Looks like OBX is struggling with the quality control. Mine wasn't as bad, but the first one I ordered (error) was the steel one and the ports were just an horrible mess.

 

Which power bleeder adaptor did you get? The Euro?

 

yes, i also have a universal so i can use it on other cars. but i got the eruo so dont have to fidle with a chain and j-bolts in that tight space.

 

So i pulled out the rest of the Exhaust... and installed my Helix short shiftier that i had bought like a week after i got the car. i like the through cant wait to see what its like driving with it.

Cut out the cover for the linkage. was probably too generous with my cuts but htats ok, definitely got a total body work out today. put it in place, get out, move the shifter, go under take out cover, cut, go back under put in place, and repeat....



and i banged the heck out of the heat sheild, for it to fit with the new shifter. again probably to generous with the clearance but ill push it back in if the exhaust hits it.... i put the stupid thing in place, bolted down. i go up play with the shifter and i hear a horrible grind sound and a stiff shifter. im like uuugggggghhhhhh....

 

It's gonna be stiffer to change gear, just because of what you've done.. dunno about the grinding sound ")

 

the shifter was rubbing across the heatsheild.... its dimpled so it makes grrgrrgrrgrrr sound. its cool it's fix now(thats why the huge dent in the heat shield is there ). it dosnt feel stiff, feels the same just shorter. just like other short shifters i have used

 

got a power steering pump fan mine is completely seized....

and i have a 2.5" flange for the cat...






Also installed the obx header.... and man this was a huge pain in the as5 to put in. i had to remove the coolant tank power steering tanks and the bracket system that hold both.



and a video... sounds diffrent than the oem header with the pre cat lol....

http://s228.photobucket.com/user/Gre...f7be5.mp4.html

 

Sounds like a tractor

The rest of your exhaust is stock right? Should let us know how it sounds when it's all put together!

 

that's just open header at cold start idle. And no nothing is stock anymore magnaflow cat and Alta catback.

 

look what came in this afternoon!!! ill install tomorrow and mark up the flanges on the cat so i can get them welded.

 

well exhaust is in and it sounds pretty darn good. a little loud. but man am i down on luck. i fix one damn thing and i get 10 others.... how the hell does all this happen with just changing the header back?!?!?!?!?!

O2 sensors are brand new.... may put the old ones in and see what happens. other wise i am at a lose...

 

based on this thread i will have to tkae a look at fuse F03 and i hope thats it...

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...w-misfire.html

 

Was it the fuse?

And at least you don't have a P0420

 

i figured out the problem thanks to that post. the wire on the rear o2 was indeed shorting out the system. had to take all day and two fuses to figure it out.

i unplugged it from the harness for now. so that the engine and ecu can run better.

now. i have a big Question. if i were to use an elbow on that rear o2 sensor to give it room and not pinch wires. would i get a lean code? any problems with fueling or power?

 

i have an elbow on my second o2 sensor with zero codes or issues. same situation if i dont put the elbow it kills the o2 wire and shorts the fuse. you can ebay the elbows for you o2 really cheap fix

 

yea i have an elbow but its one of those that has the catalitc material in it as well... http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-cat-...or-spacer.html

at the moment i have the entire exhaust being pulled down and to the passenger side with mechanics wire so that i can give the o2 sensor lots of room.

 

then drill out the stuff inside the fitting so its free flowing

 

Dave perhaps a little re-reading is needed.... i had issues with the cat not the header. the cat i have looks to be just a tad bigger than the stock one so there is less room than normal. plus the post cat o2 location is different from oem as well. which causes even less room. on cat as opposed to on the pipe like the oem stock setup.

if you look at the picture above the pre cat 02 has plenty of room. and header has plenty of room. i have also read and experienced that you do indeed need to move the reservoirs when putting in the header. i just pushed the heat shield back so i would have more room.

and to be honest the obx header looks pretty solid. decent weld, clean bends. ports needed a little cleaning up. but were not to bad. and it fits just fine.

Oh and there is no way in hell i would pay 1000 for a header. that price is outrageous, for the same gains.

i would recommend an OBX or Megan to anyone. really

 

"Because they are quality units" doesn't explain why they cost 4x as much as megan/obx. Can you elaborate on that please? What makes them better quality?

 

Lol dude no offense, but I think you got had by the companies you got those from. As long as the welds are beefy and clean, pipes are cut correctly, and the flange is nice and thick, it's a good header. And obx/megans come de catted, which is also why they cost less.

Not saying those more expensive headers aren't better in one way or another, but they are not worth the cost for just a daily driver.

 

Maybe it was just the one you looked at, but the welds on my megan are very nice....and I've worked at a welding shop off and on for many years. The only main difference I can tell is the different grade of stainless they use (which doesn't matter too much).

I installed mine with both 02 sensors without using an o2 spacer or relocating anything, so really isn't necessary to do that. Regardless of how they mounted the flanges, they lined up perfectly (because it really isn't that difficult to correctly position flanges).

All that you are paying for is R&D and some nicer Stainless. Again, $1200 for some pipes and flanges is a bit steep for me personally. Plus, if it does break somehow, I can just fix it up myself!

 

Thanks for your input dave. but im happy with what i have and i am having zero issues at the moment. i also have faith in the magnaflow cats never heard of them going bad prematurly before...

 

Interesting build going on here. Subbed to see the outcome.

 

Are you out motoring in your Mini yet? I want a happy ending to this story. :P

 

Yes! i have been for a while now. i fixd the issue with the rear o2 sensor the same day or next day i dont remmeber.

im very happy with the way the mini sounds now, and so are the people that hear it.

ill post some video of it when i get a chance, but i wouldnt hold my breath lol. propabbly wont take video untill next wekk or the week after.

but i suppose i could psot a quick teaser lol