Decent Header

[Zx2 Frost]

Looking for a header that i can keep my cat with.

http://www.andysautosport.com/ford/1998_2003_escort_zx2/performance/headers/jba/jbap00034801.html

Would that work?

[zx2loon]

That's not the pic of a JBA header made for our cars but yes it is the only one proven to work over time with out crackin'. Pacesetter is the other one but it is known to crack.

[Zx2 Frost]

If JBA is the way to go, anyone know where i can get a used or cheap one?

[KyleBlueZX2]

Definitely don't get the pacesetter. It was my first header and cracked in like 2 months. Waste of money.

[Zx2 Frost]

I know def to not get a paceshitter lol.

[00EscortZx2]

You could always get a high flow cat that will bolt to the back of a full header. But it may not be legal in your state, some states require you keep it in the same spot as stock.

[Zx2 Frost]

I just need a cat on the car.

So would these work?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OBX-Exhaust-Manifold-Header-98-03-Ford-Escort-ZX2-ZX-2_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247QQ categoryZ33631QQihZ003QQitemZ130215552050QQrdZ1QQs spagenameZWD1V

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HI-FLOW-CAT-ECLIPSE-GSX-GST-TALON-TSI-95-96-97-98-99_W0QQitemZ160235478371QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item16 0235478371&

[00EscortZx2]

That should yes. But remember you'll have to do some custom exhaust work to make it fit and possibly weld up some brackets for it if it's too heavy. Also, it is an ebay cat after all and it may not pass you for emissions. HOWEVER! I (don't) have a cat and passed...pm if you'd like the well known secret haha

[Zx2 Frost]

They only plug in the scanner they dont do the probe.

[00EscortZx2]

lol that's what they do with all OBDII equip cars. But a simple resistor can make that like green. Do they do a visual check? If not, you can just solder a wire on the end of one your o2 sensor that tricks the ECU in to thinking what it wants to see. I forgot the resistance value but google around and you might be able to find it. Or Robo sells them for like $30 that comes in a nice harness and everything that just plugs in.

[Zx2 Frost]

i thought it had the spot for the second 02 sensor in the header?
No visual

Wouldnt it work fine?

Thank god i have this place before i start buying crap lol.

[00EscortZx2]

It does. An upper and lower. The lower one is the one where the resistor would go, since it's after where the cat would be and thats where the computer would check for the gases in the exhaust. I ran no cat with full exhaust and no resistor for 3 weeks and no check engine light though.

But with a long header your going to see more gains and if you slap that cat on there your going to be on the safe side, you may still get a check engine light since the cat would be after the o2 sensor that checks.

It's always a win/loose situation with headers :shrug:

To be 100% honest that cat would mainly be a play stupid prop. It may pass you on emissions, but if the ECU hates you, you'll need that resistor. At least with it you can blame it on an exhaust shop and hope to get out of a ticket.

[Zx2 Frost]

so basically if i got the header and robs mil eliminator id be ok?

[00EscortZx2]

yup =)

[Fordboy]

you shouldnt need a mil eliminator if you buy a shorty header, also i think there is a direct oem fit high flow cat made for our car, i remember finding it once but forgot where it was i found it, it was around $150. maybe a magnaflow brand but cant remember, google around and i think u will find it

but if ur state doesnt do a visual then just buy a long header and a mil eliminator i think obx is pretty popular on ebay

[Zx2 Frost]

well just bought the mil from rob.

Waiting for me stimulus check to get the header, maybe a intake cam as well.

[00EscortZx2]

Hopefully you get yours quicker than I did. Granted I bought around x-mas time but I didn't get mine till about a month after I paid. You'll like that header, you can really feel it pull after 4,300ish.

[00EscortZx2]

I totally forgot to add, it's pretty loud with no cat and a header doesn't help lol. Make sure you take it easy at night in residential areas.

[Beodude123]

Kamikazee is the best header, bar none. The ZXTuner is good, but it's not a Kami. You would need a MIL eliminator though.

[wifeszx2]

If you want to keep the stock CAT, buy the armor coated Pacesetter, yes it is more expensive, but a better product and probably the best shorty header when it comes to power gain and audible change. If you don't mind running an after-market CAT, buy a Kami header. TruBendz offers CAT backs with a CAT welded in, either with or without a resonator. From my experience I would definitely run a CAT and resonator, it won't eliminate all the nasty rasp, but every little bit helps. If I had it to do all over again I would just get a shorty, if my car were a daily driver. Now if was just a weekend toy, Kami header, no CAT, no resonator, Borla muffler.

[zxtwou2]

i'll actaully be going with a setup similar to what the OP needs. right now, i'm running a zxtuner/hotshot 4-2-1, but i need a cat in the stock location to stay in STS for autoX. bar none..JBA is the way to go. i'll be getting JBA with a high flow cat and custom fabbed downpipe. it's worth the money...it won't crack like the paceshitter...and the big reason you pay big for the JBA, is because it's the only CARB legal header for our cars. there's a CARB number stamped on it...and to be truely legal, you need that certification in most states...and if you want to race STS in the SCCA like me :D

[wifeszx2]

True, but the Pacesetter has equal length tubes, the JBA does not. The Pacesetter sounds more aggressive and performs better when properly installed. You can get the armor coated one for the same price as a JBA. The JBA IMO is more like having a "prettier" stock exhaust manifold, all show and no go. If you are going to go through all the trouble of having a custom down-pipe made you might as well buy a shorty header for a Focus, it looks nice and has equal length tubes. Plus it is ceramic coated through Ford Racing or stainless on Ebay as the OBX (and alot cheaper). Then all you have to do is buy a universal MagnaFlow hi-flow CAT and standard Borla CAT back from TruBendz without the resonator.

