Do these "performance mods" have any effect?

[haux]

I am posting this thread because of question three. One and two have likely been beaten to death already, but I'll ask them anyway.

1) Will exhaust headers affect the performance of a four cylinder 5SFE without any other engine modifications?

2) Same question about a lighter "performance" crankshaft pulley.

3) Do non-California spec Camry's have front catalytic converters? I ask because of this picture from the repair manual; it specifies California for the front cat -> http://i48.tinypic.com/2ym7iv4.jpg

[92camryproject]

As for the headers, they are a bored out version of your current exhaust manifold. They allow your engine to get rid of its exhaust gases with less work and it does provide a small power boost. They can add horsepower to just about any car on a proportional scale. Meaning the more horsepower you start with, the more you can gain from it. You can expect maybe 5-10 hp gain on your 5sfe

[haux]

Originally Posted by 92camryproject

As for the headers, they are a bored out version of your current exhaust manifold. They allow your engine to get rid of its exhaust gases with less work and it does provide a small power boost. They can add horsepower to just about any car on a proportional scale. Meaning the more horsepower you start with, the more you can gain from it. You can expect maybe 5-10 hp gain on your 5sfe

Yeah, I read about what they do. I'm wondering now if any members here have installed them and actually noticed improvement.

[chronoti]

1. i dont think it gives a large improvement like the mz gets from a new y-pipe

2. yes but it like 5hp again, but it removes a rubber dampener built in to the fly so you might get a front main leak (faster if a new seal is in)

3. no idea, looking at rockauto, yes? http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1317962

[92camryproject]

Originally Posted by haux

Yeah, I read about what they do. I'm wondering now if any members here have installed them and actually noticed improvement.

I havnt installed them on my camry but i have installed them on other cars before and it gives a noticeable boost a cars get-up-and-go. A small gain, but noticeable.

I believe that you can use headers made for a Celica if im not mistaken...

[haux]

Originally Posted by chronoti

3. no idea, looking at rockauto, yes? http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1317962

I did notice that. And again, it specifies California. So unless somebody can say otherwise, my non-California spec Camry does NOT have a front catalytic converter. Therefore, if I did ever decide to get exhaust headers, it would not eliminate a front cat, 'cause there isn't one to begin with. Ok!

Originally Posted by chronoti

...but it removes a rubber dampener built in to the fly so you might get a front main leak (faster if a new seal is in)

Kinda confused about that. One would think that manufacture's of these things have a brain?

[haux]

Originally Posted by 92camryproject

I believe that you can use headers made for a Celica if im not mistaken...

I think I read something about that and it still required some modification to attach to the front exhaust pipe?

[92camryproject]

Originally Posted by haux

I think I read something about that and it still required some modification to attach to the front exhaust pipe?

I believe you just have to lengthen your downpipe. Just get a few inches of exhaust piping from autozone and cut your downpipe and weld it into the middle.

Or if you have some time on your hands, redo your whole exhaust for an even greater gain. Go with at least 2 inch piping back to the resonator and then to the muffler. And throw on magnaflow muffler for a gorgeous rumble. Leave out the catalytic converters, they would just rob horsepower.

[haux]

Originally Posted by 92camryproject

I believe you just have to lengthen your downpipe. Just get a few inches of exhaust piping from autozone and cut your downpipe and weld it into the middle.

Or if you have some time on your hands, redo your whole exhaust for an even greater gain. Go with at least 2 inch piping back to the resonator and then to the muffler. And throw on magnaflow muffler for a gorgeous rumble. Leave out the catalytic converters, they would just rob horsepower.

I'm not sure about eliminating the rear cat, because I'm wondering what will that do for emissions? And what will that do for exhaust smell? Will my car become the stinky fucker you don't wanna be stuck behind? Haven't read much information on that yet.

But I already do have a TRD muffler.

[92camryproject]

What one of my friends does is he has two resonator back setups. One with no cat 2.5 inch piping and a nice muffler, and the stock resonator back setup. For emmisions he just throws on the stock setup and his car does fine. And it shouldnt change the smell of your car. Maybe just make it a little stronger but still the same smell.

And actually now that I think about it, camrys tend to do so well at emissions that you could probably pass with the performance setup.

[quangtran89]

I have the celica header. All you have to do is cut the bottom of it and weld it to the rest of the down pipe. As for performance, I dont know...Haven't dyno it yet and not going to.

[CROYCE992]

did you feel any improvements? ie throttle response? i hear that it is really loud

Originally Posted by quangtran89

I have the celica header. All you have to do is cut the bottom of it and weld it to the rest of the down pipe. As for performance, I dont know...Haven't dyno it yet and not going to.

[quangtran89]

I want to say yes, but to tell you the truth, I can't really tell at low RPM. I feel the improvement when the engine is above 35000 rpm. It is Loud, decided to put back my resonator. Still somewhat loud.

[haux]

Why does all this shit have to be loud?

How the heck can some piping adjustment make it louder? Isn't the header just the same lengths of pipe for the exhaust valves?

[ONE_to_HATE]

1. on the headers..

-minimal 1-2hp (butt.dyno/placebo) gain.. one of the guys here tried it, and he swears that a stock exhaust system will take his car with the full I/H/S set up.

-louder.

-gasoline smell.