Just purchased an M2 Performance header off ebay

[Skeet Skeet]

I bought it from a seller on ebay for brand new for only $51 shipped which was an awesome deal. Long story short, I get the upper part on and everything looks awesome. The flanges looks as if they were ground down to prevent leaking which was AWESOME. The studs on the bottom were made of what looks to be high grade stainless with a tit on the end so you can tighten them down with an adjustable wrench or pliers. Of course when I got the down pipe on, I knew I was going to have to modify that crossmember to get it on. So I whipped out the handy dandy sawzall. I got that sawed out, and hooked the down pipe up to the header, and to my demise, ITS TOO SHORT!!!! I mean 3 inches too short. I wanted a quiet CB again so I broke out the vice grips and c-clamps. I got it on, but my exhaust don't like it. It rubs the hangers on the chassis and makes ungodly noise. And its alot quieter than that old F22a was!

So now all I have to do now is run my o2 sensor to the back to satisfy my current ecu!

[PakaloloHonda]

Wait .. you cut part of your cross-beam off ???

[Gtseviper]

I bought the same damn header. I left my other one on for a while until i cut the manifold flange off and re-weld it. Mine was too close to the block

I knew I should have bought the damn stainless steel ones.

[toycar]

Wait .. you cut part of your cross-beam off ???

X1231321321321


really? For what, 1 WHP.

Woah.

[Skeet Skeet]

Alot of the people I know have to cut the cross beam out because you have to remember the ones for an H22a fit a Prelude and the engine bay is bigger than the Accord. Not to mention with the way the H22a sits in there, there isn't alot of space to play with.

[deevergote]

Actually... no.

The problem is that you bought a header for an H22A4. A 5th gen Prelude. That's why it doesn't fit properly. I've heard no complaints from anyone that gets a 4th gen Prelude header regarding fitment.

And for $51 shipped... yeah, you're not gaining anything but a new shiny thing under your hood... and apparently now a damaged critical suspension component.



Honestly, unless you needed a new exhaust manifold, a cheap header isn't worth the money and effort. If your stock manifold was leaking, then it's definitely the cheaper route (as a new OEM manifold and flex pipe will cost you a pretty penny.) But a cheap replacement for a busted stock manifold is really all those things are good for.

The headers that actually give you power are a bit more expensive... and MUCH higher quality. Bisimoto, SMSP, HyTech, Mugen... even the DC Sports header with the 2.5" collector is a decent performer for the money (even though the design of the primaries is generic, so it doesn't perform as well as the better ones I just listed.)

[PakaloloHonda]

he speakes the truth ^ on all accounts .. case dismissed, Your Honor ..

[BIGsnorlax]

Its unfortunate that most of the members here seem to go this route. These accords deserve better!

[deevergote]

As a replacement, they're fine.

The unfortunate thing is that the GOOD headers cost as much as the H22 swap itself.
The DC Sports header with the 2.5" collector, or an ESP header (which I forgot to mention above... it's a better option than the DC header if you don't need CARB exemption...) are your best options.




Unless you're buying stolen parts... there are no worthwhile upgrades for the H22 for $50.

[Skeet Skeet]

The reason the header was purchased was because the stock H22a down pipe that was given to me was chopped off at the end and a bolt was broken off at "2". I also checked the part numbers on the box and it shows for a 92-96 Prelude. And idk whats up with my esp mounts but when I bolted up the stock down pipe, it was REAL close (cunt hair) to that cross member. It also doesn't help it suffered a bad wreck a while back. So yea I had to trim a little bit to get the header to fit. I actually don't know of anybody around here who hasn't. A boy up the road with a DC sports header had to trim his a little bit. Who knows.

[Accrdwgnguy]

The ESP header looks like an excellent buy, good gains for the money.

One of these days I'm gonna try to build a header like it for my F22

[visualpoet]

Cutting the crossmember isn't a good thing. A little grinding along the edges isn't a big deal, but if you took a chunk out of it, that's a different thing.
You might want to find someone that can weld and have them fab up something to let you keep your pipe and reinforce the member. It's not just there for looks, it keeps your car from flexing on launch and cornering. You've not only made the car less safe, but potentially slower as well. All the energy it wastes flexing the chassis could be going to the wheels, not to mention that's now a fatigue point in the chassis, and it's slowly going to weaken the crossmember until it tears and breaks.

[Accrdwgnguy]

Or with all the money you saved on the header, you could get a traction bar setup. More clearance and better handling.

[CB7H22Los]

i thought the ESP header was discontinued?

[toycar]

Why not heat the header with a torch, and bend it slightly to fit? What kinda space do you need?

If its more then an inch or so, take the header to an exhaust shop, they will bend it for you for a small fee.