Best Header (and exhaust?) to address torque dip?
 

In the inevitable quest to improve the torque dip on my 2017 BRZ, and before I have the cash for a supercharger, I'd love your opinions on the items below.

Keep in mind that I'm NOT looking to make the car super loud (my wife would shoot me), and I don't particularly care if I get the "Boxer rumble."

Oh, and I do have an OFT.

Given that:

1) UEL or UL?

2) Which specific product (from which manufacturer/store) will give me the best bang for the buck for either of the above?

3) Do I NEED to replace the exhaust as well and, if so, how far back?

4) Again, given that I'm NOT looking for more sound, and if you think I need to replace the exhaust, what do you like (what's the best, or best value)?

THANKS

Go to google. Search "Best BRZ/FRS Header."

After reading a bunch of already existing arguments just pick something and go with it.

Google is your friend: https://www.google.com/search?q=oft+...w.ft86club.com

If you plan on going FI I would just save your pennies.

Since you already have OFT, just pick up their header too (OFH). The tablet has a specific tune to fully utilize their header design. Probably best bet for what you are looking for.

I have a p&l for sale cheap. It would help for sure and you can't find a better bang for the buck then a quality used product (IMO). Also matches up well when supercharged.

If you're looking at new just save up for the ACE as it has proven to give solid gains through almost every third party tuner.

1. UEL since you're aiming to increase mid-range power.

2. You'd have to shop around for that answer. I have OFT combined with a JDL catted UEL and I'd say it gets rid of 90% of the torque dip. It's going to run for about $800-900, a bit cheaper if uncatted.

3. No.

4. Not necessary, but certain aftermarket cat backs could provide better airflow. A deeper/louder sound could potentially mask the dip lol. I've got a Perrin 2.5 resonated cat back installed and it definitely made throttle response feel better without being obnoxiously loud.

What is your budget? That will basically determine what you will get. There are countless headers in the $500-$800 range that will (mostly) eliminate the torque dip with an OFT and provide average gains. If you want to go big, I've had great results with an ACE A-350, but you would want ECUtek to get the most of it (something you will want anyways when you go SC).

This video shows my old UEL header (Revworks) against my ACE A-350 header. Both tuned with ECUtek. Really it just comes down to $$, most people would be totally satisfied with any of the common UEL/EL headers and an OFT or ECUtek tune.

EDIT: and no you don't need an exhaust unless you want to change the sound.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggQspB1P7a4[/ame]

With that video, I think you just punched a $2000 hole in my wallet. Happy?

Thanks! Very informative!

hey do you have a chart with stock headers (to compare as well)?

I'm only going NA not FI but was curious if these ECU tunes can make your car fail an emission test? I'm in Maryland.

PS does these add on's void the powertrain warranty?

Yes, it's in the video toward the end I think. But, also here:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3047689

It's worth it. Don't kid yourself though, total cost with tune is more... Still worth it.

It doesn't completely "void" the warranty, but flashing a tune is likely to result in denial of warranty work if there's any way for the dealership to claim your tune may have caused it. Different dealerships react differently to headers. Mine told me that they won't honor the warranty for engine work on one that has had a header installed. The guy I bought my rims from said his was fine with it. You might want to drop by, tell them what you want to do and ask them up front.

Yes, more like $2300 with Delicious tune :( I have ecutek already with JRSC. Thanks for the feedback.

Still worth it. It was far and above the biggest expense rebuilding my car (since my old header was destroyed with the car, along with the intake and side markers...) but no regrets so far. Weather has made getting the tune a hassle, about to go do some logging now... (I have to use onramps, and I'm not doing that <40 in the rain... yay city living... or drive an hour or more each way, not really an option on the average evening)

C

I've been running Ft86 Speed Factory's catted UEL header for a few weeks now and it's great. I highly recommend it. No tune needed. Torque dip feels like it's gone.

http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/ft-8...2013-ft86.html

Bunk.

I mean, you can probably run it with no tune, but it's not doing crazy fancy things to the powerband without a tune.

I'm also running a JDL catted UEL, and it solved most of my annoyance with dip. That JDL is a quality product: it was absolutely straight and true and bolted right up without any problems or hassle.

(My dealer didn't even blink at it for PA inspection, but then their shop is full of a bunch of guys & gals who mod their own cars too.)

You do definitely want a tune for it. The header will run okay-ish on a stock tune, but very much better with a UEL tune, and even better still with one dialed in to your particular car.

The best way to answer this question is to look at the dyno thread. A lot of people are going by feel or what they want the very expensive header they just bought want to do.

Catless + E85 completely eliminates the torque dip. Catless header + 93 mostly get rid of it. There are lots of dynos of catless + dead dinosaurs that showcase some torque dip.

Of course, FI gets rid of it, but I assume you mean to stay NA.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55450

I'm only staying NA because I don't have the cash to go FI yet ;-)

A header without a tune may give you significantly less gains than with tuning.

An OFT tune will help. An EcuTek tune from a good tuner will optimize this upgrade specifically for your car.

I did a Dyno tune on gruppe-s headers in my 2017. Great results and especially for Total cost with coating and tuning for $1350. Check out my journal for the Dyno graph.

+1 for the UEL JDL Catted. This is what i'm running on mine and I don't really even notice the torque dip anymore. Can't speak to if it's better than others, but can say that it's pretty much a non issue for me now.

https://i.imgur.com/mLnCHhO.jpg

Heres my dyno for my gruppe s uel and a $20 high flow filter from ft86speedfactory.

https://i.imgur.com/YEcNQEM.jpg

Tune? Looks good.

Yeah, EcuTek tune by Bob at Drift Office.

Thanks

do you have any other exhaust mods after the headers?

There is only one best.

Ace A/350 with CSG double ceramic. Delicious Ace tune with Flex. Stock front pipe, stock exhaust.

https://i.imgur.com/wa11rJF.jpg

I sometimes forget how good the ACE is. 93 or E85?

Blue line = ACN91
Top line = E70.

Nope, it's all the gruppe-s header and this air filter.