Hi. I'm Dave from Hanover pa. I have a 1999 SL2 that I've been working for about 3 years now. It's a 2 owner car, bought brand new by my dad in1999. Then was handed down to me upon my request. I love my car and I want to make it all it can be. My question is regarding installation and performance numbers for the OBX-R header system. I have a full manifold back exhaust from magnaflow and the OBX cat back exhaust. I've read that installing this header will cause the ecu to start throwing codes and will make your exhaust non emissions legal. Can anyone here give me some advice about this before I spend the money?

 

I wish I could help, but don't have a clue.

 

Is it worth it.......in my opinion? No way in Helsinki.

 

Emissions after the fact are controlled by whatever state you are living in and what is legal is up to each individual state.
As to a header? I have no clue what Pennsylvania's rules are when it comes to passing smog. Here in Arizona I do not think it is a problem, besides if it were there is a legal way around it.
Some states have a very stringent "visual" test which is part of the smog requirements and that has a tendency to very by year of the car rather than a generality. A header in those states would not be legal I might guess.
You need to find out exactly what your state requires for the year of your car and then be sure come smog test time what is required is visible.
As to being cost effective? I too rather doubt it.
As to a header throwing codes? There is no reason to assume just the addition of one will cause that. There are many many smog legal cars floating around with headers on them. And a lot that when a header was installed other things were screwed up in the process causing codes to be thrown. The codes thrown were directly related to a hammer mechanic rather than the header.

 

What I went after in my S Cars is handling after watching everyone in the dealership go after speed. Rear sway bar, Eibach drop springs, solid strut brace front and rear. Good aftermarket tires and a set of 17 inch wheels. Yep added an intake and a muffler. The intake was good for abourt a tenth and a half in the quarter mile. I also added a big bore throttle body and it did little to nothing in the 1/4 mile. When I wanted to go fast I had a 50 shot of nos, and I was just as fast and faster than all the S-Cars with cams, head work and all the bolt on's.