Ok all, this is the official kickoff for the GB. Everyone that has been waiting all this time for a real 1.6L header, now is your chance to be one of the first in the U.S. to have one. For those of you with 1.8/2.0L engines you will now have another choice for a top-notch, reasonably priced header.

The header is made by Thunder Muffler of Taiwan. They have been making and selling exhaust components in Taiwan and Asia for 11 years. I will be the exclusive distributor for all their products in the U.S.

These headers are 2mm SUS 304 stainless, two-piece construction, and as you can see from the pics below, they are beautifully made. When I installed mine,
there were no fitment issues at all. Macdaddyslomo needed to have a 2nd 02 sensor bung welded onto his, but Thunder has agreed to add a second bung for us at no additional charge.
The quality, construction and fitment are guaranteed by Thunder. Any manufacturing defects or broken welds not caused by abuse will be repaired or replaced by Thunder at no cost.

I am arranging to have a DynoJet run next week if I can get off work, but you can expect an 8-10 whp gain. Even more for those of you with 1999-2000 non-CA models because you will eliminate your only cat.
For everyone else, you WILL throw a CEL. Anyone wanting the electrical MIL eliminator I will include it for an additional cost.

Pricing:
1.6L........$285.00 to your door.
2.0/1.8L...$295.00 to your door.
MIL Eliminator $15.00 additional.
The regular price of these headers is $325.00+, not including shipping from Taiwan.

Price includes shipping to anywhere within the Continental U.S. Those of you in AK, HI, PR or outside the U.S., I will quote separately. When submitting your request include the name of the Town or City and Zip/Postal Code.
Shipping to P.O. Boxes will not be allowed. Payment can be via paypal or Money Order. That info will be provided when order time comes.

Transit time: please note that I personally do not have these in stock and
will make the order after the Group Buy is closed. To cut down on cost I will import them via my seafreight connections. This will take 6-8 weeks to your door, then. Air Freight is an option but will add about $35.00 to the cost of each unit and I don't want to do that unless you are ALL crazy enough to pay it.
For this price I will need a minimum of 10 orders in any combination. If this GB is successful I will move on to cat-backs, mufflers and headers for the Mazda 3 and 6.

looks good. I'm vouching for him (if anyone cares)

Bump...?
I feel lonely....

I'll vouch for him too. Good guy!

gimme a little time to get my corksport exhaust and some more money and ill hit you up for the 2.0l headers and mil eliminatior

gimme a little time to get my corksport exhaust and some more money and ill hit you up for the 2.0l headers and mil eliminatior

So add your name to the GB list for the headers and we will have our 10 people!!!! That means we get the special GB pricing. By the time that Gary (kargoboy) places the order and they get shipped, you should have the money saved up. Maybe do a half now/half later thing.....unless all the money is needed up front. Either way, put your name on the list and give us buyer number 10!

alright put me on ill find a way to get the money rounded up cuz this is just to good to pass up

alright put me on ill find a way to get the money rounded up cuz this is just to good to pass up

Aww, you're not just saying that 'cuz yer all liquored up, are ya?

Seriously, I am going to try and order fairly soon so keep me posted on the money situation.

Thanks.

i get paid wednseday so i should be good and i'll get an mil eliminator with it so i dont thriw a CEL

If you want the MIL, I was getting them from Matty and reselling them anyway, so you can go directly to him if you want...I was offering them on the other forum because, well, let's just say Mr Prime isn't welcome there any more...

oh ok thats cool......i just have to figure out how to install it and the header when they get here......looks like me and the guys are gonna be standin around my car with a cooler full of beer watching one person work AKA union work

This is a very easy install.

Here's a link. Only difference is the Thunder is easier because it's a two-piece unit. You won't need to remove the radiator fan.

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65746

Bump! We have 12 people who are going to buy. Way to go all! Always looking for more though......

how long until they are shipped????

Here's the update. The last guy paypaled me last night, so I sent my official order into Thunder before I went to bed.
Got the reply this morning. Thunder needs 4-5 days to get everything together for me (I ordered more stuff for test-fitting) and they'll be ready for pickup by my agent in Taiwan.
I will post transit details as soon as I have them, and keep you updated.

Stay tuned.

Here's the update. The last guy paypaled me last night, so I sent my official order into Thunder before I went to bed.
Got the reply this morning. Thunder needs 4-5 days to get everything together for me (I ordered more stuff for test-fitting) and they'll be ready for pickup by my agent in Taiwan.
I will post transit details as soon as I have them, and keep you updated.

Stay tuned.

This was a well-run GB. Appreciate everything you have done man. Its much appreciated!

Update: Headers, exhausts, have been picked up and are leaving Taiwan on Feb 1st, with a tentative ETA into Pittsburgh last week of Feb.

