are cheap headers non-welded typically louder? (I read header FAQ)
 

Wanting performance gains, but not wanting to spill the money for a good quality header, I bought $60 headers including down pipe off Ebay by this company named BOMZ racing. I didn't get them welded on. I just bolted them on myself. At first I couldn't tell if they were louder, but now I'm starting to think they are louder. Originally, louder was something I didn't care about, but after getting pulled over by a cop for "excessive noise", I've been fairly paranoid about getting pulled over again as he told me my catback exhaust was also an illegal muffler. I added a silencer which quieted down the exhaust leaving the back, but still didn't do anything for the sound that I heard in the engine bay and directly underneath when the car was started. Maybe it's just the Chicago cold weather. Not sure. I thought about posting my 5th gen stock exhaust manifold and down pipe on the classified here. Now I'm thinking about putting them back on and junking the cheap headers and down pipe, just to get the original quieter sound.

What's your say on this?

Thanks.

i love my oem honda exhaust system. ive got the 4-2-1 stock y8 exhaust manifold, which is technically headers, there just not super long headers or anything. ive got a magnaflow high flow cat and an oem walker soundfx muffler. i love the sound of my car! all i can hear is the aem cai under throttle, but when its at idle, its just quiet as could be... and honestly it does depend on what engine youre running, but basic bolt ons are going to give you, what? 5-10 hp?? deffinitly not worth all the tickets you could accumulate over time? i say a regular 4-2-1 manifold, high flow cat and either an oem or axle back exhaust system if your just running bolt ons. if youve got boost, n2o, or a really high compression and cammed n/a motor, run a 2.5. i think 3" on anything under a 2.0liter motor is so pointless. its like one of those male macho gun convos you hear, ive got a .38! WELL ive got a .44 WELL IVE GOT A 50! really?? a .22 should do the trick just fine.... lol so stock for stock, 2.5 if its a built street car, 3" for heavy boost or k motors... personally speaking of course!

the DOWN PIPE is your problem man. switch it out for a nice catalytic converter. Perhaps add a resonator later on down the line past the cat? it'll also help with noise.