Headers question?
 

Having trouble deciding which headers I would like to combine with Perrin 2.5 inch resonated cat back. I originally wanted the JDL catted UEL but the headers seem to have too much bass. I want to change the headers to correct the torque dip and low range power. I prefer catted because would like to avoid fumes and having to flash always ECU to clear emissions.

Few notes:

I love the the exhaust note of Perrin 2.5 resonated cbe with stock OP and FP and would love carry this exhaust note with the headers.

I am not sure whether I should be going to EL headers to avoid the bass from UEL headers.

I would like to avoid drone and rasp at all costs (mature sound). In terms of volume I would like it to be louder than stock but noticeable at the 4-6k rpm range. Completely lost with OP and FP combo to achieve this exhaust system note.

Eventually planning to slap on a Jackson Racing Supercharger kit.

Thanks

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HKS or Apex'i header/OP/FP setup.

Your only option, and catted headers are no guarantee of "no CEL".. just FYI.

-alex

That's true. I know I'm trying to have it all and I'm going to need the ECU tune for a stage 1 tune and also for the JRSC kit eventually guess I wanted to avoid fumes more so then the hassle of reflashing.

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I have a JDL catted UEL, stock front pipe, Perrin 2.5" resonated catback. I'm not a young guy and this is my only car. Didn't want the setup to be too loud and it's not. Actually more quiet than I expected. It passed the wife test, too. :)

People who hear the car often comment on how good it sounds. Inside the car it sounds nice when you're on it, but it's very reasonable. I'm not sure how adding a supercharger would affect the sound. For reference, I have a Delicious ECUTek tune that was perfectly dialed in for this exhaust combo.

How deep would you say the bass is?

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I am also going the jdl header/ perrin 2.5 route this week.

But like @mav1178 said, if you're worried about passing emissions that much then you should stay stock.

Oh man I have been reading about the Ace headers. Pieces of art. Can't find much exhaust notes on YouTube with the perrin at least. I remember reading somewhere on the forum the Ace headers should be really only considered for EL (the performance aspect). Might be wrong. Also not sure iirc but EL tend have more whiney exhaust notes?

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It just doesn't burble like an unequal length header does. It'll blend in with the Perrin and sound like one noise, whereas with the JDL or any other uel you'll be able to distinctly hear the header and catback apart from each other.

Can't go wrong with that Ace header though.

Not worried so much about emission just lazy to deal with it. I am more concerned of the exhaust note that is created by the headers and how they will be affected with changes in the OP and FP

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If you want to avoid rasp or other weird noises then the rule is always stay stock. I've heard many people contribute rasp in their exhausts to their aftermarket front pipes. Swapping any exhaust part will create risk for rasp, you just gotta make sure it's fitted correctly.

I should add, I only suggested those two setups because I have no idea how a stock front pipe will sound with header + exhaust and whether there would be unwanted drone or rasp.

The more you mix and match setups, the more variables you introduce. At some point, you just have to ask yourself the questions:

how much increase in exhaust noise do I want to tolerate?
how "legal" do I want to keep this setup?
do I want a catted header or a cat in the front pipe? if so, do I want to keep the stock front pipe or go with a different setup?

Another option to maximize power is to run a catted header of your choice, overpipe of your choice, and perhaps a quiet front pipe like Fujitsubo. Or stock front pipe.

I have jdl uel header paired with magnaflow axleback and everything is stock including stock resonator. Its very "bassy" and sometimes drones but doesnt have rasp like fart cannon civics. Still waiting for someone who have uel header and invidia gemini catback who can post a video to hear it and if its worth it.

All very true. What I guess my biggest gripe in all of this is I want to get it right in one shot and I know that's very tough to do. As other mentioned the Ace header sounds very clean so I will start with that at the head of my research.

In terms of the FP I just want to moderate the noise volume and elite rasp and drone. I believe should be looking at a resonated catted FP.

OP I hear doesn't make much of a difference. But you bring up very valuable points. More foreign pieces being introduced more chances for error.

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I have a JDL UEL Catted Header, Perrin Overpipe, Perrin Catted front pipe, and the 2.5 Res Exhaust. It doesn't drone at all, at least enough to notice. I had a catback on my old G35 and that thing droned pretty bad at low RPM's.

