New Headers for my '04 S

[Jaxonalden]

Just got a set of headers off of EBay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Raci...emZ260238624570 .

I just got the headers in from China! Yea I know, allot of you are saying "Why didn't you just go to Wal-Mart and buy 'em?". The cost was $100 for the set (including gaskets) and $50 shipping. Well the shipping took 3 days, from CHINA!!! The quality is outstanding, 304 stainless steel, mandrel bends, a flange that I swear is half inch thick (no warping), two O2 bugs (per header) and chrome plated. I figured the tubes would be thin but their thick also. So thick I don't think there will be any weight savings even with the removal of the front set of cats.
I'm not writing this as some sort of promo for this foreign company, I writing this as info only to a group of 986 enthusiasts. The cost, quality, value and speed of delivery impressed me. I can't see an American company selling this product for this price. I'm going to try and find the time this weekend to install them. It's a shame their under the car because they are gorgeous to look at, even my wife thought so after finding out I bought them without her knowledge . I can't wait to fell the difference in the seat of my pants at the track!!

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by Jaxonalden

Just got a set of headers off of EBay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Raci...emZ260238624570 .

I just got the headers in from China! Yea I know, allot of you are saying "Why didn't you just go to Wal-Mart and buy 'em?". The cost was $100 for the set (including gaskets) and $50 shipping. Well the shipping took 3 days, from CHINA!!! The quality is outstanding, 304 stainless steel, mandrel bends, a flange that I swear is half inch thick (no warping), two O2 bugs and chrome plated. I figured the tubes would be thin but their thick also. So thick I don't think there will be any weight savings even with the removal of the front set of cats.
I'm not writing this as some sort of promo for this foreign company, I writing this as info only to a group of 986 enthusiasts. The cost, quality, value and speed of delivery impressed me. I can't see an American company selling this product for this price. I'm going to try and find the time this weekend to install them. It's a shame their under the car because they are gorgeous to look at, even my wife thought so after finding out I bought them without her knowledge . I can't wait to fell the difference in the seat of my pants at the track!!

Congrats. Let us know how you like them after the installation.

[fu03steve]

the link doesnt work

but are these the one you bought?

[Jaxonalden]

Yes, right down to the gaskets and packaging. Are there two O2 sensor holes per header? The company in China is called HK Racing, they have their logo plate tack welded onto one of the pipes. How much are those headers? Do they have a different name?
I see the picture you have says "Surewinproducts", is that the name of those?

P.S. try this link. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Racing-Header-for-Porsche-Boxster-986-2-5l-2-7l-3-2l_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742Q2em153Q2el1262Q QcategoryZ33631QQihZ016QQitemZ260238624570

P.S. This link is to your EBay picture http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-Boxster-986-2-5L-2-7L-97-98-99-Exhaust-Header_W0QQitemZ270235978349QQihZ017QQcategoryZ133 195QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Same China built header, different company, same high quality. As you can see I just answered my own questions.

[fu03steve]

yes i thought about buying this headers
but i was not sure whether if the CEL is going to
turn on. are you going to replace the secondary cat
with test pipes? let me know ASAP on how it works....
if CEL dont turn on... then im buying one asap

[tholyoak]

Unless he does something else, DME reprogramming etc, he is definitely going to have a CEL. No primary cats = CEL for catalytic efficiency.

-Todd

[Wingnut2u]

In searching Ebay it sure seems like Surewin, Deluboz, Maxspeed, Exhaustcn(HX Racing), and 425450 are all purchasing their headers from the same supplier. Since Deluboz is a trusted sponsor and seller here and on ebay, then I would trust the headers from Surewin (if they truly are the same) are quality as well but let us know what you think after you get them installed, my guess is that you will get the dreaded CEL light

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Wingnut2u

let us know what you think after you get them installed, my guess is that you will get the dreaded CEL light

I overheard the perfect solution for CEL issues the other day. Take a piece of black electrical tape and cut it into a small circle the size of a dime. Then stick it over the CEL. Whalla! No more CEL

[fu03steve]

Originally Posted by Adam

I overheard the perfect solution for CEL issues the other day. Take a piece of black electrical tape and cut it into a small circle the size of a dime. Then stick it over the CEL. Whalla! No more CEL

i have a way better solution... take off the gauge cluster and remove the CEL bulb
wah la!!! no CEL forever and ever

[Jaxonalden]

I read an old post from CJ Boxster and in it he had a IPB (illustrated parts breakdown) of my exhaust system. The picture showed a place for an O2 sensor aft of the secondary cat. If its there and I plug my O2 sensor to that I should be able to operate without getting a CEL, right?

The picture of the exhaust system in post 254 on the Thread called "Performance Exhaust and Header for Boxster".

[Kevfra]

I have the same question, as I also live in California. I've considered all the possible mods but I'm just too lazy to make the switch every two years for testing. Today I am installing the catback exhaust system, but that will not void my smog requirements. I think I could get away with cat bypass on the second set because nobody ever looks under the car, and with a good engine I might - might - pass emissions even without those two cats. But intsalling headers and removing all four cats - no way.

[j.fro]

The price has gotten just too good, so I pulled the trigger as well. On the auction site, they had a "best offer", so I offered $95 plus the $39 or whatever shipping. All in, it was under $140. The install went pretty well today. I had sprayed all of te bolts & O2 sensors a couple of days ago with PB Blaster. Everything came out nicely; I used an impact wrench on the bolts I could reach with it, a couple others just got the ratchet and elbow grease. The header-to-cylinder head bolts all survived (whew!), but the header-to-exhaust pipe bolts snapped on three out of six. Two of those were the splined press in bolts, and I had to pull the whole catalytic converter pipe out and really go after them with the sledge to get them out. That was the worst part of the whole job. The only other burble was that on the passenger side, one of the center bolt holes was off by a hair. And the gaskets were a bad match. Fortunately, I had a set of Porsche gaskets, and with a little patience and work, I got all of the bolts in and tight. The new sound is delightful! much deeper, and the growl is more pronounced. A while back I modified my muffler internally to bypass the secondary chamber on each side (like the Sebring muffler, but without the external pipes), and I've "modified" my catalytic converters to flow better. On the bottom end, I may have lost some torque, but after 4000 RPM, she takes off! Money well spent.

[pacific986]

My appointment for the install has been delayed until next Tuesday. I'm glad to hear about the improvement in the sound. Any change in throttle response? Has your computer thrown a CEL at you yet? Did you disconnect your battery to reset you ECU after you installed the headers and before you initially drove the car with the new additions?