where (and what brand) should i get some 2003 mazda protege 2.0l headers been looking only found the DC sport off road use only ones (does it matter if i get off road use only or not ) as you can see yes i am a complete noob to this stuff only thing i plan to do is get a CAI (which ive already ordered) some headers and a new exhaust. my other plans are to get a RX-7 and that will be my project car.

 

Any 2.0L header will fit your car...LX, ES, Protege5, MP3...

 

Type of header you want depends on what you want. Right now there are 2 main pieces to choose from. Hopefully I'll have some more info on a third but for right now your choices are:

OBX 4-1 Header from Chris @ SPD Racing (www.spdracing.com)

or

Wagner Shorty Header from Andy Wagner @ Wagner Motorsports (www.wagnermotorsports.net)

The obx header replaces your header, pre cat and downpipe.....cost is about $230shipped

The Wagner Shorty replaces just your manifold and keeps the precat for emissions purposes. The Wagner header is about $285+shipping (I think)

Both headers make about the same power but one is emissions friendly and costs a little more. Both are quality pieces and I don't know anyone who has had a complaint with either.

p.s. Wagner can also make you a new high-flow cat and downpipe also and with these pieces together I'd bet they make more overall power than the obx.

p.p.s. If you talk to either Andy or Chris make sure to tell them you heard about them here from me (My name is Matty).

 

thank you for you help on those 2 it will be awhile b4 i get them (2-3 months) but those will most likely be the ones i go for. but do you know anything on the DC sport race headers? like hp gain torque gain and what they mean by off road use only (drag or rally?)

 

hp gain is going to be minimal on all headers...expect about a 10whp gain from what I've seen.

Off-road use means it is not emissions friendly. It means it removes one of the catalytic converters so it can only be used "off road".

Are you stationed in Mississippi o do you live there normally? I'm in Birmingham, AL.

 

im stationed here but yea i think ill go emision friendly on this one

 

The wagner shorty is your choice then! check out www.wagnermotorsports.net for info. If you call or email andy (owner) let him you talked to me. He's a friend of mine.

 

Damn that downpipe looks clean !! I,ve seen better welds though, than the one on that header....Hmm, I need to talk to my Dad...he's been a welder for 20 years

 

thats just a mock up...the very first one he made. You should ask the guys on my GB for them what they think....I saw some of his "finished" pieces and they were awesome.

 

and what should i do for my exhaust and i dont want a coffee can i hate those so bad but i havent seen many that arent

 

it's all preference. Just shop around for what style you like...most like the Racing beat...it's a good exhaust and probably the least ricey of the bunch.

 

might be a dumb question... but, how does the header increase the performance? just curious as to how it works...

 

Here's the simple answer..it increases exhaust flow, since the the pipes are bigger, the bends are smoother,the inside surface is smoother

 

a stock exhaust is considered restrictive and use of tubular headers increases flow. There also some physics behind how they help the head to breathe but the simple answer is "increases flow".