Exhaust Manifold Options
 

What would make sense to do.

1. Wait and buy new aftermarket header when available. If it ever does become available. Price $300

2. Extrude and Hone current exhaust manifold and throw on some Swain Technology Thermo Barrier Coating. Price $450 plus

Plus I'm very close to installing a NOS system as well.
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Re: Exhaust Manifold Options
 

IMHO there is no point even considering Option #2. The main problem with the Protege's exhaust system from a horsepower standpoint is the close-coupled cat design, which makes the exhaust manifold's primaries way too short. In simpler terms, the shape of the manifold sucks, so polishing it up isn't going to do a whole lot. The power gains from this mod will probably be minimal to nonexistent. :( Racing Beat did some R&D on a similar idea for the MP3 (actually a short-tube welded header) and discovered that the power gains were very close to zero.

FWIW this idea works well on cars in which the stock exhaust manifold is basically a cast-iron 4-2-1 long-tube header (the 94-97 Integra GS-R, 90-98 Miata and Porsche 944 spring to mind). In these cases, polishing the tubes helps because the basic shape of the manifold is already good. We are not so lucky. :(

Hey, thanks for that info.
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