Thinking about getting a header for my R50, sounds like one way to get an actual performance gain (albeit not huge, but it all adds up.)

Is there something available with a cat already? Can I have the exhaust shop put my stock cat into a Megan header? Any advice would be great, I'm pretty new to this whole exhaust thing.

 

I picked an OBX header off of Ebay, $150.00.
It has the cat welded on.
Was very impressed by construction, all SS, and the welds were very good.
Have had it on car for 9 months with no issues at all.
Excellant fit.

 

Thanks, that's just what I had in mind. Can you tell me what kind of performance benefit you feel you've gained? Does it change the sound of the car as well?

 

I changed the whole exhaust system all at the same time.
OBX header and Magnaflow exhaust.
With all of it done, there was a definate increase in the power.
There is a increase in sound also.
It's not offending, in my mind.

 

That's great, thank you!

 

No problem.
Any way to help.

 

I have heard of the header actually robbing the car of power on the R50. Too much flow and not enough back pressure=loss in low end torque. Just what I have heard and its the reason I have never installed a header personally. If that isn't the case, I would be interested in throwing one on!

 

Take this with a grain a salt, because I have yet to dyno the results.

I started off with a Magnaflow cat-back exhaust. Mild increase in power, but not dramatic (nice sound too). Added an OBX header with Magnaflow universal cat. Noticed slightly more power with the butt dyno. Finally added a GIAC tune. It seemed to really tie everything together and woke the car up. Low end drivability seems to be much better than stock, and it seems to really takes off around 4,000 rpm. I also have a custom K&N CIA shielded from heat in the engine bay. All said, it is definite step forward.

As for losing torque, it has been shown that a straight pipe behind the cat on a stock setup will show a loss of power. That is why I was sure not to lose the cat-back set up, but I feel I have made a decent gain overall with this setup. I really need to get to a dyno to verify.

One last thing that may or may not be true is that it seems like if I mash the throttle down low in the rev range, power comes on more slowly verses easing into it a bit more smoothly.

 

Thanks for the reply! Can I ask where you got the OBX header and Magnaflow cat? Please post up if you do make it to a dyno, I'd love to know what your results are.

 

I got the OBX off ebay.

Seller User ID: motorenergy
$166.99 per item
$43.00 shipping/handling
-----
$209.99 = Total

I duplicated what someone else on NAM did using Magnaflow part number 91036. Many online places sell it. There is a great thread somewhere on NAM. There is a bit of fabrication and cutting to get the cat to fit, but nothing horrible. Here are some photos from various threads on NAM that I followed.

 

Great, thanks for the info! I'll look into the ebay OBX. Cutting and fabrication is outside of my skill set, but maybe I can find someone to do it for me.