I've noticed that some headers have flex joints and some don't. It makes sence to me to have one.Is there any long term impact to not having one (like the OBX)?

 

OBX has a pivot as long as you don't weld a cat to it. It keeps the movement of the engine from stressing welds. Be warned of the megan racing header. Many here on this forum have had issues with a very short lifetime on the flex joint.

 

Research...many people say many different things. Some complain of the Megan, some complain of the OBX, some complain of the more expensive headers.

Everything will have a flaw, you just have to find the flaw that is of the least importance to you.

When I researched the Megan vs. OBX header, here is what I got out of it. Most of the complaints that I saw with the Megan were not of the flex joint, but the test-pipe that is provided. Many people complained (with picture proof and many witnesses) that the Megan's test-pipe (straight pipe) melts very quick, leaving a horrible rattle. This means nothing as to the header being of lesser quality, or the flex joint, but the actual test-pipe. This basically means that if you are going to run the Megan the advantage is that you have a flex joint, the disadvantage is that you are going to have to spend more money in either a new straight pipe or cat.

I didn't read up too much on the OBX, but the main concern I read about was that many people have had issues with not having a flex joint. I'm not too sure of this, like I said I didn't read too much on OBX....so take that as you will.

-Cody

 

I've had my OBX/stock cat combo on for about 2 months. So far, so good. No leaks or rattles. I think the trick is not to tighten the connection too much.



Jim

 

OBX have the same sistem like the SUPERSPRINT.

Who will say that supersprint is bad?

PS: 5 cars with OBX more than a year do NOT have any problems. The sistem works.

 

Check my Gallery for OBX connection pictures. No problems.

 

I've had my OBX w/ stock cat over over a year - 10,000 appr. and have had no issues/problems. This design goes way back before the fancy stuff and it works.

 

are u guys happy of the performance gain of your obx system? Did u feel a gain in torque ? why ?

because i found the gain very marginal and maybe not really worth it ....

i have obx and stock cat....

a relative of mine has Supersprint and SS metalic racecat....

we are running exactly the same systems, which means Pipercross Viper CAI, Supersprint catback , Chipped by the same programmer,

the difference on the dyno :

i have got 126 BHP
Hes got 127 BHP

but i have got maximum 158 NM torque
he's got almost 180 NM torque

so u may assume that the cat has a lot of restriction...or that the obx is of lesser quality then SS, or a combination of both.....

 

I just read a thread yesterday where a fellow NAMmer had his plugs tightened up and the result was huge performance improvements. I don't mean to criticize either setup, but aren't there enough other variables so that blaming the header for that large a difference in torque might not be justified?

I guess just it doesn't prove to me that the header is "guilty beyond a reasonable doubt".

 

actally i think it is best to do the test myself and put in a testpipe, (no cat at all ) and drive around this way and get the car dynod.... this way i should feel a torque increase, if not i can blame it on other parts.

but then i should install an o2 simulator first, and find a testpipe with o2 bung, so that the service engine light does not go on and doesn't go into limp modus ...

maybe i will find the time and effort to do this one day.......

p.s i have had NO issues at all with the OBX setup until now ! even a perfect fit !

 

Considering that OBX is a SS clone design wise it would be hard to blame the Header for the differences. I have held both the SS and OBX in my hands and build quality is the same. The "difference" variable is the cat and I would have to assume that "difference" is the variable for the numbers.

 

What can you expect from changing the Header? hp, sound,????