well i got comptech headers and as you guys know they dont fit the oem heat shield. After a drive i noticed that the engine bay is quite hot, but i'm not really sure if it was that hot with the oem headers. I was wondering though would it be possible that my headers actually slowed down my car because the engine bay would get too hot- and - my intake would also suck in hotter air? If in the future i upgrade to a cold air system should i be worried about the pipe heating?

thanks any replies would be appreciated. By the way i don't know if this is a test of power but when i had my car stock, and when i had it stock+hks exhaust i was never able to chirp the car- no matter HOW many damn times i tried. Now with my headers + exhaust i've been able to chirp, does this mean i'm making more power?

 

did you ever consider coating the header? (it's header not headers, singluar)

also, if you get something like this:



you can be sure your engine is breathing consistent cold air.

 

I feel stronger chrips with the header, but honestly don't know about any power gains. I feel as if it has *gained some*, but to what degree, I dunno. It could also be related to the age of your tires, they could be going bald enough that they will chirp easier.

As for the header, don't worry about the heat shield, but do include the black shield back on your car. I don't have mine on, but I have a jet hot coating, which reduces the under the hood temps - in my opinion - quite considerably. Although I could be just imaging things.

 

Rich, I realize I'm probably being anal but the carbon fiber induct doesn't necessarilly deliver cold air, just cooler air. In the middle of summer, when ambient temps are 90-degrees outside, I guarantee you the air coming thru that filter won't be cold. I realize you know that, but maybe a newbie might come away with the wrong impression so I just wanted to make that distinction. Looks great though. Seems like a well thought out design for the sans-pipe look.

BTW, FWIW, for every 10-degrees of cooler air entering your MAF, expect a 1-hp improvement in engine performance. That's why all of my cars run like crazy apes this time of year up here (Vermont). Right now, it's 22 degrees! That's about a 6-hp gain from normal summer time driving.

 

I have the Mugen header, which comes with a replacement heat shield. Only header that I am aware of that has this.

 

Also, because of the placement, you have to consider the incredible heat that can radiate off pavement in the summers - and right into the intake. I've actually heard of people routing their CAI hoses (if they're bendable) away from their air box during the summer, but putting them back in the cooler months. I figure that this air is surely cooler than the air in a closed engine bay, but I've never measured that.