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header for my mopar

16K views 34 replies 13 participants last post by  Brat38  
#1 · (Edited)
To start of the New Year got the Mopar Headers. Will be installing it in the days to come but for now it has a role of a paperweight. The piece feels real good and the ports looks nice. Will take some photos to compare with the factory exhaust manifold later. Whatever the case should flow better and hope with the Intake and muffler mods free up more power and sound better.
 

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#3 ·
UN4GTBL said:
Cool, can't wait for the comparison pics...

Nice touch with the little cali...is that the 1/87 scale model?
Yeah, it's the one made by Ricko. They're pretty well detailed for it's size, too bad no one makes a 1/24.
 
#4 ·
please post the comparioson pics... and also... is this a self install?? if so, how hard is it??

i'm ordering the headers in 2 1/2 weeks (and a cai, exhaust should be here monday or tuesday)
 
#5 · (Edited)
ashram said:
please post the comparioson pics... and also... is this a self install?? if so, how hard is it??

i'm ordering the headers in 2 1/2 weeks (and a cai, exhaust should be here monday or tuesday)
Hopefully if all goes right will be installing it this weekend and get some shots of it being done.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Installed the header today. During acceleration the car is quicker and has better response, feels like the car has lost some weight. The factory exhaust manifold and the heat shields are very heavy, will weigh it later for a comparison. The factory manifold's ports size about equal to the header's but obviously not tuned and is very rough not only on the outside but for the ports as well, not good.
Installation was very easy with exception of some issues. The 2 lower bolts (outer) were extremely tight and had to use a breaker bar, lots of penetrating liquid and force. At times I thought the bolts would break off, I would suggest to spray the bolts/nuts a day or so prior to installation. The next problem was removing the exhaust manifold, the 2 upper studs (outer) was held tight because the manifold somehow rusted itself to the studs. Had to use a pry bar and lot of twisting to get the manifold off. Besides these two headaches it was very simple, All in all took about 2 hours allowing for cool down (done at a friends house), eating, talking stories and those issues.
BTW, got the header from Modern Performance, great price and fast shipping, Thanks Cory.
 

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#9 · (Edited)
A few other shots from below of the engine exhaust ports and water pump pipe, water pump and a/c compressor and also a closeup of the header. So far so good but with the 3 day weekend there's a lot of traffic and cops with speed guns and drunk driving checkpoints. Need to find a open highway with no traffic to try give it a nice 0-60 blast. With normal driving I can feel a difference and it sounds the same at idle, open it up and the sound is deeper and fuller but not really that loud, way quieter compared to my Neon. I like it! and it doesn't sound ricey and buzzy at all, which is great.
A cropped shot of my grille cutout at the mid top section to push more air to the intake nozzle.
 

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#10 ·
HICal said:
open it up and the sound is deeper and fuller but not really that loud, way quieter compared to my Neon. I like it! and it doesn't sound ricey and buzzy at all, which is great.
I got the same result from installing that Dynomax Ultraflo muffler, not really too much louder than stock, but deeper and fuller, especially between 2,000 to 3,500 RPM. The headers are on my buy list, for whenever I get cash, I wonder what the combination would sound like..
 
#11 · (Edited)
CoolCallie said:
I got the same result from installing that Dynomax Ultraflo muffler, not really too much louder than stock, but deeper and fuller, especially between 2,000 to 3,500 RPM. The headers are on my buy list, for whenever I get cash, I wonder what the combination would sound like..
I think it will sound great w/ the Dynomax. I have the AP exhaust muffler and it's surprisingly quiet at idle, you can't hear anything. Only when accelerating do you hear a slight roar, still not noisy at all. The low end/off line is noticably stronger but at idle I'm surprised by how quiet it is and the car idles so smooth, you can't even tell if the engines running, must be the tuned piping.
I also decided to heat wrap the O2 wiring. First used a plastic wire wrap which sort of deformed so I redid it with the heat wrap which I also ordered from Modern Performance.
Still need to see the 0-60 but I can tell it's better. You can feel yourself being pushed back into the seats. Best way to describe the car is it feels like a go cart, it wants to dig and run.
 

