A Rare Sound for 7th Gen Hondas, But Be Informed Before Ordering…read more
If you're a 7th-gen Honda Civic owner looking for that signature Subaru-style boxer rumble, Steven at Inferno Fabrication is, quite literally, your only plug. He has the only proven blueprint for unequal-length headers made specifically for the D17A1 and D17A2 engines -- and the sound it creates is genuinely transformative. My car doesn't even sound like a Honda anymore -- it's throaty, deep, and truly unique for this platform.
The headers fit perfectly, and the price (especially for such rare fabrication work) is extremely reasonable. I contacted over a dozen fabricators nationwide, and most either ignored the project or quoted over $1,500-$2,000+ for custom fabrication. Steven? He had the design ready and delivered it for under $1,000 with a rush order -- no compromise in quality or fitment.
Now, for transparency:
If you don't purchase the rush option, prepare for a long wait. Steven is a one-man shop who builds around a full-time job and family responsibilities. Lead times can stretch several months or even longer, and while Steven does offer disclaimers about this, in my opinion, he should be much more upfront and direct during actual communications. Not just boilerplate notices -- but genuine one-on-one confirmation with customers before payment that lead times can and do stretch to half a year or more in some cases.
I think Steven would save himself a lot of frustration if he made this clearer before money changes hands. Saying "lead times vary" isn't always enough. He should directly confirm with buyers -- by email, phone, or even a short note -- that unless they order a rush job, wait times may be excessive, and updates might be limited. A simple "please be 100% sure you're okay with this before paying" would go a long way. Especially since some customers have reported being told their part was done, but then waited months more for shipping.
That said, he does deliver. And the final result -- especially for Honda enthusiasts chasing that boxer sound -- is genuinely worth it if you're patient or if you go with the rush option like I did.
If you're serious about unequal-length headers for your D17, this is your guy. Just be informed, know what you're getting into, and you'll be rewarded with a one-of-a-kind result.