The only time I would call my setup loud is on cold starts, but it settles down after 30 seconds or so

This was the original setup (quality parts btw) I was looking at but my concern for the bass started to bother me recently. I think I have started talking myself out the UEL and may start looking at EL. Nothing wrong with bass just don't think it suits my preference anymore.

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You know, you could get a tune, and not have to worry about CELs...

Ace A/350, stock FP, CSG x MXP catback. Mature sound, loud enough to be obviously not stock, quiet enough to not piss anyone off, zero drone, zero smell.

Combine with JRSC for some serious go.

No drone. I wouldn't call it overly bassy. It actually sounds slightly less bassy inside with the header than it did with just the catback. Fine for hours on the freeway. I have an OEM Audio Plus system, so I can play music and hear it over the exhaust if I want. If I'm doing spirited driving, I just listen to the exhaust. :)

I have JDL UEL catted with Invidia Q300. Loud on cold start, but settles down. Nice beefy sound when accelerating, but when cruising it is pretty quiet. Low tone with slight rumble. Got a CEL that goes on and off. Used an o2 spacer, but apparently it didn't work too well.

2017 WRB BRZ

@Carbinebbq - well, the check engine light is no surprise. And you're getting only a small fraction of the potential performance gains without a tune. The car can also be quieter on cold start with a tune. My car idles at around 1100 rpm on startup. Highly recommend the Delicious tune.

OFT is currently a paperweight. Waiting for my tune files still.. :(

2017 WRB BRZ

The bass tone is what UELs do. But not all UELs are created equal. JDL is one of the more unequal of the UELs there are. I would say think about the FT86SF catted setup as it is a little higher pitched imo

Yeah I agree. I'm looking at the ace headers atm they seem to be getting the exhaust note I'm looking for.

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This was a forum member's dyno pull and this is sorta the sound I am trying to achieve.

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=cmZWEQcxECg

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https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=cmZWEQcxECg

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[Video]https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=cmZWEQcxECg[/video]

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I give up...title:dyno pull 4000 to 7500 + rpm (youtube user bramick)

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The ACE 400 is ridiculous on the street. Drove a locals car with them and the pull was amazing for NA. Just remember you need a tune from Delicious for max output from them. Seems every other dyno done on them showing low numbers was from a different tuner.

He had it paired with the HKS single exit and it sounded amazing

I don't have drone issues...

I was very torn between the 350 and the 400 when I was looking at headers. Ultimately ended up spending the little extra and going with the 350. Need to take the time to powder-coat my wheels so I can get the car out and about again.

If you don't mind me asking was there a preference as to why you chose the 350 over the 400? This is the question I am trying to mull over right now. Not much vids on the 400 atm

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Your setup is beastly 😆

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My main reasoning was I was not 100% sure I won't eventually supercharge it. From everything I read about the 350 is it was one of if not the best choice of headers if you ever plan to supercharge in the future. The 400 was also just coming out when I got the 350 so not a lot of real-world feedback on it and I could afford the 350 so just went that route. Sorry I don't have any concrete reasoning's such as oh it makes so much more power then the 400 under these conditions.

Thanks for the feedback. I like both headers and can't find any real reasons to choice one over the other, other than one has been tried and tested and the other is relatively more new. Both sound great and perform great.

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Yep I was in your exact same position 4 months or so ago when I was looking at buying mine. Basically the advice people gave me is if you can afford the 350 go with the 350. If you cant go with the 400. The 350 is a tight squeeze even on left hand drive cars. You will have to lift up the motor for install of the over pipe . I do not know if this is the case with the 400 or not. Either way motor and such is pretty easy to manipulate when you loosen up the nuts on the 2 engine mounts. Just make sure to loosen them don't take them all the way off or you can accidentally lift the studs out of the hole and its a royal pain to get them to drop back in.

@CSG Mike can give some feedback I'm sure

I used this as an opportunity to install motor mounts at the same time..

I contemplated it but after seeing how easy it was to lift the motor I said meh next time I'm already over my self imposed spending limit for the car this year lol.