Looking at TurboXS Garage Line Header
 

So at the beginning of April I'm going to buy a TurboXS catback. I'm really interested in the Garage Line Header that they sell too, but am new to headers and have a few questions:

1. Will just a header and a cat back be a good combination? I heard that headers are one of the cheaper options for "clear power gains" (as stated by RIWWP) and if this is so, I think it would be a good investment, but what would the HP increases look like if I had just the cat back and header (no mid pipe)

2. Will it make the system significantly louder? The cat back I am getting is already plenty loud (or should be) and this is one reason why I don't want to get a mid pipe. I am just concerned that if I get this header, that it will become "too" loud. If it adds some sound, then that's cool, but not as much as, say, an AP midpipe. (and yes, I know this varies with different models, but in general?)

3. Will I fail emissions with a cat back and header (no mid pipe)? And can this be solved with a COBB accessPort?

4. Last question: RIWWP posted in his Guide for Modding, "Note: Using a header without a heat shield will dramatically increase underhood temperatures, and it is strongly recommended that you use a heat shield. We have enough heat problems already, don't add to it." My question is, where can I get said heat shield, how much does it cost, and is it an easy install? (or is it even really necessary?)

Thanks for any input. I searched before I posted and couldn't find any clear answers.

you must be a total noob wrt searching or a big fibber, this info is all over the forum x10 thanks to new members starting new threads on old subjects every other month



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I know how to search a forum :suspect:. My questions were more specific than those I found already. If you don't have the answers I am looking for then please do not reply. It's that simple. Or, if you have found specific threads with answers to my questions like you said is true, then send the link instead of griping. Thanks. :wink2:

1) Yes.

2) Yes.

3) Yes.

4) I don't have a heat shield on my header. Multiple track days + "canyon runs". Never had an issue. I will say that underhood temps have increased with the header. This was remedied by spacing the hood out slightly with 2 washers on the passengers side to let some heat escape at idle/low speeds. (inb4 armchair physicists bitch about old hot rodding techniques).

Thanks for the reply. I am going to hold off on buying the header for now, and am going to use the money toward a dual resonated mid pipe. If it is a catless mid pipe, can't I just use the Cobb AP to get rid of the CEL codes and therefore pass emissions?

Yes as long as the emissions test is obd2 only. If they do the sniffer test then you fail. Hopefully you are thinking of the racing beat dual res midpipe or the bhr single res midpipe. If you buy the agency power midpipe you will eventually be replacing it with another one.

Yes I was actually looking at both racing beat and BHR. They do the OBD2 test and they do something where they hook something up to my fuel door. That's all they did last year.

i have the turbo xs header with heat shield in my car and im going to sell it in about month or two if youre interested by then...

What about ceramic coating the header to help reduce ambient heat transfer into the engine bay?

yes, that would work well.

used to be very popular in the MS3 community when I had an aftermarket DP, but don't see many references to it on here... turbo makes a lot of heat as well

I know i talked to xexok about this before, about forcing the smog. would i still be able to do that with the header? because i also wanted to get this header along with the turboxs catted midpipe..