I've had several inquiries in the last week regarding bringing more of these headers in.
Anyone interested, please subscribe to this thread. If I get enough interest I'll do another order earlier than expected.



1) mazdapro01 2.0L header

2) tickaz (2.0) header, cat-back system

Looking for header that will pass emissions just wonder if your header can do that. I know the wagner will but having trouble finding a trace of one since wagner is bye bye.Probably interested if your header can pass.

Looking for header that will pass emissions just wonder if your header can do that. I know the wagner will but having trouble finding a trace of one since wagner is bye bye.Probably interested if your header can pass.

nope..it removes the cat....

does anyone know of a header for an 02 protege 5 2.0L that will pass emissions?

Now that Wagner's gone...I dont think any aftermarket header would...As far as I know, they all remover the cat!

does anyone know of a header for an 02 protege 5 2.0L that will pass emissions?


it all depends on where you get it done. even in california, some places don't even look under the hood. they plug into your obdII sensor under your dash and stick a probe up your tailpipe. if you don't throw any codes and your exhaust gas comes out within spec, you're good to go. there are, of course, places that look specifically for aftermarket parts that violate CARB laws. save the wagner header, all headers available on the market eliminate the first cat. personally, i passed emissions with flying colors with my header on. i guess i just got lucky. you get two cracks at the emissions test anyway. if you go there with your header on and don't pass, go home, reinstall the stock stuff, then take another crack at it. or if you want to be safe, put it back to stock before you head out to emissions. it should take but an hour or two to swap back and forth.

Im interested in this but i dont have the cash.

Anyone mind telling me which model of Protege needs the second O2 bung? after the pre cat.

Another question; does the MIL eliminator deal with both O2 sensors?

If you have a '99 or '00, 1.6L non- California Protege, you will need only one 02 sensor.
All others have two.
The MIL eliminator is only for the second sensor. The first sensor takes the initial reading, the second one is supposed to read something different. When you eliminate your pre-cat, both readings are the same , that's why it throws the CEL.

Save your money up--I'll be doing another GB in March.

fantastic

this was a very well run buy man kudos!!!.....i will tell everyone i know with a protege to head on here if the want an awesome deal on a header.........and i cant wait to get mine.............im installing my magnaflow system this weekend and that will sound nice i hope the header makes it even better

this was a very well run buy man kudos!!!.....i will tell everyone i know with a protege to head on here if the want an awesome deal on a header.........and i cant wait to get mine.............im installing my magnaflow system this weekend and that will sound nice i hope the header makes it even better

j00 gonna love it, mang....

man 1: this is hard hat..
man 2: What???lard ass
sorry i had to the mang thing reminded me...............................so if i wasnt to use a ml eliminator would it cause any problems running or would it just throw a cel??? if it still runs fine i might just skip the mil and let the light be on until the bulb burns out :Kill1:

Oops, how did I miss this post?

If you don't use some kind of fix, you will have and keep the CEL. Not only is it annoying but if I'm not mistaken it will cause the ECU to try & correct the reading by dumping fuel? Not REAL sure about that one, Mac or Matty might be able to help.

Anyway, update is, boat is unloaded and the headers are in the LA warehouse waiting for transport by truck to Pittsburgh. It's not a direct truck, will probably stop 10 different places before it gets here...

it will try to compensate with fuel, but not that bad....won't run badly...and if you are THAT concerned with fuel economy, you should probably keep it stock....

ok mil eliminator it is....they need to change the signs at the gas station anyway.......to arm, leg.....and for premium first born child

ok mil eliminator it is....they need to change the signs at the gas station anyway.......to arm, leg.....and for premium first born child

LOL

so when's tehre gonna be another GB for this?

so when's tehre gonna be another GB for this?

Did you get my PM? I've got a 1.6L available--that's what you've got, right?

so do you know how much longer it'll take for them to arrive

They are/were supposed to arrive in the customs warehouse today but I'm currently waiting for the warehouse manager to let me know if they've been unloaded.

*EDIT*: stupid trucking company sent their driver to Boston first, before Pittsburgh.
And this stuff came from the west coast. How dumb is that?

Anyone know if I could fit an aftermarket catalytic converter behind the Thunder headers by cutting off some the exhaust pipe? I'd love to get headers for my Protege, but like you said, since Wagner is done, nobody makes headers for the Protege that are legal in California. I would love to be able to swap in the stock exhaust manifold when smog testing time comes around, but I'm not very experienced with engine work (my buddy and I were thrilled when we managed to install a cold air intake, and I imagine headers would be more difficult). Anyways, about an aftermarket catalytic converter: can it be done? Is it even worth it, or should I just stick with my stock setup?

you can fit an aftermarket cat on there after that cat....most cat's like that are designed to fit in by simply cutting out a section of pipe and either welding or clamping the cat in it's place