from what I read a lot in the forums here at Honda-Acura.net is that 4-2-1 headers are great for lowend and mid power. So what happens if you install a cat back system? now that there are less pressure wouldn't it render the headers useless (meaning i'll lose the lowend for the power at the higher rpm range)?

Another thing, I know this is the stupidest question in the world, why would buying a better brand header be any better than a cheap one? the pipes look the same to me.

I understand that a lot of cars pipings goes all kind of directions, but its not that bad for 95 accord. It goes straight, then make a 90 degree turn and then fairly straight. So why would people still want straighter piping?

Does the stock cat and muffler really restrict the exhaust all that much?

Will the car still be SUPER if I just install the 4-2-1 header without changing anything else in the exhaust?

Sorry for all these questions people, Im new at this car stuff, and I just wanna learn and understand how things work. cuz some things are just so confusing.

 

If you wanna learn how everything works on your car i suggest www.howstuffworks.com best explanation site ever.

 

My questions are beyond the basics, I already understood the function of each of them. These questions require answers from people who are beyond the undestand of the functions. how in the world is Howstuffworks gonna tell me that, thats why its called howstuffworks, but howstuffworks doesnt answer my question. :thinking: If these questions are answered, it will fill in the gaps of what I don't understand. Im really excited about what answers ill get.

 

a header won't give u any noticable gains since honda already made a good one. If u want a sportier car than get an exhaust sytem that will be louder and u will feel like u are going faster. Neither header nor exhaust will give u a gain that will blow u away. I would reccomend getting an intake (short or cold air) and then working on suspension and wheels. If u still want more looks and deeper sound get an exhaust. I am most satisfied with my suspension setup. It makes the car 100X faster around corners where it really matters.

 

get an AEM V2 cold air intake (short ram does nothing, the original CAI makes u lose low end...on 6th gens anyway, iono about 5th), DC sports header, and a good cat back system (i say GReddy EVO or EVO2) and of course work on the suspension

 

header helps most if u already have i/e...stock everything is pretty restrictive...less so if u have EX...but that 90 degree turn is the worst...the smaller the angle the more restrictive...but an exhaust won't net u much on a 4 banger...like 3 hp at best...so it's mostly sound/looks...and whaddya mean by SUPER...i think intake is a good place to start

 

So on a 4 banger EX by add a cat back, you will only notice about 3 more horse? Is that to the wheels or at the crank? Because if it is to the wheels then that still isn't too bad. I mean that should mean about 8-10 motor horsepower.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by aasaa666

Another thing, I know this is the stupidest question in the world, why would buying a better brand header be any better than a cheap one? the pipes look the same to me.

So why would people still want straighter piping?

I just recently got an AEM Short Ram intake and was trying to find published power gains on it. While browsing through all the previous 'intake' posts, one main question that kept coming up was about what's the difference between AEM and generics, is it the filter?...is it the tube? and so on. There's many people in here that know quite a LOT about cars, way more than me, but hopefully I can provide some insight from an engineering POV being a senior mechanical engineering student.

In fluid flow(air in this case), there are two things that create losses in fluid flow(referred to as headlosses). The first is the friction on the inside diameter of the tube. The second is due to bends(90 degree elbows, etc.) and orifices(such as reduction in the crosssection). There are equations which allow you to determine how much headloss is present in the system.

The friction is due to the roughness of the interior of the pipe, slowing down the air velocity, especially near where the air and the pipe contact. I looked at the interior of my AEM tube and it's pretty rough, but I have not compared it to other generic tubes. The second is due to bends, etc. creating areas where air gets trapped and recirculate in the corners not really going anywhere. This turbulent 'trapped' air interacts with the air trying to flow past, slowing it down also.

So all in all, we want 'laminar' flow, flow which is smooth by not having the flow obstructed. So whether in an exhaust, intake, or header, the idea is to have smooth straight pipe. The air filter also plays just as crucial of a role, you want the best air flow possible, without sacrificing filtering capability. The reason a cold-air intake produces more power gains than a short ram is though the pipe curves more and has more distance to travel, the cold, more dense air makes up for it. And yes, a short ram is way better than the stock box, just compare the inside of both and refer to everything I've said here.

And as stated before, intake, header, and exhaust all work the best when used together. Why? They are all in the same 'breathing' system of the car, therefore they are all dependent upon each other to a degree. If air comes in smooth, you want it to exit smooth.

No, exhausts, header, and intakes are not hypes, but what does play a factor on how well they work is...how much better they are than their stock counterparts(like stated above, the stock accord header is pretty good already)...so it also depends on the car. Hope this was what you were looking for.

One more thing, bends are referred to as 'minor' headlosses, whereas pipe roughness creates 'major' headlosses. So roughness is what you need to look at when comparing intakes, exhausts, and so on.

 

:bs: Short rams don't do anything! Right! It may not be alot, but it's SOMETHING! And if original AEM CAI's make you lose low end (which I've never heard of) then V2's will do the same, since they're the basicaly same as a CAI, just coated differently and with a heat shield around the pipe.


With that said, headers aren't worth much alone...neither is a cat-back...or an intake for that matter. Where you see decent gains is when you COMBINE the three. They all work together. And alot of the reason alot of people buy headers and that stuff IS for *bling* factor...but they do provide SOME hp gain.

 

:werd:

I couldn't believe that bs post when I read it. The most restrictive part of the induction system I would think is the factory intake manifold on Hondas. The stock exhaust manifolds flow pretty dam good.