Hey all was wondering if i could get some input on Header/Cat-Back Exhaust. I have a 04 Cav 2.2 Ecotech. Im not looking for masive power, or at least not yet, just adding some parts to make the car fun to drive. So far for the Header i have seen Pace Setter's for around 173.00. Made from mild steel and not cermaic coated, good thing is it comes with all the gaskets and bolts with it. Next there is a DC Sports ceramic coated Header for 418.95 No idea if it includes all bolts/Gaskets. Then there is the RSM Header, Ceramic coated, 4-1 design (like the others) for 260.00, Looks very nice and with a good price, only down side is that it dosent come with any of the gaskets or bolts not a big problem tho, can get those at any local parts store...i think...
Next is the Cat-Back Exhaust, I liked the Magnaflow Staniless Steel Cat-Back System with 2.25" Tubing, but if i plan on S.C or going Turbo Later i think i would at least need a 2.5" or at least thats what i heard. With that said i found a cat-back system from RSM, can go 2.25, 2.5, or up to 3 i think for 499.99 Only Prob i saw was no way to order from on-line so i guess i would have to call the sales Desk. Then i saw some from Pace Setter for around 300.00, the ceapest of the three that i saw, but it doest tell the size of the tubing :banghead: Well Thanks for any advice or input that you send me.

first of all... its ecotec. just correcting your spelling. Pacesetter is good, but not the black painted one. The paint will chip off after the first drive so pay the extra and get ceramic coated. Rksport makes a set as well, OBX and a few others. If your not going to be boosted stay under 2.5" piping or loss of backpressure can become and issue.

pacesetter is 2.25" i think and good for the money, the Exhaust system isn't s/steel but they don't usually last too much longer and considering that the Pacesetter offers such a good price and they fit better usually I'm goin pacesetter fron to back! If you want Crazy power and get a header go s/c or you'll kick yourself when you have to replace the headers if you go Turbo!

ehh exhaust is a waste of money for a first upgrade. Trust me you can get alot more performance for alot less than an exhaust system. Heres a list of mods that are cheap and a must when you start to mod your car.

Upper Engine mount
Lower engine mount
Intake
Grounding Wires (yes they do help in their own way)
Shift kit (automatics)

Those are just the basics IMO. You can get all that for less than 300 bucks, and it should make you about .3-.5 tenths of a second faster in the 1320. Exhaust might make you .1-.2 tenths of a second faster at most. Alot of people dont realize 4 banger engines arent that restrictive stock when it comes to air flow, thats the key behind them. They need to make the max HP with the least amount of engine. Not to mention, 4 bangers generally dont flow that much air. Id hold off on the exhaust if i were you. I still have my stock exhaust, will be stock prolly till next year or so.

ehh exhaust is a waste of money for a first upgrade. Trust me you can get alot more performance for alot less than an exhaust system. Heres a list of mods that are cheap and a must when you start to mod your car.

Upper Engine mount
Lower engine mount
Intake
Grounding Wires (yes they do help in their own way)
Shift kit (automatics)

Those are just the basics IMO. You can get all that for less than 300 bucks, and it should make you about .3-.5 tenths of a second faster in the 1320. Exhaust might make you .1-.2 tenths of a second faster at most. Alot of people dont realize 4 banger engines arent that restrictive stock when it comes to air flow, thats the key behind them. They need to make the max HP with the least amount of engine. Not to mention, 4 bangers generally dont flow that much air. Id hold off on the exhaust if i were you. I still have my stock exhaust, will be stock prolly till next year or so.

Oh sh*t yeah I found out that on a 3400 the valve lift is .272" as opposed to .345" on the ld9!!! WTF. My buddy is getting a .550 cam for his! Rough idles supposedly, not surprised! It'll try to suck the throttle butterfly in!

Better hope with that much of an agressive cam, the lope dosn't trigger the knock sensor to go off. Of you will be throwing a shit load of CEL's.

Thanks for the help guys, Ill prob end up going with the RSM Cermaic Head and hold of on the exhaust and find some upper and lower engin mounts instead and put the left over money to a short shifter and a lighter crank pully.

Better hope with that much of an agressive cam, the lope dosn't trigger the knock sensor to go off. Of you will be throwing a shit load of CEL's.

He is buying full PCM tuner suite that he can tune hisself. from digital HP!

That will work for sure.

Ok here is a very stupid question, how many engine mounts are there, just one each?? top and bottem??

lower and upper. Full replacement on both. The 2.4 and 2.2 have full lower but upper insert.

Allright, do you know where i can find a lower mount, i found a upper from Rk sports but i cant seam to find a lower mount.

the lower is the same for 95-05. only the upper will be different on the ecotecs. If i was you, order from

www.carcustoms.net ....

Karo sells RKsport products and prothane. He is cheaper and free shipping, also probably the best customer service.

...better yet..... E-mail him and see if you can get a package deal for the ecotec like he did for the the 95-02 Ld9 and Ohv people when you by both at once. I'm sure he can do somthing for you.

...better yet..... E-mail him and see if you can get a package deal for the ecotec like he did for the the 95-02 Ld9 and Ohv people when you by both at once. I'm sure he can do somthing for you.

not to forget the trans mount!

Thanks again, Just have to wait untill i get paid to make a order.

Hey, another question as always, im thinking about geting a new TB (58mm) and i was wondering how hard is it to install one?

not very hard. Prolly an 1hr job if you haven't done one before.

only a hour, not to bad...although with my luck it will porb take 2 hours, bought new plugs for the car today, turns out they are too big, dunno how the hell i could mess that up :banghead: Then I went to install the Injen Intake that i have, as i was installing it i found out they didnt ship my Clutch Resivor Bracket... :banghead: guess i should of made sure i had all the parts b4 i started to install everything. :screwy:

only a hour, not to bad...although with my luck it will porb take 2 hours, bought new plugs for the car today, turns out they are too big, dunno how the hell i could mess that up :banghead: Then I went to install the Injen Intake that i have, as i was installing it i found out they didnt ship my Clutch Resivor Bracket... :banghead: guess i should of made sure i had all the parts b4 i started to install everything. :screwy:


I just zip-tied it to the cables on the firewall for now!

Zip Ties.... :banghead: *has ductape and electric tape in hand* man...i must be retarted....i never thought of that and here i was gonne tape the damn thing :screwy:

Zip Ties.... :banghead: *has ductape and electric tape in hand* man...i must be retarted....i never thought of that and here i was gonne tape the damn thing :screwy:

Well the thread title is 'any ADVICE or input!' I'm just doing my duty!

lol, yeah thats true.