Since the truth of what headers work and what ones don't seem to be surrounded in a shroud of mystery and rumors, Lets all discuss the topic of headers here. Any proven dyno's that you have done of *just* the header swap, would very, very much be appreciated. I will update this list with the latest information as it comes up in discussion in this thread. Remember, all headers work better when they have a free-flowing exhaust behind them. A header alone won't make very much power, but if you already have a test pipe and/or a good aftermarket exhaust, you will get much better gains out of your aftermarket header. Another important note about headers, is that almost all of them tested lean out the powerband slightly. To fully benefit from a header, a retune of the ecu, whether it be via piggyback or stand-alone, is necessary (as with most modifications).

I compilated a list of headers that are out and are coming out. Discuss!!
An FYI, S2000 headers come in 2 different variations, based on 2 different theories of design. The first type of header is the Tyi-y design, otherwise known as a 4-2-1 header. It's called a Tri-Y due to the 3 "Y" collectors that reduce the 4 primaries into 2 secondaries, and finally into 1 collector- thus the reason they are also called 4-2-1 headers. The other type is the 4-1 header. This type of header typically has equal length, long primaries, that all go together into one collector right before the exit.

OEM: tri-y design 1-4, 2-3 non-sequential pairing, oval primaries 44mm W x 37mm H, long secondaries. Overall nice design for OEM, but not the cleanest or nicest bends by any means. 23.5 lbs. Stock.

Amuse R1: tri-y design, 10 lbs, it is the lightest header for the S2000. Gains of over 10hp mid range and 2-5 hp peak (manufacturer claims). ~$1600
Also available in Full Titanium construction - The only full Ti header for the S2k. Details to come. ~$2600

ASM : 4-1 design, 48mm primaries, 65mm collector. No known dyno plots though, but it IS on the ASM S2000...~$1500

Buddy Club : Tri-y design, 1-4, 2-3 non-sequential pairing. Primary piping - 43mm ID, Secondary piping - 48mm ID, (bottle neck) - 51mm ID, Collector - 62.5mm. No dyno's yet. ~$850-$1000

Maxim Works / Feels Header: 4-1 design, long primaries, no know dyno's. ~$1400

Fujistubo Super Ex: tri-y design. 45mm primaries. 10 lbs weight savings, 8 hp gains (manufacutrer claims). ~$800

Fuji Racing tri-y design, 9lbs total weight. Still in prototype. ~$500.

J's SPL: tri-y design, equal length 50mm primaries, 55mm secondaries, 65mm collector. Solid, healthy gains across the entire powerband. +5 hp peak, +14 midrange hp @ 6200 proven when added to an existing high performance exhaust. Boosted applications w/o high flowing exhausts show zero net gains, however. Dyno sheet courtesy of Rfever here: http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?act=m...mage&img=378160
+2 hp peak, +7 hp @ 6200 when added to a completely bone stock AP2. Dyno sheet courtesy of AP2_S2K here: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/dro.../DynoLabled.jpg ~$1200
Further proof that the J's makes good power, and even better power when properly tuned can be found in this informative thread HERE

Mugen: tri-y design. 45mm primaries. 10hp@6000rpm, little to no peak HP Gain. Weight savings: Approx 10lbs (manufacturer claims). ~$1300

Mugen AP2: tri-y design. Weight savings: Approx 10lbs (manufacturer claims). 6-7 hp from midrange to peak. Dyno provided by MugenRioS2k here: http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?act=m...mage&img=367633 ~$1300

Toda: tri-y design. 45mm primaries. Healthy mid range hp, dyno here: http://www.p1auto.com/jack/s2k/justinstockvheader.jpg ~$1100

Tracy Sports: tri-y design. Primary=45mm, Secondary=51mm, Collector=60mm ~$1200 Max gains of 8.5 hp @ 6000 rpm and 6.5 ft/ lbs @ 6800 rpm, with peak gains of 4 hp and 4.5 ft/ lbs at redline. Dyno comparison courtesy of ebeldesign here: http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?act=m...mage&img=389461

Comptech: 4-1 design. CARB legal. Manufacturer provided dyno comparison here: ]=http://www.comptechusa.com/store/media/dyno/s2kheader-comparison.pdf] ~$900

Megan: Tri-Y design. 2" primaries, 2.5" out. Manufactured claims of improved upper mid to peak. 12 lbs total weight. ~$400

Berk Technologies: Tri-y design. 50mm primaries. 11.5 lbs. total weight (11 lb weight savings). 6-7 hp gains peak in combination w/ test pipe. Dyno provided by smurfs2k05 here: Berk Dyno~$600

Rick's: tri-y design. maximum gain of six horsepower at 6200 RPM. Torque increases of about 3 or 4 were also achieved, along the same range as the horsepower gains. Like the Mugen header, horsepower with Rick’s 6 Plus header trails off at about 7600 RPM (manufacturer claims). Weight: 12.8 pounds

DC Sports: 4-1 design. 45mm primaries. 1-3 hp gains across the RPM range, dyno provided by Import Tuner Magazine: Here ~$400.

T1R: tri-y design. Equal length 48mm primaries, 55mm secondaries connects to 65mm collector. Still in development.

Spoon: tri-y design. 45mm primaries. Reduced weight by 3.8kg. Loss of 3 hp, 2 ft.lbs peak, even more in the rest of the powerband. Dyno comparison courtesy of RXDI here: http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?act=m...mage&img=386471 ~$1300.

Hytech: Big money. Big gains. Custom applications. ~$1300.

5zigen tri-y design. 42.7mm primaries - 50.8 secondaries - 60.5mm out. Manufacturer claims mid to high hp gains. ~$700

OBX tri-y design. Cheapest of the cheap. They claim 7-10 hp gains. I don't believe them. ~$200

RS-R: tri-y design. 45mm primaries. ~$700

HKS: 45mm primaries. Need to research this header still.

