My tC upgrade parts list...suggestions?

[suryad]

Hey all,

This is the first time in my life that I am modifying anything ever considering this is the first car I have owned....anyway I was wanting your input before I go ahead and prepare for the plunge....My parts list is below:
CAI - http://www.hopupracing.com/incoairinsct.html (http://www.hopupracing.com/incoairinsct.html) - $255 + shipping
Exhaust - http://www.hopupracing.com/masctccaexsy.html (http://www.hopupracing.com/masctccaexsy.html) - $476 + shipping
Headers - http://www.monstermotorworks.com/cgi-bin/test/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=1127162.13329*-W8xJ8&p_id=00011&xm=on&ppinc=search2 (http://www.monstermotorworks.com/cgi-bin/test/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=1127162.13329*-W8xJ8&p_id=00011&xm=on&ppinc=search2) - $600
CEL eliminator - http://www.monstermotorworks.com/cgi-bin/test/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=4308183.8102*d74FU5&p_id=01948&xm=on&ppinc=search2 - $57
Engine dampener - http://www.monstermotorworks.com/cgi-bin/test/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=4308183.8102*Kw3hN1&p_id=00006&xm=on&ppinc=search2 - $140

What do yall think? Any better prices? Any other parts suggestions? That is round 1 of my upgrade. Round 2 will involve the Stoptech Stage 2 brake kit and the tC body kit prob the beginning of next month. dfwaltima has graciously accepted to help me with the install since I know next to nothing about doing these things yourself.

I had a question o nthe headers...I saw that there are 2 Injen intakes for the tC. One is the SP model and the other is the RD....anyone know the difference?

Anotherquestion while on the same topic is would I need to get a bypass valve installed to reduce the chances of hydro-lock? Not that I am going swimming with my car....

Thanks all! Peace

Udate: Added 2 more items to my list at the end.

[Krazylowgsx]

first of all.... I like your list, and those are typically peoples first mods. Your off to a good start, but i would seriously consider some diffrent products.
The only reason i say that is because $550 for a header is retarded expensive! A Strup Header is $375ish,and the Exhaust (which is an axle back, not a cat back) is about the same price! I;m not a fan of the magnoflow at all... sounds like a TRD, imo. as for the CIA... i don't have any experience with them and the TC. I've had my tc for about 5 months, and its still Bone stock..lmao (thats really strange to people that know me).

[suryad]

I have heard of strups but I have been recommended that set by only 1 person so far...most everyne I have talked to have recommended me to get Alphawerks or Monstermotorworks...and as I understand it the MMW headers also include the s-pipe.

As fror the Magnaflow, it is a cat-back exhaust...not an axle back...is that what you were saying? Not quite sure I follow.

THanks for your input though. I am trying to shed my n00b status and come up to an intermediate level of knowledge...still its a lot of money I am spending all at once and I know I would regret it if I dont get it right the first time. So appreciate your comments.

[Nateee]

id go wit strup everything if it was my decision.....or some DC headers like i got....and there cheaper cuz the discounts on the strup stuff....
but its ur money...haha

[suryad]

I dont think all headers are made alike. And coming so highly recommended I have a feeling the MMW will make a bit more horsepower. And I figure since that kit does have the s pipe in there....thats what another 100 bucsk? So if it was the price of the strups header + 100 and I am roughly there.

Unless someone comes up to me and says that the MMW header does not make much horsepower, I will be sticking with it haha.

[suryad]

http://www.monstermotorworks.com/cgi-bin/test/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=3658664.17025*R24H67&p_id=01945&xm=on&ppinc=search2

Came across that. What do you guys think? That + the exhaust from magnaflow should do the trick shouldnt it?

[Krdshrk]

First off - Never believe what MMW posts on their site in terms of gains. They say it's dyno tested but how the hell are we to know what they used? Their Header they said made 29 WHP, but then we found out that was intake/header/full exhaust that made that all.

The MMW header is decent though - but it's oversized. The amount you pay for it is because it includes the s-pipe section. Their header is the only TRUE 4-2-1 header (4 exhaust pipes combine to 2 then combine to 1). It's the best in terms of gains, but can get very raspy (all tC headers do but the MMW is one of the worse ones).

The intake you've chosen is good, though. As for the Exhaust - Shop around a bit more first. The magnaflow isn't a very common one and it sounds almost exactly like the TRD axelback. The Tsudo N1 Catback is ok, and it's a lot cheaper... but you have to like angled exhausts. I used the Tsudo Midpipe to my TRD Axelback section. Sounds GREAT.

As for the CEL Eliminator - don't waste your money - $5 gets you a pair of spark plug antifoulers from pep boys - that'll do the trick.

The MMW Engine dampener is ok but the Ingalls Stiffy dampener is more common - i'd go for that one, since I trust Ingalls more.

Good choice on the Stoptech Stage 2 brake kit - I have it and it makes the brakes feel so much better.

Oh yes - are you sure you want to do all this to your car? If you have emissions testing during your inspections, you'll fail - because the Header and Exhaust will remove all of the Catalytic converters.

[suryad]

Thanks for the post. I dont believe what people post on their websites. I always think in the lowest denominator manner. Appreciate all the input.

