some header research...
Header Comparison Test
http://www.racingbeat.com/mazda/perf...ison-test.html
4:1 Header Development (4 into 1)
http://www.racingbeat.com/mazda/perf...velopment.html
ended up with a maxim works unit based on review by Quinn over at CR
http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/342788-post63.html
http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/343805-post75.html
http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/343807-post76.html
http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/889354-post278.html
11lbs on my scale. many many thanks to Rod at tetsuyagarage! the issue i face is keeping EGR for class and this header has no provision for it.
stock manifold, heat shields, and front pipe weigh in at 26.5lbs on my scale. pretty excited for over 15lbs off the front end and some added power.
so the header and new EGR were "installed" to make sure there would be no fitment issues and to give myself a preview of the EGR addition. i was able to slip the header in easily by myself and it doesn't appear to come close to contacting anything.
the bracket that holds the stock front pipe to the bell housing needs to be removed. the bracket welded on to the maxim header does not reach the same mounting location like i thought it would. i don't think there will be any issues caused by not being able to bolt it down here. for my own future reference, i found the torque specs of the bell housing bolts to be 48-65 ft-lbs. if you need, more torque specs can be found
here
the O2 sensor is a little further down stream between the collector and the flex pipe compared to the OE sensor location, but there is plenty of slack in the wiring harness and plenty of room for the O2 sensor to fit where it ends up right next to the transmission fill hole
The new EGR pipe doesn't end up perpendicular to the header like the 99-00 pipe did. it is angled toward the center of the car and also perhaps even slightly downward. i'm going to want at least a 2" fitting so that i can cut and angle it properly. i'd really prefer if the welder (whoever i find to do it) could see it all in person
was not able to find a bung in time and get that sorted so the stock manifold and front pipe are back in the car. this saga is to be continued...