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#12 · (Edited)
caliber172 said:
do performance testing before and after, 0-60. etc.
Finally got to get some 0-60's today. Samples from the G-Tech, weather conditions were humid with headwinds but still had to try it. You'll see 2 crazy numbers, the 6.57 had to be wrong, however that run felt the best. The low of 9.40 I spun the tires and the car pulled sideways at about 20ft from launch.

Run 1, 8.02 In low gear
Run 2, 6.57 Yeah, like real, the G-Tech must have gliched, run that actually felt the best
Run 3, 9.40 The tire spin
Run 4, 8.02 Another so I should be around here

Will try again once the weather gets nice and the humidity and headwinds go away, it's very sticky here in Hawaii. Hopefully get it into the 7's, plus I need to take my toolboxes out of the car, did it on the way home from work. Oh! and sorry, no before testing, first time ever timed the car.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Man, great minds think alike. Im hopeing for 7s too!!! I beleave im in the 8s. Im using a passport GT-2, but for my runs, a bring out the ol stopwatch!!! 1 quick question, do you think the header was worth the money ONLY for the performance alone. (I alread have a nice deep tone with the magnaflow) Thanks in advance. PS my buddy calls my car "the go cart" I agree 100%, and I dont mind a bit!!!
 
#14 · (Edited)
Since you already have the magnaflow I bet you'll like the sound with the header. Surprisingly silent at idle, during acceleration it growls with a deeper but kind of metallic sound if that makes any sense. You can hear the rap sound from the revs but it's not noisy at all, I love it!
The performance is great, idles so smooth, gets rid of the so-called CVT pause from the lowend and it plows when you punch the pedal. Nothing at all compared to the stock setup. Unfortunately I did this after my air intake mods which did a lot so it could be a combination of things. I can see that Dodge really choked up this cars performance with just the breathing alone.
Now that I know where I stand and what I'm able to push out of the car I might work on another whole new intake system.
7's should be no problem at all, without the headwinds, muggy weather and my baggage (toolbox, toolbag, work bucket w/ more tools, cooler and backpack) it'll happen. Just need to find a lucky day w/ no traffic.
As far as the header being worth the money for performance alone? It all depends, I like performance oriented cars, headers, nice engine bays, you get the drift. My friends and even the dealer is impressed with it all. I pondered on this header for the longest time and waited for posters which did not happen, My only regret is waiting this long to get it.
BTW, I'm lately getting 28-29 mpgs and Hawaii doesn't have any real highway driving plus I drive like everyone else, fast, nuts, slow, whatever...
 
#16 ·
ashram said:
i'm on the edge to order the headers.... just gotta find an installer 1st.
If you're able bodied with turning wrenches and have access to a floor jack/jack stands it's very easy. Tools used were metric sockets, extensions, rachet, breaker & pry bar and wood blocks if needed.

It's best you raise the front end up,
remove the heat shield,
undo the O2 wiring (not necessary),
unbolt the exhaust pipe and push it a nudge back to clear the exhaust manifold,
unbolt the manifold and remove from the engine.
Clean exhaust pipe gasket surface,
Reinstall gaskets and install headers in reverse with existing nuts/bolts/gasket on the engine side and supplied new nuts/bolts/gasket for the pipe side.

Really easy with exception of the stuck manifold and bolts, get a friend to help you cuss, two heads might help. Also spray the bolts with WD40 or some kind of penetrant, should go easy. Good Luck!

Today was able to get one 0-60 run of 7.77 coming home from work with the same baggage in the trunk but not too much headwinds. Still humid like crazy.
 
#17 ·
well, no floor jacks here.... or prybar small enough to use....or even a flat surface. i'll probably just order one and figure it out after it's here.
 
#18 ·
HICal said:
Today was able to get one 0-60 run of 7.77 coming home from work with the same baggage in the trunk but not too much headwinds. Still humid like crazy.
that is respectable headers help the low end. i was going to help my mom with her neon sxt, which feel thru, my dad had to buy a motor home that we never use, and a new house because he ran outta projects on our old one. but i was debating between headers, and indy intake for the car, if i remember correctly the intake was better for hp and headers for tq, correct me if i'm wrong, so good choice with headers.
 
