Ok... I'm goin to make this quick and to the point. Sadly, I don't have any pictures during the install; however, most of you know what I will be talking about.

Removal of Heat Shield:
- Take the two easy bolts out
- Just loosen the third one (You will know what one I'm talking about)
- Pull up on the heat sheild

Removal of Stock Header:
- Disconnect from TP/Cat
- Remove bracket from underneath the car (connects the header to the car)
- Remove the top two bolts from the header heat shield, and the bolt about halfway down in the center
- Pull the heat shield off (it's only the top section, you don't have to worry bout the bottom heat shield)
- Unbolt the stock header and pull it through the bottom

Removal of Misc. Stuff:
- Remove the stock air box <3 bolts> (you can actually just unbolt it and move it aside when the time comes)
- Remove the VTEC selenoid <3 bolts>
- Remove the motor mount <4 bolts, 2 nuts> (make sure u hold up the engine with a jack)

Install:
- Move the air box to the right side and towards the front of the car if it is not fully removed.
- Drop the header in from the top. Basically, you slide it in from the front of the car and slide it down into place.
- It's easier if you have someone under the car and someone holding the header from the top and slightly move it to mount it.
- I can't remember if I dropped it before or after where the motor mount connects to the car... do what is easier for you.
- It WILL go in from the top with only the selenoid removed and the air boxed pushed aside.
- Reattach the mount, selenoid, and air box.

Fin.

Notes:
- Total time: 5hrs minus about a 30 min break to get another jack.
- It was my first time ever doing a header.
- My assistant didn't know what he was doing and he doesn't own an S2000
- If you follow my directions you can probably get it done in 3hrs... I wasted about 2hrs trying to get the stock header off because I didn't know what bolts to remove and I thought I had to take off the bottom heat shield.
- No Pre or Post dyno, sorry.

Thoughts:
- Butt dyno says gains... Reality says probably no gain.
- Typical header noise. It did change the sound. I have the Invidia TP and 70mm Single.


That's about it. Let me know if there are any questions. It's not even close to being as bad of an install as everyone else says it is. It was only a pain because of it being my first time.

 

WOW!!!! 5 hours!!! damn my first header job on my s took 55 min. thats with messy around too. i have the t1r header. the header you have better be making some power to be worth that install time!

 

Nice writeup-- thanks

 

how does the sound change?

 

a little more of a sporty sound... less drone... the weird part would be it sometimes sounds like theres almost a tick in the header... idk exactly how to describe it... but every car ive been in with a header has had the similar sound. not a bad sound... just different than with the stock header.

 

hows the finish on the Invidia.. I was thinking about buying it.

It come with gasket and hardware?

 

took me about 1-1.5 hr without removing the motor mount, vtec stenoid or comptech intake. when dropping the header just raise the car as high as you can with your jack and it will drop out.

 

The tick that you talk about is probably an exhaust leak. you should tighten the bolts once the header has had a chance to heat up. Header gaskets always leak.

 

Nice little write-up. I can't wait to get an aftermarket header on mine.

 

Question, how much did you pay and from where?