factory header

[SonicION]

thoughts on Saturn's polished exhaust manifold? $410 dealer option, but only $270 on Saturnparts.com

what kind of gains could be expected from the header?

[project92SC2]

Best bet, pay the extra $100-$200 for a header system. It'll open up the exhaust SO much better. The less back-pressure you have on a forced induction engine, the easier it breathes, and the cooler it will run.

[slowion2]

except they dont' make many header options for the Ions. there's the Pacesetter ecotec unit, which isn't the greatest quality and requires welding and such, but works. then there's the 900 dollar SMS unit, which as great as it is, tastes a bit too rich for my blood. otherwise your only other current option is the manifold mentioned.

if you have a redline, that's another story, there's quite a few headers ou there that are pretty sweet, and get rid of that huge restriction. I forget what Sonic drives at the moment, so I figured I'd mention both cars.

[SonicION]

I'm drivin an '05 RL, Vin. So you think there are better options than saturn's own parts? Does someone else make something that would maybe be better or do you guys think the one from saturn is worth the cost? and also, any thoughts on saturnparts.com? i've never ordered from them, so i dunno how reliable they are...

[slowion2]

I really like the CTI header and the one from DC Sport. only issue is one if not both do not have a cat flange, but one can be installed easy

[ChevelleSSLS6]

they have make-yur-own header systems, maybe one of those would work... it'd cost A LOT less, but ya gotta be good at welding if you want a good one. Plus the flanges... do ya gotta cut your own out? i guess run a plasma cutter then finish with a die grinder.
-Matt

[AC66Bronco]

[pic]845[/pic]

theres the dc sport one. wont bolt up to the redline tho

also this is not for an ion so fittment might be an issue but i think it will work

[slowion2]

from that picture, it will. the flange pattern is the same as is the downpipe, my concern was clearance but that will clear

I meant weapon r, not DC Sport in the above post, there should be a link somewhere on this site for it....ah nevermind here's the link, copy and paste it into the browser entirely:

http://www.weapon-r.com/store/agora.cgi ... nc=search2

[AC66Bronco]

the dc sport is also ceramic coated. the weapon r is the sex but the dc sport is the budgit