420A: Intake vs Headers

rc330 · 08-07-2012, 01:01 PM

I have about $250-$300 to spend on an upgrade for my 2G Eclipse GS. I was thinking of getting either an AEM cold air intake or some headers. My question is, if I wanna get the most horsepower increase out of my $250-$300, should I get the AEM cold air intake, headers, or both but buy some random ebay tubes and switch it out with an AEM filter (which some people say gives you the same results). Would headers even benefit me at all seeing that my cat and catback is fully stock? Would I get better horsepower results out of a $250-$300 cat and catback?

I'm new to upgrades so sorry if this is a really dumb question lol. Thanks!

mattasi · 08-07-2012, 01:05 PM

If it were my money I would spend it on a nice AEM cold air intake and enjoy the extra power and sound!

Mike02rt · 08-07-2012, 01:08 PM

Buy a coupler, some shiny pipe of your choice, and a K&N filter.
There you go, a budget cold air intake without spending all your budget on a premade kit with a fancy name on it.

The header will do nothing but drain your wallet and you will not feel an increase in anything.

Spend the money on nice tires in my opinion.
Or a nice set of speakers/and sub if you drive a lot.
It takes far too much money to speed up a n/a gs eclipse.

2GCruiser · 08-07-2012, 01:18 PM

Buy a cheap ebay intake.. its just a pipe. I wouldn't waste the money going AEM. Then spend the rest on a quality header. cheap ones can crack and are welded like crap. You'll get a little more top end power.

rc330 · 08-07-2012, 01:27 PM

Ya, that's kinda what I was thinking, just getting an intake.

2GCruiser: That's what I was wondering though, how much would it help me if I got some headers seeing that my cat and muffler are stock?

dsmotors95 · 08-07-2012, 01:31 PM

look..when i had my talon all stock i felt a bit more power when i installed my intake than headers..i also had the whole exhaust system stock..also the sound the intake makes is priceless

bo0st · 08-07-2012, 04:22 PM

You would get better results out of a pulley upgrade. They are $250~ish with shipping

Then do a cheap intake + exhaust for $150 - $200 later and you'll really feel a nice free up of power.

If you decide to get headers you might want to make the exhaust "full" and just re-move the cat. Get your emissions done before

When I removed my cat I felt a nice difference, you're going to be beating on this car I assume lol so you'll want all the power you can free up

Good luck!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike02rt

Or a nice set of speakers/and sub if you drive a lot.
It takes far too much money to speed up a n/a gs eclipse.

Yeah get some nice subs too if you drive a lot. It definitely takes a lot to get speed on the gs/rs. A nitrous kit is about $350 & would wake your car the heck up

but I wouldn't recommend that if you have a stock intake, stock cat, exhaust lol.

ed1380 · 08-07-2012, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattasi

If it were my money I would spend it on a nice AEM cold air intake and enjoy the extra power and sound!

what extra power?

AK Maniak · 08-07-2012, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ed1380

what extra power?

That's what I was thinking. I put an Injen ram air intake on my 98 RS and I didn't notice a difference. Looked nice though, too bad it just made the rest of my engine bay look worse.

LeeSD1 · 08-07-2012, 06:20 PM

You should just get a cheap ebay catback it will help reduce some restrictions in the exhaust I seen them recently on ebay for $130 and an intake would be best since the stock ones are horrible..You can end up spending less then $200 for a catback and intake. You wont get too much of a power increase with a header

AK Maniak · 08-07-2012, 06:43 PM

I would honestly not do bolt ons. Spend your money else where because you're going to end up spending hundreds of dollars for less than 10 hp. Dollar for dollar your best bet is probably a bottle. Other wise just enjoy good gas mileage and a good looking reliable DD.

jayson427 · 08-07-2012, 08:20 PM

i know not many people are fond of obx but! i run an obx header and cold air intake, the header is $200 and the intake was $90. i have a built motor and have no issues with my header cracking or anything like that. the cold air intake looks nice and sounds great the design is just like an aem but its two peice which makes it easier to take off and put on. my header is a 4-2-1 and personally i just like that style. you can get the megan 4-1 header which gives you better flow and just a little bit more torque and horse power. just for the future, if you bore out your throttle body and get a cold air intake with an under drive pulley from unorthadox racing you will be pretty happy. then you can put on full exhaust with your header. its not a ton of gain but it makes the car alot funner.

mattasi · 08-07-2012, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ed1380

what extra power?

When I had a 97 GS the first mod I did was a AEM cold air intake and I noticed a difference. It's only like 5-7hp but it is noticeable even for someone not sure what mods to do.

BK85 · 08-07-2012, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK Maniak

I would honestly not do bolt ons. Spend your money else where because you're going to end up spending hundreds of dollars for less than 10 hp. Dollar for dollar your best bet is probably a bottle. Other wise just enjoy good gas mileage and a good looking reliable DD.

Hey when you are starting out with only 140hp 10 more is a big thing.

BK85

bryanwheat · 08-07-2012, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattasi

When I had a 97 GS the first mod I did was a AEM cold air intake and I noticed a difference. It's only like 5-7hp but it is noticeable even for someone not sure what mods to do.

