m20 street build : part deux

[82eye]

I once agreed to sell a set of IE long tubes that I installed on the engine before it was in the car.

I learned new words that day, trying to remove them in the car. Ended up having to pull all of the exhaust studs out of the head to get them off

thought i was going to have to do that getting them in. i managed with just jacking one side of the engine with the mount off. i used the ac bracket as my jack point.

edit: there isn't a pile of clearance, but they fit where they should.

[digger]

One thing about headers is it can be difficult to drop the gearbox out

[82eye]

One thing about headers is it can be difficult to drop the gearbox out

it's close but would have enough clearance. i'd definitely need stuff to be removable after the collectors.

[moatilliatta]

I had a single 2.5 high flow cat into a hooker header muffler in the back. GAWD I loved the way that car sounded.

Id try and get the 02 sensor in the X or "Y" Pipe. Maybe some room above, it.

[kyleconstantine]

they don't make them. they are just a reseller. if you check ebay you'll see a few vendors selling that header. it's made in china. it's based off a supersprint design they copied. the supersprint is $1400.

Ohh this literally might be the headers I got off eBay then. They look the same. The end of the x pipe just ends up like and inch or so closer to the ground than it needs to be. I bet the super sprint fit a little better. One of these companies needs to make a good set of m20 headers there seems to be demand. Or I just need to stop being cheap and do the full super sprint exhaust from the header to the muffler. It just gets close to the price I paid for my whole stroker build.

[kyleconstantine]

One thing about headers is it can be difficult to drop the gearbox out

I decided after the first clutch job I did that it's way easier to pull the engine to remove the trans. I'll trade time for frustration any day.

[digger]

I decided after the first clutch job I did that it's way easier to pull the engine to remove the trans. I'll trade time for frustration any day.

Yeah na

[McGyver]

I decided after the first clutch job I did that it's way easier to pull the engine to remove the trans. I'll trade time for frustration any day.

Just because of the headers?!?! Thats INSANE!

[kyleconstantine]

Yeah na

Coming from a guy who's posts I've learned a ton from over the years that hurts haha.

[kyleconstantine]

Just because of the headers?!?! Thats INSANE!

Headers, starter bolts, time on my back ba standing upright, bench pressing the trans back in place, 3' of extensions and swivels. Maybe if I had a lift or a trans jack I'd change my mind but I can have the m20 out in a couple hours at this point.

[kyleconstantine]

You know McGyver you mentioned headers and passing smog today and it got me thinking. Is the reason no one is making headers because the EPA is coming after these companies?

[digger]

You know McGyver you mentioned headers and passing smog today and it got me thinking. Is the reason no one is making headers because the EPA is coming after these companies?

i doubt it, seems it is a m20 thing, not much demand

[McGyver]

To make them legal in CA, they need to pass a bunch of tests to get an EO number stating they are BAR compliant. It really comes down to a money thing, how many people are willing to pay for headers, so how long would it take to get a return on the investment for all the testing. Plus, the cost would be passed on to the consumer. So how many people are willing to spend $1k for headers when something similar is on ebay for $200?

It IS possible. Look at Dinan and their tuned ECUs for newer cars. They are legal and a SLIGHT improvement over the factory MPPK upgrade.

[82eye]

To make them legal in CA, they need to pass a bunch of tests to get an EO number stating they are BAR compliant.

have never seen this ever on any header for any car make sold anywhere. it might be a thing but there are zero companies who give a shit.

It really comes down to a money thing, how many people are willing to pay for headers, so how long would it take to get a return on the investment for all the testing. Plus, the cost would be passed on to the consumer. So how many people are willing to spend $1k for headers when something similar is on ebay for $200?

nothing similar is on ebay for $200 dollars. hats off to you if you can get one of those nightmare products to fit and work.

it's about supply and demand. companies like IE and supersprint don't bother to do a run of product until such time they know there is enough demand for a quality product. 10 - 15 years ago there were dozens and dozens of vendors with good brand name quality stock. at that time a pile of folk were buying and modding cheap e30's. now there are no cheap e30's to mod and the boy racers have all moved on to other platforms. the demand has fallen to near zero.

you'll probably see a few new decent headers at higher prices from time to time. they haven't gotten rid of the tooling or jigs to make them. in the meantime, they won't give a shit about competing with cheap asses who just want cheap junk for show.

[McGyver]

have never seen this ever on any header for any car make sold anywhere. it might be a thing but there are zero companies who give a shit.

It's a thing for anything from the intake to the catalytic converter and engine management for any car in CA. For it to be legal in CA, any changes require the part to be tested by the CARB to get an EO number. This proves the modification is legal when going to a smog test or when getting your car checked by BAR.

Here is a DINAN intake for a 2014 mini cooper that is NOT legal anywhere, here is one by K&N that has an EO number. Dinan has an f30 tune that is 49 state legal, and they are working for an EO number. When I was working as a mechanic in CA, I had a customer bring in a car to take off a K&N pod filter and replace it with another filter setup that had the EO sticker. It's wild.

nothing similar is on ebay for $200 dollars. hats off to you if you can get one of those nightmare products to fit and work.

it's about supply and demand. companies like IE and supersprint don't bother to do a run of product until such time they know there is enough demand for a quality product. 10 - 15 years ago there were dozens and dozens of vendors with good brand name quality stock. at that time a pile of folk were buying and modding cheap e30's. now there are no cheap e30's to mod and the boy racers have all moved on to other platforms. the demand has fallen to near zero.

you'll probably see a few new decent headers at higher prices from time to time. they haven't gotten rid of the tooling or jigs to make them. in the meantime, they won't give a shit about competing with cheap asses who just want cheap junk for show.

Sure, IE and supersprint should have better build quality than a $200 ebay header. IE long tube headers (out of stock) are $640 and are not legal for a car in CA. My point is that IE would have to charge $1,640 or more if they were to spend the time/money to get them tested and made legal. I agree there is very little demand, which would be further eroded by the cost differential of a 49-state $200 header vs a 50-state $1,640 header.