#19 ·
srtman said:
that is respectable headers help the low end. i was going to help my mom with her neon sxt, which feel thru, my dad had to buy a motor home that we never use, and a new house because he ran outta projects on our old one. but i was debating between headers, and indy intake for the car, if i remember correctly the intake was better for hp and headers for tq, correct me if i'm wrong, so good choice with headers.
For my '98 Neon RT I have the pacesetter header, works great for lowend and cheap at Modern Performance about $150. If you have the aluminum intake I would get the gaskets, port and polish it yourself. Very messy but I felt a hugh difference there, also have a larger throttle body, Iceman intake, injectors, etc. I would get the header first but for the Neon unfortunately I had to weld the supplied ball swivel joint (if that's what it's called?). With the Caliber very cool, no welding at all needed.

ashram,
Do you know of any local mechanics or muffler shop that's cool? I really don't think they would charge too much. I had a neighbor that had headers installed by a local muffler/speed shop and they charged him $70.

I am happy I got it down to the 7's. What got me inspired is when people and the mags put down the Caliber. For my personal sake I wanted to put them wrong and beat on some Toyotas and Hondas in the process. Where I work it is sort of like a racetrack at quitting time since it enters the freeway, I wanted so bad to chase cars down and not be blown away like a slowpoke.
 
#20 ·
HICal said:
For my '98 Neon RT I have the pacesetter header, works great for lowend and cheap at Modern Performance about $150. If you have the aluminum intake I would get the gaskets, port and polish it yourself. Very messy but I felt a hugh difference there, also have a larger throttle body, Iceman intake, injectors, etc. I would get the header first but for the Neon unfortunately I had to weld the supplied ball swivel joint (if that's what it's called?). With the Caliber very cool, no welding at all needed.

ashram,
Do you know of any local mechanics or muffler shop that's cool? I really don't think they would charge too much. I had a neighbor that had headers installed by a local muffler/speed shop and they charged him $70.

I am happy I got it down to the 7's. What got me inspired is when people and the mags put down the Caliber. For my personal sake I wanted to put them wrong and beat on some Toyotas and Hondas in the process. Where I work it is sort of like a racetrack at quitting time since it enters the freeway, I wanted so bad to chase cars down and not be blown away like a slowpoke.
yea i talked to my mom further a bout her neon, when i was home from college, before i could even go into detail she told me to look in the garage, she baught my dad a Kawasaki Mule, its a golf cart with a 400cc engine..... why do wifes buy gifts for their husbands, with the husbands money lol..... she was like "its in my name" hahaha, man i cant wait for a wife like that :) so needlesss to say project sxt neon is still never going to happen.
 
#21 ·
HICal said:
ashram,
Do you know of any local mechanics or muffler shop that's cool? I really don't think they would charge too much. I had a neighbor that had headers installed by a local muffler/speed shop and they charged him $70.
well, my headers are sitting on my doorstep as i type. hopefully they will still be there when i make it home!
 
#22 ·
ashram said:
well, my headers are sitting on my doorstep as i type. hopefully they will still be there when i make it home!
Like a pet waiting for it's owner.
BTW do you have anything else done to the engine, like a intake, muffler? Just wondering what kind of gains you'll get once the headers are in with obviously a different variation than mines. Still I'll bet you'll love the headers, plus they look so nice in there.
 
#23 · (Edited)
HICal said:
Like a pet waiting for it's owner.
BTW do you have anything else done to the engine, like a intake, muffler? Just wondering what kind of gains you'll get once the headers are in with obviously a different variation than mines. Still I'll bet you'll love the headers, plus they look so nice in there.
K&N intake installed and the mopar exhaust pending (once someone finishes looking it over)
the intake was an instant gain in mileage for me so far (not by much, will know for sure at next fillup) and acceleration (smoother, quicker, LOUDER).
the only downside is that the wife now wants some of the same done to her caliber (we have 2) so i may have to buy everything again :(

i'm hoping having everything setup by this weekend/early next week
 
#24 ·
I just put the header on mine. Didn't realy notice any difference in sound with the cat bak and K&N intake already installed. But it did feel a little bit faster and I couldn't pass it up for a $100 on ebay. I'm interested to see how it does on your car.
 
#25 ·
xr7_67 said:
I just put the header on mine. Didn't realy notice any difference in sound with the cat bak and K&N intake already installed. But it did feel a little bit faster and I couldn't pass it up for a $100 on ebay. I'm interested to see how it does on your car.
Was it a Mopar Header? Wow! $100, now that's a deal. Sounds like you already got the intake and exhaust covered, nice.