Wrong, you in no way gained 5-7 horsepower with a aem intake. You can do the works and add exhaust, header, intake, pullies and you will likely gain 10 horsepower at the very most.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayson427

if you bore out your throttle body .

The stock throttle body is no where close to being a restriction on the stock engine.

bo0st · 08-07-2012, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattasi

When I had a 97 GS the first mod I did was a AEM cold air intake and I noticed a difference. It's only like 5-7hp but it is noticeable even for someone not sure what mods to do.

Did you dyno that before and after lol?

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryanwheat

Wrong, you in no way gained 5-7 horsepower with a aem intake. You can do the works and add exhaust, header, intake, pullies and you will likely gain 10 horsepower at the very most.

What he said is dead on ^^

rc330 · 08-07-2012, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bo0st

You would get better results out of a pulley upgrade. They are $250~ish with shipping

What exactly do you mean by a pulley upgrade? Sorry, like I said, I'm new to this lol

bo0st · 08-07-2012, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rc330

What exactly do you mean by a pulley upgrade? Sorry, like I said, I'm new to this lol

This is a pulley:

Code:

http://www.andysautosport.com/mitsubishi/1995_1999_eclipse/performance/engine/pulley_kits/unorthodox_racing/

You'll need to get one for the 420a those are for the GST & GSX. I tried to Google but I didn't see it, I bought mine about two years ago and it was an unorthodox pulley. Still running good to this day.

bryanwheat · 08-07-2012, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rc330

What exactly do you mean by a pulley upgrade? Sorry, like I said, I'm new to this lol

Light weight under drive pullies. They are lighter so they have less rotating mass, and they are also smaller so they turn the accessory slower and use less power from the engine. They don't make the engine produce more power, they just free up a little bit of power.

RvlutionMtrsprt · 08-08-2012, 12:27 AM

I've been down this road... Spend the money on nitrous or a turbo setup. Anything else is a waste of money. You can do every bolt-on mod known to man, spend thousands in the process, and ask yourself why your car is still so slow, or go turbo/nitrous.

bryanwheat · 08-08-2012, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayson427

yeah? and i didnt say it was a restriction did i? its just something cheap you can do for better throttle response after you do some other things. the guy only has a few bucks to throw at his car. i was just giving him some options down the road to make the car funner like i said.

Well if it isn't a restriction than making it bigger will do absolutely nothing for him except hurt velocity which will usually make less power.

jayson427 · 08-08-2012, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryanwheat

Wrong, you in no way gained 5-7 horsepower with a aem intake. You can do the works and add exhaust, header, intake, pullies and you will likely gain 10 horsepower at the very most.

The stock throttle body is no where close to being a restriction on the stock engine.

yeah? and i didnt say it was a restriction did i? its just something cheap you can do for better throttle response after you do some other things. the guy only has a few bucks to throw at his car. i was just giving him some options down the road to make the car funner like i said.

LarryJoe · 08-08-2012, 03:39 AM

If I were you I'd spend all your money on suspension upgrade. Anything you can do to stiffen it up. The most fun you can really have in a 420A DSM is going out some backroads and taking tight turns at high speed. Not pulling hard or going fast in a straight line. Seriously get some suspension upgrades, good tires, and have fun driving the car. Don't waste your money trying to make big power on it.

bryanwheat · 08-08-2012, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayson427

yeah? and i didnt say it was a restriction did i? its just something cheap you can do for better throttle response after you do some other things. the guy only has a few bucks to throw at his car. i was just giving him some options down the road to make the car funner like i said.

Well if it isn't a restriction than making it bigger will do absolutely nothing for him except hurt velocity which will usually make less power.

jayson427 · 08-08-2012, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryanwheat

Well if it isn't a restriction than making it bigger will do absolutely nothing for him except hurt velocity which will usually make less power.

not if he does it right with other upgrades. like i said in the future down the road...
im not saying go bore it out first thing and throw it on the car. just giving him some other options. your right about velocity but if he does some other things first it does help.

Silver99OZ · 08-08-2012, 04:17 AM

Leave your engine bone stock. I have done all of the bolt on mods for the 420A, and there are not any gains to be made. You wont feel any real difference in power. If I could go back and do it all over again I would not have put any money into upgrading the engine, its just not worth it. If you really like the car and plan on keeping it for a while then spend your money on a nice set of wheels and tires, and upgrade the suspension. I am being as honest with you as possible.

drakenj · 08-08-2012, 04:35 AM

If u really want to keep this car and want more power get an engine from a junkyard and put it on the stand that's really the only viable option for a 420A either start a Turbo or a strocker build.

Jmonet1620 · 08-08-2012, 04:45 AM

I wish I never would have spent the money I did on my 420a when I had it but I was young and dumb. Unless you are planning on truly modding this car to be fast in the future I would leave the engine alone since the minor gains dont justify the money/time spent. If you truly want to build a 420a and understand the money it will take to even reach 200 whp then buy all means start buying bolt ons as you can afford them. Everyone who tells you it is not worth it is just trying to spare you from one day looking at your car and saying "i wasted alot of time and money on this POS" like many former 420a owners have. A nice muffler welded on at a exhaust shop and some rims/springs will go along way to making your car more enjoyable. Bottem line it's your car and you can/should do what you want.