install to see

 

say if i were to buy the catless xtc downpipe and weld the stock cat or a universal cat that had a 2.5 inlet and outlet into it would it be worth it? u would have a 2.5 diameter as well no indent at the 02 sensor so it would have to have a better flow and that way u wouldnt have to worry about a cel correct?

 

Why would you not just buy the XTC downpipe with the high flow converter already in it?

A tune will not fix it but it can do two different things. You can tell the light not to turn on when the code comes up, which is how most tuners do it, or you can disable it which then it will not set the code or turn the light on.
The reason the light comes on is because the rear sensor does not see wnough seperation from the front sensor, which if you think about it, this is exactly why you are putting in a high flow cat anyway.

 

Yeah, but you what......probally drive your car a few miles a day to high school? I used to be the same way. I bought my '88 RX-7 when I was 15 and it had 62,000 miles on the original motor. I drove it for work and school, finally sold it when I was 20. When I sold it, it only has 98,000 miles on it. So I was putting about 7,200 miles a year on the car, compared to the 32,000 I put on my SS in its first year. Trust me, once you graduate and you either a. travel from home to school a bunch, or b. in my case, get a nice job right out of high school, you'll put alot more miles on it. The good jobs are always far away, lol. I work in DC in the Capitol, Senate office buildings, House office buildings, etc etc doing audio/video installation, and the drive is worth it. But now, however, i've recently moved about 30 miles closer to my job, and I only drive once every 4 days b/c of carpooling, so my mileage whoring is over.

 

ok lets break this down.. so only a 3' hi flow cat does this or will a 2.5" cat do the same? i dont want any codes from my header/dp setup and this is getting irritating cuz ive seen it back and forth.. i already bought the ca v1 header. if i get the zzp dp will it throw a code?

 

I have the ZZP Mid Length 1.5 primaries and 2.5" DP with HF CAT and got the CEL. REDFOCZ got the CA V1 with the XTC 2.5 with HF CAT and he got a CEL.

The way I see it, if you install a header and a DP with a high flow CAT you are about 90% assured you will get a CEL. Granted there are those few people who do not get one, and they will tell you that, but I would be prepaired that you will turn on the CEL.

 

so i would need to tune it out i got that part becuase im sure i would get the cel. now say i get the header/downpipe get the cel and tune it out (which i will need info on how to do, im sure its on this site somewhere) would it affect my car passing inspection?

 

Does the Vibrant header combo also throw a cel? i may just leave the dp stock if thats the case... the V1 header by itself wont throw a code right?

 

If I'm correct the Vibrant header combo only works with Cobalts that don't have the SAI.

 

i have the ca header v1 and ca 2.5 dwnpipe with cat..got no cel..sounds nice with my gmpp catback.

 

wut does that matter/? lol i dont have sai.

man... this is odd, maybe the people with cel's got it cuz of their intakes or some type of exhaust leak on the header/dp... im getting everything done by a performance shop any way and will get it all put on together..