[Zx2 Frost]

most likley im gonna get the obx.

Im gonna be getting the turbendx borla 2.5 soon anyways. So can i have them just weld a cat on it?

[Beodude123]

Seriously, the OBX is the worst of the full length headers. The Kami has more power than it through the whole rev range, and above 4,500 it really takes off. There was a dyno around on the old site, but it's gone now...

Plus, the OBX only has a 2" collector. If you got a 2.5" exhaust, it wouldn't really do all that much more good than 2.25".

[2000ZxT]

I just need a cat on the car.

So would these work?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OBX-Exhaust-Manifold-Header-98-03-Ford-Escort-ZX2-ZX-2_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247QQ categoryZ33631QQihZ003QQitemZ130215552050QQrdZ1QQs spagenameZWD1V

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HI-FLOW-CAT-ECLIPSE-GSX-GST-TALON-TSI-95-96-97-98-99_W0QQitemZ160235478371QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item16 0235478371&

I have this header and it's tit. Sounds awesome, huge gain.

[Zx2 Frost]

Seriously, the OBX is the worst of the full length headers. The Kami has more power than it through the whole rev range, and above 4,500 it really takes off. There was a dyno around on the old site, but it's gone now...

Plus, the OBX only has a 2" collector. If you got a 2.5" exhaust, it wouldn't really do all that much more good than 2.25".

Where can i find a Kami then?

[Beodude123]

That is a good question... LoL I'm not sure... I think you can get them straight from them.

[00EscortZx2]

PTuning.com They run about $250 for the black one IIRC.

[Zx2 Frost]

Didnt we have a discount for ptuning as well?


And this is it right?

http://www.ptuning.com/html/Item-Desc.cfm?PartNo=PTFFH3001%2DC&MakeCode=ford&ModelCode=focus&ModelYear=2000%2D2003%20ZX3%20Zetec%2016V%20DOHC&ModelDesc=Focus

[zx2vt]

PTuning.com They run about $250 for the black one IIRC.
They don't sell the Kami anymore.

You can get it directly from Kamikaze.
$275... High temp black
$295... Nickel polish chrome
$330... High luster ceramic
http://www.kamikazeperformance.com/

[mechtech]

With a stock cat, a JBA is your highest quality shorty header.
CARB certified and it helps - decent gains , but not as much as a nice long tube header.

[Zx2 Frost]

im pretty sure ill get the kami with a high flow cat and 2.5 back with borla


anyone disagree with it?

[Canuck]

Sounds like an awesome setup. I'm gonna eventually get the JBA myself, since I live in California and want to stay in STS in autocross as well.. Not that I've actually done any autocross yet, but I'm hoping to someday..

[wifeszx2]

If you have to leave the CAT in it's stock location you will not be able to use the OBX for an Escort ZX2. The OBX has a 2 tube down-pipe, and if you buy the Kami and are considering a custom down-pipe for it, the CAT still will not be in it's stock location, nor will it be a stock CAT. If it has to be stock, get the armor coated Pacesetter. If it doesn't, buy the full length Kami and have them weld a CAT into the downpipe or buy the Focus shorty and have a custom downpipe made with a CAT. If you don't have to have a CAT, buy the KAMI and bolt it up to a CAT back and be done with it.

[Zx2 Frost]

im just putting the cat after.

I just need one on my car, it doesnt have to be in stock location.

[wifeszx2]

Well you could get the KAMI and have someone either weld a CAT into the downpipe, or take them the downpipe and have them make you a custom downpipe with CAT using the KAMI downpipe as an example. This way you are not ruining your KAMI downpipe. This is the most expensive route, but probably the best. The cheapest route and still offers good gains is to buy the OBX Focus shorty and have a custom downpipe with CAT made. That's my two cents.

[00EscortZx2]

Oh man I totally spaced the focus header!! I even own one too! I kick the damn thing every morning when I wake up.

[STS-ZX2SR]

Is the Focus flange the same as the ZX2's where the header/manifold meets the cat/downpipe?

[david gettle]

you shouldnt need a mil eliminator if you buy a shorty header, also i think there is a direct oem fit high flow cat made for our car, i remember finding it once but forgot where it was i found it, it was around $150. maybe a magnaflow brand but cant remember, google around and i think u will find it


The one from Magnaflow doesn't fit the ZX2, it's for the SPI Escort but they list it for the ZX2. See the attached photo, the one on the right is a ZX2 cat (off my car), the other one is the one advertised by Magnaflow as a direct fit for the ZX2. I sent this photo to Magnaflow.

Sorry, I would have posted this sooner, but when I first read this I didn't have access to the photo (I wasn't using my home computer), and just stumbled accross the thread again.