Celica Forums General Discussion Exterior hotshots headers <-> backpressures <-> low-end torque

I tried searching, but I can't seem to find a pleasing answer.

Will the hotshots header(s) lose or gain me low-end torque?

From what I understand the exshaust can leave the engine easier, thus gas can get in faster and thus more torque?
Is that correct?

Gain...improves low end and mid range

Does anyone have a dyno for it?
I can't seem to find it

http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Miscellaneous/exhausttheory.htm


i think it might be the other way around. according to this site, oem exhausts make good low end torque, but aftermaket ones are better for top end power

you will sacrifice low end power to gain more high end

These are contradicting remarks already

Any dynoes on the hotshots header?

how is that contradictory? did you check the site?

FACT: equal long tude headers will increase HP due to flow dynamics at higher RPM. Due to the loss of controled back pressure the fuel/air charge hauls ass to fast to give a high denisty charge at low RPM with a result of loss of torque. In the V8 world a two stage header is used, with small tubes out of the head graduating to a larger set before the collector. This allows a medium between the two worlds. The header is to take advantage of the scavening effect of flowing gas to help pull the gases from the other tubes. Long flow headers, tall cams, port and polished heads, big vavles all will give you high RPM HP, but you better come off the line tachin up or you will fall on your face.

I would love to see a dyno for this also - I think a couple of unhappy gts owners have found that not all headers are created equal!

one of my friend has his exhaust diameter customized too large...thus his Manual GTS has no power at all...

I don't know how many times I've posted this on this site. Less backpressure isn't the reason why cars lose power. It's the fact that if the diameter is too large, the exhaust gas velocity slows down and cools more, so the exhaust scavenging is reduced. Backpressure is always bad, high exhaust gas velocity is good. Wrapping the headers will help that alot.

I don't mean the site, I mean th remarks here
Some say I will lose low-end, others say I will gain

Maybe a dumb question

With wrapping the headers you mean put some heat-resistant something around it to keep the heat in?

That's correct It'll keep the exhaust gasses hotter as they exit the engine improving exhaust scavenging... Might wanna wrap from where the headers start all the way back to the cat... Although some say it causes the metal to deteriorate faster, it'll still last you years to come...

The formula is simple:

the longer the runners on the header the more HP you get, and the more torque you lose.

The Hotshot unit, I have been led to believe, is a shorty header, it should give you good low to midrange power gains, and step up the tourque below 5 grand pretty well.

also there are two types of header 4-1 and 4-2-1

4-1 headers go from four pipes merged straight into one single collector, this type is best for torque gains.

4-2-1 are staged headers, four pipes merge into two, and those two merge into one, this reduces your backpressure a bit and is good for hp gain, but not as good for torque.

the hotshot header for the escort I owned at one pont was a long tube, 4-2-1 header. it flowed really nice, and made nice power from 3K to redline, torque shot up form around 3-5k.

a shorty header with a 4-1 setup will make good power all across the powerband, espescially from 1-5K, and torque will be much improved over stock, especially in the top end of the powerband.

the key is finding a header that has been properly tuned for your specific application. If you need more midrange power and torque, better to go with a hotshot header, but if you need top end power, then going with a full race, long tube 4-2-1 would be good (think trial or Brash Boy header).

Also realize this... a header won't do much unless you have a matched exhaust to flow the extra fumes from your cylinder head. most current cat-backs should do the job. more backpressure for more torque, less for more HP. also, the less restriction you place on your exhaust, the higher in the powerband your gains will be noticable.

if after your header is installed, it feels as if you are losing too much torque, try putting a silencer in your exhaust, or add a resonator upstream (I did this on my escort, the header, hi-flow cat and large exhaust made the car way too loud, and it lost torque. adding a nice, 8" resonator fixed this problem)

hope this helps,

You've got it backwards man. 4-2-1 headers provide better mid-range torque than 4-1 headers. And unless you're running a 3" exhaust or something, an aftermarket component will not make you lose torque, it will just shift it up in the powerband, giving you the sensation of less torque. And you seem knowledgeable enough, but you still don't understand the concept of backpressure vs. exhaust stream velocity...

I know a >$100 secret for getting back low-mid range torque.