some FYI for 2017 Owners installing an FT86 Catted Header
 

Just finished installing the FT86 Catted UEL Header on my stock 2017 BRZ with PP. The end result is great so far, but there were a couple fitment issues.

Uninstalling was generally strait forward except for one stud on the mounting flange between the over pipe and OEM Header. The nut was frozen to the stud and I had to pull the stud through the flange to get it off.

Once off the O2 sensors were removed. The sensors have some sort of captured circular heat shield (about 1.75" in dia.) on the O2 sensor itself. When trying to install the O2 on the front most bung of the FT86 Header this heat shield wont allow the O2 sensor to be installed on the FT86 Header, it hits the mounting flange. You have to bend this little shield or removed it. Not a big deal, I bent mine, but more on this shield in a bit.

The fitment of the new header over the block studs was tight. The header did not just fit strait up, it needed a bit of wood block and hammer to nudge it up. Once over the threads its was ok, and didn't bind, but the header wasn't going to be able to fall off the threads either.

When connecting to the overpipe that small O2 heat shield prevented me from putting on one of the bolts, so another bending of the shield with a hammer and punch was required. Not a lot of bending, just a punch or two then tighten as usual.

The final thing, the thing that bugged me the most, was that the O2 wiring on the gray connector was not long enough by about 1". This meant I couldn't plug it in or plug the small clips that hold it to the block. The solution was to bend the bracket at the engine down to allow the wiring clip to connect and still have some play so as to not keep the wiring in tension. However, it was still not quite enough slack to reinstall the mounting clips for the wire to the block, so I had to zip tie the wire to another point. Not a "huge" deal, but I like things to look tidy and this was not.

I used my OFT to flash the new V3 Stage 2 tune for catted UEL headers to the car and off I went. I was on V3 Stage 1 previous. Not a huge difference so far. Stage 1 felt very linear with only a little bit more pull using the ole butt dyno. The header makes everything feel a bit "fuller", and a bit more power. As for the dip, to tell you the truth I never really felt the "dip" everybody in MY 16 or less talks about. Even in stock form it wasn't dramatic. I know the 17's were supposed to diminish it a bit, so maybe that is why. I did feel what I would call a small flat spot, but nothing that was a big to worry over.

Just wanted to post up my thoughts for those thinking of going down this road. In the end I do like the new power band and feel, and would suggest this mod. The sound from in the cabin is pretty much OEM unless you throttle it then you get a nice rubbly growl.

I had the same problem with fitment, it was very snug. I feel like it's going to be a nightmare to get off.

Well this is an odd find. I wonder why it's so snug? Maybe a manufacturing defect with measurements? The fitment should be the same as any other year.

reading this post, makes me not want to attempt to install an ft86 uel header by myself in the future.

-_-

Thanks for the heads up.

Wonder if they changed vendors?

I would not put a cated header on any 2017+. The 2017 OEM header was redesigned and your performance improvement per dollar is extremely small. The tune is where your HP is coming from.

Can you elaborate on this? Are you saying for 17+'s, a tune on a stock car will yield a greater benefit than a tune on a stock <16 car? When I was researching tunes for a stock car, I believe the consensus was "don't bother".

You do get a small bump but mostly it’s for sound. For me personally, I have not heard of any catless header that does not add rasp. Especially since I have a Corsa catback, this is perfect. Nice and growly down low and sounding almost EL-like up top. Perfect volume level

I recently installed a corsa catback myself, and love the sound.

Are you running an uel header?

I've been contemplating at some point adding the ft86 uel catted header to get that subie rumble in the lower RPM's.

For the time being, the corsa alone sounds amazing.

Nope but I saw that youtube video of a corsa paired with the FT86SF catted header and that was pretty much what I’ve always been looking for so it’s on the list. Planning to go FI later so the lack of power increase doesn’t bother me that much.