silver 06 hatch

[petrified.rabbit]

you would really need to grind in one spot a while to mess it up. only way to mess up really is grinding a hole into the manifold or if you miss the hole and grind one on of the gasket surfaces,

[Daox]

If you're worried about that even, you can get salvage yard manifolds for not too much.

[serega12]

Now, by manifold you mean the holes in the header? And I'm just grinding those open? And how far into it can I grind?

[Daox]

You'd probably do best just to remove any casting flashing and sharp edges so it flows a bit better. You do this as far in as you can.

This is the manifold.

[serega12]

You'd probably do best just to remove any casting flashing and sharp edges so it flows a bit better. You do this as far in as you can.

This is the manifold.

And if I just go with xiaogary's header, will there be no grinding to do then? Or do I need to grind the engine side too?

[serega12]

if you are really trying to stay cheap, buy a $20 die grinder (really small one) and a bunch of grinding stones and port out your stock exhaust manifold. Gasket match it, opens up the bends and get rid of any factory flashing. Would be better flow and more likely to get you some hp on the cheap.

Rabbit,

Could you explain "gasket match" part of this? I may look into doing both, porting the header and going cat-less. I know its a cheap way to go but at the moment its sounds very appealing to me...

[petrified.rabbit]

in general terms, gasket match is a type of porting, where you open both ends of a matching surface to match the gasket opening.

in factory assembled engines there is often a ridge, or different shaped openings etc that decrease flow. by making bother ends of every mating surface smooth when assembled you make the engine more efficient and gain hp previously lost in manufacturing tolerances and or casting changes, etc.

basically you set the gasket on both mounting surfaces of the connection trace it out, and grind/port it open so they match perfectly. you can do this to the manifold if it needs it, to do the head you would need to remove it tear it down, and then you might as well to a full port job.

you would be surprised how far you could get in there with one of those flexible wand die grinder.

[whiteaveo]

I'm intrigued by those LED tail lights - where can a person buy them, or something similar?

Doug in WA state

[serega12]

I'm intrigued by those LED tail lights - where can a person buy them, or something similar?

Doug in WA state

Right here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2004-200 ... 942wt_1165

This is actually the same seller I got mine from.


Sergey in WA state. Which part of WA are you from? These tail lights may need just a little modification to your car (bending one panel behind where it goes by about 1/4"... easily done though).

[serega12]

So I think I'll be waiting for headers afterall... The guy who was going to help me with trying the test pipe flaked out on me, and I'm not that familiar with welding myself. Plus, after talking to you guys here I'm not sure if the idea is really worth it... So that project is off for now unless I can get a good deal on a header...

I am now waiting for the chromeintakes CAI piping, AEM bypass valve, and Drycharge Air Intake Wrap to fit the K&N cone that I already have. It should all be in the mail within next couple of days (ordered most of it last night). When I have all that (or at least the piping) I will start putting the whole thing together. Now is the hardest part - waiting.