Cx Racing Header pics and review

[Jeonsah]

I figured id post this up since there is not much information about the cx racing header. I just bought one because my factory header was leaking too much. I will post up a review on how it feels once I install it on the car. Otherwise here are some pictures.



Flange:


Collector:


Downpipe collector flange:


Downpipe flange by cat:


I have not installed it but after inspecting it, I would say the following:

1. Transitions are a lot better than in the ebay photos. Didnt expect them to be this good.
2. Flange that connects to cat is angled for some reason.

Here are some general specs they provide on the unit:
1. Connects to factory exhaust
2. O2 sensor on downpipe and at the collector
3. Flange fits 16v and 20v
4. 4-2-1 runner stainless steel with CNC mandrel bends
5. 1.65" runner tube
6. 2.5" downpipe
7. Equal Length runners
8. 2.5" V-Band Clamp
9. Does not come with any gaskets

Hope this helps everyone out whos looking to get a header.

[MisterJerk]

Does it have 1&2, 3&4 going together?

most other 4-2-1 headers are 1&4, 2&3
i.e. Toda, TRD 421, Pacesetter, etc.
I would like to know how it sounds and runs. Nevermind, found the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx4aS45xpfc

sounds like a boxer....

[Jeonsah]

1 & 2, 3 & 4

[Deuce Cam]

Yeah the guy who posted that vid on youtube is a member on hr.net. He said it kind of sounds like a subuaru engine with an unequal length manifold.

[Jeonsah]

So I got this thing on my car with a 20v 4age. Here is what ive learned:

1. Had to cut the flange to fit with the 20v. Had to cut the flange where the coolant outlet port is towards the back of the head.
2. Had to cut my exhaust to fit the down pipe (had to cut about 1" of pipe out). This may have been specific to my car but I figured id say it.
3. Had to extend the factory sensor wiring. Goes on the down pipe.

Drove the car around. And this is all I have to say:

Header makes your 4age sound like a wrx sti engine. Especially if you have a 20v. Really takes the fun out of the 4age.
Power band seems kinda weird. More power at bottom and mid range.

If you have the money, I would suggest saving up for a custom made header instead. Here are some videos and images of my setup. I hope this helps some people out that were undecided. Also, I edited this post after I had a day or two to get an honest opinion.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElzzoYWLYNQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Oai4AmfPsI

[MisterJerk]

It looks pretty kick ass, I'm sorry you wasted your hard earned money on this.

You might be able to salvage/make it run better by re doing the cylinder pairing. Unless you can return it.

[jondee86]

I would suggest saving up for a custom made header instead.

Pretty much the same conclusion I came to myself. After wasting time and money
on trying to fix up a secondhand stainless HKS replica header from Japan, I decided
that the best way to get exactly what I wanted was to get one made...



Got in touch with a local man who has been building racecars for years, and found
out that he had developed and built a lot of headers for the guys who used to rally
the AE86. Tested a lot of different designs and settled on one that "never made
less than an extra 10hp". So I said make me one of those And specified that he
should use proper factory made merges instead of making his own (CX style) merges.

He talked me into the ceramic coating which seemed like a good idea to keep them
looking nice and reduce underhood temperatures. Had the headers installed with a
60mm dia stainless Apexi catback overaxle exhaust (secondhand from a Jap import),
and I am happy with the result.

Cheers... jondee86

[oldeskewltoy]

I decided that the best way to get exactly what I wanted was to get one made...



Got in touch with a local man who has been building racecars for years, and found
out that he had developed and built a lot of headers for the guys who used to rally
the AE86. Tested a lot of different designs and settled on one that "never made
less than an extra 10hp". So I said make me one of those And specified that he
should use proper factory made merges instead of making his own (CX style) merges.

He talked me into the ceramic coating which seemed like a good idea to keep them
looking nice and reduce underhood temperatures. Had the headers installed with a
60mm dia stainless Apexi catback overaxle exhaust (secondhand from a Jap import),
and I am happy with the result.

Cheers... jondee86

specifications?? Appears to be 4-1. How long are your primaries? What diameter are the primaries, collector?

[jondee86]

specifications?? Appears to be 4-1. How long are your primaries?
What diameter are the primaries, collector?

Can't really measure the primaries now that the header is installed, and I didn't
get any pics of it off the car. But the OD of the primaries is 38mm and they are
long... turn horizontal under the car before merging. The secondaries are 41mm
and very short... almost non-existent. After the final merge there is a short
venturi ending at 57mm to the first flange.

I have the flexi mounted mounted between flanges a bit like a cat delete pipe
for ease of replacement. The exhaust has one "hotdog" style resonator, and a
straight-thru muffler at the rear.



Car is strong from idle right thru the midrange and tops out early as usual with
the stock smallport cams. You can hear the exhaust but it is not loud or annoying.
Not saying that these are the best headers ever made... only making the point
that wherever you are, if you look around in the racecar community, there will
be someone who can build you a decent header and make sure that it fits !!

Cheers... jondee86

[AxisZ]

Probably sounds like a subaru because runners 3-4 are noticeably shorter than 1-2, at least thats what it looks like in the first picture.

[Jeonsah]

Going to just make do with this thing for a little while. Despite the stupid sound, the engine now runs great without the exhaust leak. So whatever lol. Atleast there is some more information for people who were curious about this header.

[death_blossom]

jondee86, that custom header of yours looks great. care to share how much it cost for it to be made? any hope of having more made if me and a few others approached your guy to make a small batch?

[jondee86]

Probably wouldn't be viable due to your LHD cars having a steering column
on the exhaust side of the engine, and there not being any LHD AE86's in this
country to use for checking clearances. Plus shipping on something like a header
from NZ to North America would be expensive.

The headers themselves including the HPC coating and local freight cost around
NZD800 plus 15% tax. Then add the labour to trial fit them on the car, remove
and send out for coating, install and fit to the catback exhaust (which required
modding to stop it from dragging on the floor), O2 bung, new hanger rings etc.
All of that nearly doubled the cost of the headers, so kind of expensive job !!!

But I have to say the car is running great Feels really strong right from idle
thru the midrange, and makes driving so much fun... gonna have to dyno it now
just to see how it compares with my previous ITB setup.

Cheers... jondee86

[death_blossom]

didn't realize u were inNZ, never mind!

[jondee86]

Just dragging this thread up to add a pic of what the custom headers
look like from under the car. I was under there to install the sensor for
the WBO2 gauge, and remembered to take my camera...



As can be seen, the headers get quite close to the floor, and the installer
applied some self-adhesive reflective insulation to the floor pan to prevent
the passengers feet from getting cooked.

If anyone is wondering if the ceramic coating actually works, all I can say
is that there is a lot less heat under the hood now than there was with the
factory cast iron manifold. I can't compare with an uncoated tube header,
but I would guess that it would still be an improvement. Less heat on the
outside of the tubes means more heat inside and faster moving exhaust
gases... and that will generally mean better cylinder scavenging.

Cheers... jondee86

[oldeskewltoy]

[Rogue-AE95]

That does look nice!

I'm planning to ceramic coat all my exhaust manifolds for my cars. Seems like a better choice.