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View Full Version : Kspec GT headers installed - no 56k!!


oregun
04-22-2005, 01:21 AM
So I finally got my exhaust installed. I don’t have any picts under the car, but I’ll post up some engine bay shots of the Kspec GT Header. I'm reposting 2 “off-car” photos.

The exhaust system is as follows:
Kspec GT header
2.5 inch Hi Flow Cat
2.5 to 2.25 inch transition (and this is where the downstream O2 sensor is.
30 inch perforated core resonator
2.25 inch mandrel bent piping
2.25 inch mangaflow muffler

My initial impressons. It’s loud. I’d say 3 times louder than stock. I was shocked when I started the car and it was idling at 1200 rpms. I jumped out of the car and walked to the back to listen. Did I mention that it’s loud?

The guys that installed everything were oh so proud of themselves. The installer had his arms crossed over his chest and chuckled, “It’s deep. Real deep.” And he’s right, the tone is beautiful, rich and deep. It’s just loud.

Now, let me put out a disclaimer. I’m not a big fan of exhaust noise. It’s actually about twice as loud as I would have wanted and I’m brainstorming about a solution. There were about 12 other customers at this shop and all of them thought it was the ****, so maybe I’m just weird/picky. If there are any other Elantras in Chicagoland or the North Shore with any exhaust modifications, hit me up with a PM. I’d love to listen to your cars for comparison.

With the hood up, there isn’t any extra sound from the engine bay. Visually, the headers are pretty trick. In order to add extra primary runner length, the headers come up and forward before heading towards the back of the car. I had to install a slim fan to clear the flange. (Another person on Rdtiburon.com mentioned that he had to cut his fan and there was some initial melting. We started cutting the fan, but came to realize that by the time we would make it fit, it wasn’t going to work anymore. I guess EXD’s have less room up front then even the older tibs.) 80 miles later, the cermaic coating on the headers is still shiny and silver, and no CEL.

http://nitrousworld.com/pictures/Headers%20014.JPG
http://nitrousworld.com/pictures/Headers%20015.JPG
http://www.nitrousworld.com/pictures/gtheader1.jpg
http://www.nitrousworld.com/pictures/gtheader2.jpg
http://www.nitrousworld.com/pictures/gtheader3.jpg
http://www.nitrousworld.com/pictures/gtheader4.jpg
http://www.nitrousworld.com/pictures/gtheader5.jpg

Okay, driving: At normal idle, there is hardly a difference in sound inside the car. Blip the throttle and (I have the hatchback) the exhaust pulses deeply from the back of the car. Did I mention that I think it’s loud?

Rev to 3800 and drop the clutch. Woah. There’s a difference. (Besides the all the extra noise.) My TCS light was going nuts, and I have the Qualfie LSD (and stage 3 clutch w/ light weight flywheel- 215/50R16 Kuhmo ASX on Volk TE-37’s). That didn’t ever happen before. So I tried a few more times, and now I definitely have a benchmark for launching differences.

Rolling acceleration is also different. That surge of power around 4000 isn’t there anymore. I’m not saying that I lost power up high, in fact, I noticed that my 1-2 and 2-3 shifts come much quicker (I missed them the first few times.) I think I gained a whole bunch of torque from 2500-3500 rpms! The power is strong and linear and when I’m crusing at 60-70 MPH, I’m barely on the gas. I did notice, that around 5800 RPMs, where the engine starts to choke, there was a slight raspy sound and the loss in torque seemed more noticable. Maybe I’ll have to get that 268 degree intake cam afterall.

Overall, I’m happy with everything. I won’t make it to the dyno for a few weeks because I have stupid finals for stupid med school, and I haven’t even installed the Emanage. I’ll definitely put the results up when I finish.

Hey ford, if you want to resize these picts, feel free.

FordFasteRR
04-22-2005, 01:25 AM
wow !

Those headers look awesome !


If I ever decide to upgrade from the j2 4-2-1 headers.. those will be my next choice !

KeWLKaT
04-22-2005, 01:29 AM
:eek:

that is... really hot

OdessitPashka
04-22-2005, 01:42 AM
Good pictures and review man. It looks great.

I'm glad that you got good sound out of it, but I would hope you did after so many restrictors (cat, resonator, muffler).

I really want to see the outcome on the dyno and maybe you could make it to the track.

I have cheap XS Power headers and if yours are so much better then I might consider spending some money on them, althought I doubt that extra $400 would be worth 2-3 extra HP, if even that, but we shall see.

What other mods you have man?

oregun
04-22-2005, 02:56 AM
The resonator and the muffler are straight through. I doubt there is a total of 0.5 PSI of back pressure from the combination of those components.

The cat I have is higher flowing then the stock Acura NSX cat. I'm not too worried.

And remember, I got these for $339!!!

OdessitPashka
04-22-2005, 03:21 AM
I had straight through from headers down to a straight through muffler! Sound was horible!

Got 28" glasspack and buzz almost went away. With a cat I'm sure it would dissapear completely, but it would be restricting some gases and I don't want that.

How did you get them so cheap man?

This guy if offering me his for $450 shipped, but I'm not sure if it's worth the money instead of my XS power headers.

EVOXD
04-22-2005, 03:58 AM
those look sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!

Josh K
04-22-2005, 04:03 AM
Awesome! How much were they?

Mahonroy
04-22-2005, 06:46 AM
Awesome! How much were they?

And remember, I got these for $339!!!
:bondage:
lol

sed
04-22-2005, 08:24 AM
:droooooool:

flag @ Half mast from those pics.. man that looks good.


shawn :)

xHolmeZxGT
04-22-2005, 08:57 AM
DAAAAAAAAMMMMNNN! gotta get me some of that!!

Josh K
04-22-2005, 02:30 PM
uhhhhhh, sorry for not reading the post with the price (guess I got distracted from the pics), but HOW dod you get them that cheap??

tharptroy
04-22-2005, 03:09 PM
I recall there was some error (maybe kspec sent something wrong, etc, etc)

he ordered a cheaper header on the group buy, but for the trouble, kspec sent him the gt header.

he made a post about it...just run a search.

oregun
04-22-2005, 03:59 PM
Yup. There was a Group Buy on headers at RDtib.com
I initially ordered the standard 4-2-1 headers, but recieved the GT version instead.
Freaking dumb luck. I also had them ceramic coated from Jet-Hot, and organized a group-buy through them where we got 30% off.

OdessitPashka
04-22-2005, 05:18 PM
Good stuff man. Definitely keep us updated.

Does the car pull a lot harder? Do you have CAI?

oregun
04-23-2005, 12:35 AM
Right now I just have a SRI. I used to have a CAI, but right now it's under revision and expermentation.

BlackIceGT
05-03-2005, 08:04 PM
Where is your #1 o2 sensor?

oregun
05-03-2005, 08:14 PM
There is a place for that sensor built into the header. Just after the flex pipe, when all the exhaust is in "one" pipe.

Oh, and just an update. My wife drove the car around for the first time yesterday. I asked her what she thought, thinking her first complaint would be about the sound.

"Is it just me, or does the car drive much smoother at low rpms? I don't have to give it as much gas to drive smoothly at low speeds."

Woot. The wifey noticed the increase in power and low end torque. That's amazing!