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I am not sure what the best option is for a header for a K20 in the Spyder, but this is how I see it:

The PPE Kswap header looks reasonable but I think it sits too low for a K20
The TSX OEM header can be adapted easily with a custom downpipe, but it is a bit heavy and performance is limited
Most KSwap headers will clear the crossmember, but most are too long to fit without extensive modifications before the last merge
The K-tuned KSwap headers (like the 4-2-1 and the Ram-style) look like they are short enough to fit without extensive modifications and offer reasonable performance.

Any other points of view?

Dave

I can have PPE make the header just a 1/4 inch shorter in the runner's.
 
Hey guys. I put together a few side by side shots which may help. Album

PPE on the left. R-Crew Gen 1 on the right.

I can verify that the R-Crew clears the cross member, barely. The R-Crew actually has better ground clearance. if you experience wheel hop, it may contact.

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My plan is to put a couple tight 90 degree radius turns going up right after the first merge collectors replace their arc length equivalent. It *looks* like it will clear the bumper cover. Not sure what will happen with the bumper support.

On another note, I got my car started and driving last night. Thanks again Brandon! Great work on the wiring harness.
 
I can verify that the R-Crew clears the cross member, barely. The R-Crew actually has better ground clearance. if you experience wheel hop, it may contact.
My plan is to put a couple tight 90 degree radius turns going up right after the first merge collectors replace their arc length equivalent. It *looks* like it will clear the bumper cover. Not sure what will happen with the bumper support.

On another note, I got my car started and driving last night. Thanks again Brandon! Great work on the wiring harness.
No problem, good to hear everything works. Just wanted to point of on the R-Crew, if someone has a K20 it most like will NOT clear the cross member. What size diameter pipes if the R-crew. It looks like its still a 2.5 outlet and the runner's might be slightly bigger
 
on the K, there are two heater connections on the motor. one that is next to exhaust port #4. I believe people are calling this the feed. The other is a hard pipe that comes up beneath the intake manifold and sits near the transmission pointing rearward. if you trace the hard pipe it connects right by the tstat housing. I believe people refer to this as the return. I'm using the tstat housing connection for heat, and blocking the exhaust port 4 connection with this: https://www.jhpusa.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=7004
Hey gawdzilla. I updated my post to reflect that you do have the correct routing. Sorry for that! I didn't trace the tube back on the 1ZZ, but it does not come out of the head as I assumed, and does dump post thermostat.

Sorry again!
 
Wow those pics really show the difference. The PPE header basically looks like a glorified OEM piece. It serves the purpose of course.
I haven't seen them side-by-side, but I believe the KTuned 4-2-1 is in-between the length of these 2 and will probably not require shortening to clear the rear bumper. I wouldn't be so quick to criticize the design of the PPE header. A critical aspect of 4-cylinder (tri-Y) header design is how long a path is there before the second merge, because there is pulse interference between the 1-4 and 2-3 pairings. The PPE has a lot longer length to merge than any of the OEM versions.

Dave
 
Hey guys. I put together a few side by side shots which may help. Album

PPE on the left. R-Crew Gen 1 on the right.

I can verify that the R-Crew clears the cross member, barely. The R-Crew actually has better ground clearance. if you experience wheel hop, it may contact.

Image



My plan is to put a couple tight 90 degree radius turns going up right after the first merge collectors replace their arc length equivalent. It *looks* like it will clear the bumper cover. Not sure what will happen with the bumper support.

On another note, I got my car started and driving last night. Thanks again Brandon! Great work on the wiring harness.
Not that you are asking my advice, but wrapping really shortens the life of a header. Wrapped header eventually crack.

Dave
 
Not that you are asking my advice, but wrapping really shortens the life of a header. Wrapped header eventually crack.

Dave
Yeah, I know it. The PPE actually came to me wrapped, but I removed it.

The R-Crew I wrapped myself when I had a couple dyno days scheduled back to back so I could experiment any power difference.

Results were relatively minor 242whp -> 245whp.

I'll actually send my header off to Jet Hot again when I'm done modifying. I sent my S2000's header and was really pleased with their work.

Before:
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After:
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This is my PLM Header 4-1 cut to fit to a custom 3" exhaust was made in house thats why looks awful, its not the best power for mid range cuz we lost power due to collector reduce but gain some power at high range I found used like 200 bucks and so far works for me

 
WHOOO HOOOO! We got heat so hot you can't even leave your hand in front of the heater at idle!!! So it's been in the mid 30's here lately, so we haven't been able to much testing but we will as soon as the temps rise. But as of right now were are seeing better results than ever. Car's idling at 160 which is better than the 2zz.
 
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