Invidia: Tri-y design. 13.5 lbs. More details needed. ~$700

This post has been edited by wildcardtrd on Apr 21 2008, 05:44 AM

Custom Hytech......HP gains+ price.. 1500+ ahaha

True, I forgot Hytech. I'll add them to the list. Thanks!

I had the AMUSE on my ap1. It increased the mid - top end very nice.

Since ive sold my ap1 and I kept the header for the ap2. Its did work with the power band of the ap2 differently. My ap2 is all top end power.

I really like the AMUSE header. Its light and performance oriented. It flows well with the rest of my set up.

I have no dyno graphs, but I intend to get my car on the dyno next year.

Also, some headers are made for ap1 and others for the ap2. Some work for both models, but most companies are now making ap2 versions.

Yea, I'll try to keep them different in the list if there are 2 different models. Thanks for the Amuse info, that's pretty much the results I read from most other members over the last couple of years. When you dyno, do you think it'd be possible to do a baseline run, then swap in the header? That would help out everyone on here that's interested in a header so much...

Probably not. If I dyno it will be with the following setup:

Amuse header. J's test pipe. Amuse r1 basic. Mugen CAI. AEM EMS.

Once I get the results for that im going hayward 50mm itb's. Tuning is expensive with the guy I chose.

My DC header is a 4-2-1. Not that it makes much of a difference when it comes to power. Its just a crappy waste of money header. It came on the car when I bought it.

I just recieved the Tracysports header and will dyno it when it gets back from the JetHot coater. You are right, it is pretty. Great idea for a definitive thread.

awesome! Can't wait to see your results

I personally have been up in the air as well on deciding which header I want, which is what ever one yields the most gains on an NA AP2 car. I've been debating between the J's, ASM, and Tracy Sports. Any light that people can shed on them is much appreciated.

Great idea for a thread BTW!!

If you are looking for the highest HP gains from a header I would wait till the Hytech header is released. I have seen a prototype and it looks amazing.

Personaly I have the Mugen 2.2 (AP2) Header and like it alot. more power and smoother powerband from about 3500rpms on up . I think Kings website states 10hp gain for 2.2l header and no gains for 2.0l header. Both will reduce weight though.

Friend had ASM header and gains seem to be the same as the Mugen at least with the butt dyno.

Great thread BTW

Add OBX to the list. It's crap but it's available

LOL! Added the ever annoying ebay over-populating $200 header
Someone should buy one of those stupid things just to see what it'll do, then turn around and sell it. It's not like you're out a whole lotta dough...

I dyno'd my car earlier this year in January which netted me about 198.4 HP/127 TQ to the wheels. I installed the J's SPL header around June/July and wanted to wait till weather conditions were similar to the baseline run before to get a more accurate gain #. Baseline run was done ~60F and when it was installed, it was over 100F!

Well, here are the results of my recent dyno run done a couple weeks ago ...

Dynosheet with HP/TQ #s :



Dynosheet with HP/AF #s :



202.8 HP/134 TQ (+4.4HP/+7ft-lbs TQ peak) without any tuning. The good part were the gains everywhere under the curve! In some places (e.g. just past 6K), I picked up almost +14 HP and +12 TQ but most gains were in VTEC range. Quite happy with the result. I'm sure with tuning I can lean out the A/F ratio to pick up some more peak horses but for a straight bolt on, I think those are decent gain #s.

Specifics on the car/conditions :

- AP1 (2001)
- Comptech Intake
- Megan Racing Test Pipe
- J's SPL Header (only addition since baseline run done in January)
- J's Racing 60RS
- '03 OEM ECU
- About 68K miles on the odo (about 4.5K more miles since baseline run)
- Temp conditions were similar at about 60F or so
- Both baseline and update dynos were performed at Dyno-Comp in Scottsdale AZ using the Dyno Dynamics Dynamometer


Merv.

Nice gains, how much dose that header cost?

John (neveronlineS2k) did I get a chance to show you the engine before I moved to NY? Hit me up on my cellphone, I lost your number.


Anyway, +1 on the Hytech, they built me a custom long tube setup with 18 inch secondaries and a megaphone up to 2"3/4, worth every penny. Plots to come.

This post has been edited by MINES13 on Dec 12 2006, 06:40 PM

Do any of these headers have provisions for installing the stock heat shield for the sleeper look?

BlownAP - I bought mine used for about $1100 but you should be able to get a new one for about $1250 shipped.

Thank you Rfever. The J's description has been edited. That's exactly the kind of information I'm looking for

BTW, those midrange gains are massive for just a header change!!

Your AFR's look like they could use a little fine tuning...you've got alot more power to extract there, especially above 8000 rpm...

I believe that Rick's header does.

Mugen comes with a heat shield, and im pretty sure Ricks does because its a Mugen copy.

what does jethot coating do. Is it applied to inside or outside of the header?

Not a problem wildcardtrd! Thanks for putting up this post. I pondered for quite a long time on the J's but I think I made the best decision personally for my car. I wanted something lighter than the stock header and also want to increase engine response ... I got both of that with the J's but I wasn't expecting too much on HP gain so the mid-range gains were a pleasant surprise. At least my experience now matches those who have reported their findings with it in the past.

Yeah, the guys at Dyno-comp also mentioned that if I leaned out a bit up top, more peak power could be had. So, I'm doing my research on the best way to get that and retain the reliability on track since that's pretty much all my car does nowadays anyways

All in all, I give the J's SPL

According to the dynos that have been posted by Berk and others, the Mugen (AP2 version) header provided gains very similar to the Berk header.