Breathe in..... breathe out!

The HotBits Echo is now expelling the byproducts of combustion... just that much better now!

Shiny too... and weighs a pound less than stock.




I've already commented on the build quality of the Monster MotorWorks (MMW) header re: aestheitcs, materials and weld quality... just fantastic... but how about FIT? Bolted up PERFECTLY. I picked up some new gaskets from the dealer... and it was a relatively straight forward Re & Re.

So how about performance??
There is a definite improvement with this piece. It was not surprising considering how DAMN PUNY the stock primaries are. And they look small from the outside.. but look inside the stock manifold and it's constricted even more with heavy-gauge steel tubing. The collector of the stock piece is ugly... The MMW piece is much sexier.

The sound is a little more aggressive and throttle response is improved. Above 3k, I'd say there was a good 3 - 5 ft. lbs improvement and it's not only a higher tq. curve, but it's less peaky now, so there's a broader powerband. JUST what the doctor ordered.

Smoother powerband, more tq, better throttle response... and a lb. lighter than stock! What else could you ask for? And all of this is still going through the stock cat immediately after the header (class rule)... so that's pretty good! Shows that the manifold was more restrictive then the OE cat... and allows us some more mid-range tq!

The HotBits Echo is pulling harder out of corners now!
Can't WAIT to put in the coilovers (once this damn winter thing subsides) and then shed some 300 lbs from the car... what a pocket-rocket this thing'll be!