Tuner-noob needs header advice
 

So I got a fat refund check coming in another week or so and I want to spend (some) of it on a new exhaust header and tune.

I know there's soo many choices out there but I have no clue what works best, has most power gains, or what is more reliable or blah blah blah.

Apparently I want an UEL so it sounds like a Boxer should sound (don't know what a Boxer sounds like compared to a normal car though!)

Also I'm looking in the less than $800 range, "best bang for the buck", not firm but any higher is pushing it, since I'm getting a tune too.

More detail: My daily driver, will stay naturally aspirated, not sure to get a header with or without a cat (necessary to have? better or worse without?)

Any help and knowledge with headers is appreciated!

OFT+OFH

That's "open flash tablet+open flash header" btw. Which is intriguing to me, but I'll probably pass on that. I'm waiting for quality reports and independent dynos for catted UEL headers (e.g. Ft86speedfactory)

If you were to go careless header, you would get a CEL (?) I'm pretty sure or you would need some form of a tune (OFT for example)

That's kind of the beauty of the OFT+OFH combo. It's a header AND tune. Slightly higher than his initial price point, but it sounds like he wants to spend 800 then get a tune.

from my post here.. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...=51962&page=30


"Open flash header = expensive Viagra... I finally installed mine today and flashed to 1.55b stg 2 uel, and I think I may have to call Pfizer because I've had an erection lasting more than 4 hours!!!

Sounds beautiful, pulls like a mofo!! WHOA!!!!

Why would you spend any more on any other uel...... This buy was a no brainer, and now that it's finally installed I am more than satisfied with the investment I made on this part!!!"

I got budget headers with a cat so i can still auto cross.

+1 for OFT + OFH

making me jealous...

JDL headers are the best performance for your money....

Lifetime warranty, some of the best looking headers out there and seem to make great power. (I do not work for them, I even bought nameless headers)

I think they have a sale going on for those as well.
Also the open flash tablet has tunes available that will disable a CEL for the missing cat.

OFT and OFH is by far your best bang for your buck. This is how the car should have come from the factory.

Ok so I heard that an OFT is ok but not as good as a normal tune like ECUTek. I have no clue about the differences or whats the better option, and I'm terrified of making a mistake and f*cking up my engine or fuel economy or whatever.

What exactly does the OFT do and things like "1.55b stg 2 uel" mean? I had the same feeling I did when I went to my first day of Pre-Calc when I see stuff like that...

In the end I just want more power with little loss of fuel economy and sound good, too. In the simplest and less risky way possible.

BTW I have an Injen short ram intake and Invidia N1 cat-back exhaust already on the car if that makes any difference in what I do tune wise.

Oh and is it necessary to get a tune with new headers? I'm assuming the benefit is higher but do you tune because of the headers or tune because of the performance increase? If I could, I'd rather just get headers and when I feel like it get a tune when I get a better idea what I want.

:laughabove:

Seriously. Just poking fun at that comment. The OFT/OFH combo is the best bang for buck there is. Bar None. You'll pickup and easy 20hp with this combo. More if you run good gas.

1.55b is the latest map for the Openflash Tablet. You write the map to your car's ECU via the tablet.

Stage2 is a version of the 1.55b... it is recommended you have an UEL (UnEqual Length) header install before running this map. Otherwise you'll need to run the less aggressive Stage1 version.


Just a thought - I'd reinstall the OEM intake tho, and do a nice drop-in... just my opinion.

DUDE..... OpenFlashTablet, no questions about it.

IMO, just because the tunes are "free" makes it better than ECUTEK.

You will have more power and your fuel economy will go up.

It has datalogging.

It has a live display of Throttle/Ign. Timing/Exh. Cam Timing/ Etc....

You will buy the OFT and you will love the OFT.

Also, look at my thread in this section to see what exactly the OFT is capable of.