Installed header, what do you think?

[RDKamikaze]

I just finished installing my header on Friday after school. It went perfectly fine until I got to that bolt behind the alternator. What a pain in the !#$ that was, nothing could get it! So I had to remmove the alternator, which went well until we blew the fuse for it (my partner didn't disconnect the battery when I was getting tools, our bad). After that fun journey, we couldn't get the car to start (I wonder why?). We then opened the fuse box to see that the alternator fuse was blown, so my dad (because I was at school) had to drive 30 mins to get the only fuse in town. While we waited for the fuse, we took out the front part (and white box) of the old intake as seen in the pic. They charged $15 (outragous!) for it, and he dropped it off at school. We then installed the fuse, turned on the car, and all was well. It now sounds sooo much deeper and louder. I'll get a vid up for ya'll sometime. As for now, here's some pics.

Before:


After:






I extend a huge thanks to i20solara02i, JPP, and my dad! Thank you!
I still have my CEL light on after installing the O2 sim as well. How can I fix that, did I install it wrong? If you know how to install the O2 simulator on a gen2 Solara, please help!

[ReaDY-SeT-Go]

are those 4cyl headers?? i thought i4 engines dont get the VVTI

[Sebas007]

good job done !

[RDKamikaze]

Yup, it's an I4. I guess you thught wrong? I still wish I got the V6 convertable though, oh well. There's always the girl at school's pearl one I can look at every day on my way to Auto (I was still the first kid with a Solara, wewt!).

[hskrsolara]

looks good...but you still need to turn your intake heat shield over so it actually functions properly.

[woa_its_j3ff]

you have one nice dad.

[RDKamikaze]

Thanks sebas!

I also heard from one of my buddies that because there's no heat shield, everything will get significantly warmer. He said I might even lose performance from this, is this true? I still haven't noticed any loss, but rather a GREAT gain! It looks better, is lighter, and even shifts cleaner! I didn't know it would effect my gear shifting, but it does and makes it so much smoother. Strongly reccomended for all I4 Solaras!

Hey jeff, thanks for that comment . I definately agree, he never likes to see a project go unfinished. He's built multiple dune buggies in his day, so he knows what it's like to be so close to success, but fail because of one small thing. It also helps when he works from home, so he has the time to drive the distance!

[RDKamikaze]

looks good...but you still need to turn your intake heat shield over so it actually functions properly.

Oh ya, did we come up to a conclusion with that? I remember everyone discussing how it makes no difference where it is or to turn it around. I'll just turn it around and see what happens. The worst that can happen is that it works better, right?

[unbalancedwood]

Are i4s the only engine with heat shields?

[Solarafreek]

Good job!

[woa_its_j3ff]

oh yeah i forgot to say, great job on the work man.
Im not good at doing engine work myself, sadly to say. just lighting stuff and cosmetics mostly.
keep up the great work man. those headers look sweet as heck.

[i20solara02i]

it looks very good. glad your enjoying it

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

nice work, dude your engine bay is dusty??? simple green and toothbrush should help your bay look more sharp!

[RDKamikaze]

Hahaha, sorry about that. I'm doing some spring cleaning with a pressure wash on Tuesday as well as new brake pads in the front.

I was wondering about drilled/slotted rotors the other day. Should I get them, because they look so nice and help with braking. It's time for me to get new ones, so I decided to ask the forum's opinion . Also, can/are there shops that will drill/slot rotors you already have, or do you have to buy them like that? Thanks for the advice + liking my headers :):).

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

^^ I'd go for brembo blanks and upgrade the lines than go the drill/slot way. But thats just me...