As fir the exhaust...hmm...I kinda like the sound of the magnaflow. It is not overly loud. I dont want it to be loud cause even if I drive at 65 mph the tacho reads 3k rpm...I would end up getting a headahce...

As for raspiness I am quite unfamiliar with what a rasp is...I will get the spark plug antifoulers from pep boys was just curious what that CEL was.

Did you happen to take a look at that stage 2 kit that MMW is selling? Seems to me like a good buy...and then all thats left over is the exhaust.

And as for the emissions...you are right. THat was going to be on my next set of questions altgether in a newer topic when I had got my list finalized....I was under the assumption that the cat-back exhaust meant...that is still had the cat in there...please dont laugh at my ignorance...hehe :p just trying to learn.

[Krdshrk]

cat-back exhaust means s-pipe back usually... it depends on the exhaust. Some you will have to weld on, which is a huge pain.

I wouldn't trust MMW's stage 2 kits - their intakes a piece of trash (the air filter falls off all the time - Ericsscion has one), and half the stuff there won't do anything for you.

CEL = Check Engine Light - all headers will give this - the antifouler trick should fix it.

Rasp = that tinny sound that you hear a lot with cheap civic coffee can exhausts.

[suryad]

Thanks for the info. I dont think the Magnaflow will be getting rid of the cat. If I am not mistaken its headers to spipe to cat to exhaust right?

Hmm...looks like I am better off with my Injen CAI, MMW header w spipe and exhaust.

[Krdshrk]

The first cat is in the Header itself. The 2nd cat is in the Midpipe, which most likely will be removed and replaced with the Magnaflow exhaust..

[suryad]

Hmm...I gotta think about that now...seems like modding the car will become a hassle when it comes to do emission tests. Maybe I should not do it then.

While on the topic of the exhaust systems....does it go in the following manner?

intake > engine > headers > downpipe > spipe > the rest of the exhaust....I am a bit confused.

[Krdshrk]

Intake -> Throttle Body -> engine -> Header -> Spipe (Same as Downpipe) -> Midpipe -> Axelback.

[suryad]

Whoa! That all makes so much sense now! Thanks Krdshrk for taking the time and explaining this stuff.

And the catalytic concverters...at least for the tC there is one in the headers and there is one in the midpipe?

So that means that I have to get catalytic converters if I replace the stock header and the stock pipe? Or could it be the Magnaflow exhaust system works around the existing cat?

[suryad]

So far this is what my list stands...
Intake - http://www.hopupracing.com/incoairinsct.html - $255 + shipping

AEM air bypass valve - http://www.eautoworks.com/html/ORD-1-1-1-3616.cfm - $60

MMW engine damper - http://www.monstermotorworks.com/cgi-bin/test/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=4308183.8102*JK6Oq7&p_id=00006&xm=on&ppinc=search2

Headers/s-pipe - http://www.monstermotorworks.com/cgi-bin/test/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=1127162.13329*-W8xJ8&p_id=00011&xm=on&ppinc=search2 - $600 30% discount

Midpipe/Exhaust - http://www.hopupracing.com/masctccaexsy.html - $476 + shipping

I am unsure of the exhaust includes the midpipe and looking at the picture of the product I think it does.

My next round of upgrades will include:
Stoptech Stage 2 brake kit
And Visage body kit
60 mm throttle body

So I gots a long ways to go.

[Krdshrk]

If the exhaust is exactly what it looks like in the pictures, yes, it has the midpipe, and no, it doesn't have a catalytic converter.

If you're worried about emissions testing, changing the Header isn't the way to go. You can put a high-flow cat on the midpipe but you'll still be missing 1 cat.

Looks like you have everything there though. Keep in mind - that exhaust will have to be welded together.

As for your next round - You don't need a larger throttle body. It won't help at all.

Body kit will be very very expensive to put on and paint.

[suryad]

Thanks once again. Yeah I am not gonna go for the throttle body. I am still a bit torn about the cat being lost because of the header upgrade. So many people have done the header mods...I wonder how they are able to pass emissions!

And for the body kit, yeah I know it will be expensive but god the kit looks so good! The color in the picture for the kit is the same color I have for my tC and it would just make my tC look so nice especially with the riaxx fontana rims that I have.

[suryad]

I have a small change to my list. Instead of going the Magnaflow route, I am gonna go the Injen SES route with the exhaust. Anybody have experience with that product?

[suryad]

I got 3/4 parts ordered and 2 of them are already shipped. www.newedgeperformance.com (http://www.newedgeperformance.com) is an excellent place. Tony is extremely helpful and he does his best.

Total damage for Ingalls stiffy, injen CAI, MMW header, Magnaflow exhaust came to $1394.

Not bad eh?

[ashiva]

mmm not bad. krdshrk....good to see you in engine :P haha
i have a question (anybody feel free to answer). with a mmw header/spipe should i got custom midpipe + greddy sp2 axle back or tanabe medallion touring catback...it comes to pretty much the same price for me...
i dont care for a lot of noise, just whatever is better quality (i have a good shop for my midpipe) and better for the car...

[Krdshrk]

Nobody I know of has the tanabe. I know matt wants it, but i have no clue of the quality or how it sounds.

[ashiva]

let me know when matt gets his...