ACE Header Independent Testing Results and Review - 199.6WHP on CA 91 Octane

[sw20kosh]

Originally Posted by 2016 Camaro SS

This has been the same argument for years. The difference is negligible at best on an N/A car. You want more top end? Go EL. You want more mid range and the rumble sound? Go UEL. It's easy to push 190+ WHP on 93 octane with a proper UEL header and collector along with a good tune. Lets face it, majority of people are driving these cars on the streets and not the race track. Your 3-5 WHP difference in power won't help you pass a minivan.

It's not wrong to pick EL or UEL. Some people just want the power band in a different place, or prefer a different sound. Personally, I love the UEL sound and enjoy the mid range gains.

Now if we were talking FI, EL all day.

This is incorrect. Where the powerband is is not determined by EL vs UEL. It is determined by runner length and design. Look at all the diff Ace configurations that move the power band in different directions. The ACE 350 and 400 are mid range monsters. The JDL uel header has less mid range than an ACE 350/400 but has similar top end achieving a torque hump at 6500-7000.

It is not as simple as saying el is for top end and uel is for mid range.

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Originally Posted by 2016 Camaro SS

This has been the same argument for years. The difference is negligible at best on an N/A car. You want more top end? Go EL. You want more mid range and the rumble sound? Go UEL. It's easy to push 190+ WHP on 93 octane with a proper UEL header and collector along with a good tune. Lets face it, majority of people are driving these cars on the streets and not the race track. Your 3-5 WHP difference in power won't help you pass a minivan.

It's not wrong to pick EL or UEL. Some people just want the power band in a different place, or prefer a different sound. Personally, I love the UEL sound and enjoy the mid range gains.

Now if we were talking FI, EL all day.

Originally Posted by sw20kosh

This is incorrect. Where the powerband is is not determined by EL vs UEL. It is determined by runner length and design. Look at all the diff Ace configurations that move the power band in different directions. The ACE 350 and 400 are mid range monsters. The JDL uel header has less mid range than an ACE 350/400 but has similar top end achieving a torque hump at 6500-7000.

It is not as simple as saying el is for top end and uel is for mid range.

Are there stock dynos without a tune available? For BOTH? Compare them then you'll see whos right.

[CounterSpace Garage]

Originally Posted by Bramick

I'm expecting a tune. Flex, injectors and fuel pump are already purchased. The plan is to gather all parts and install at once so I can minimize multiple tuning.

Any front pipe recs to start reviewing?

Here are a list of front pipes we recommend for good quality and fitment:

ACE Front Pipe - Catless
Berk Front Pipe - Catless
Berk Front Pipe - HFC
MXP Front Pipe - Catless

A catless front pipe increases sound output by quite a bit. Running a HFC does tame the sound a bit. The Perrin 2.5" is quite mellow in that regard so running a catless front pipe isn't too bad.

Let us know if you need a tune specific to your car. Thanks!

[Traktor]

Originally Posted by sw20kosh

It is not as simple as saying el is for top end and uel is for mid range.

It was until the ACE header came out.
As far as I know it is still the only header on the market that matches a decent UEL in the midrange while providing max top end.

[CounterSpace Garage]

Originally Posted by Traktor

It was until the ACE header came out.
As far as I know it is still the only header on the market that matches a decent UEL in the midrange while providing max top end.

@sw20kosh was on a JDL UEL header for 2.5 years and was a strong proponent of that UEL setup before he obtained the ACE Type-A 350 header. He is a good person to discuss with in terms of abusing the best UEL on the market vs. the best EL on the market available right now.

[DocWalt]

I've driven both back to back, neither optimally tuned (aka, not overly aggressive), but similar state of tune.

JDL UEL was very similar midrange, maybe a smidge more, ACE 250 definitely had more top end. I'm pretty sure the JDL has more low end grunt (like 2500 RPM or below), but without DDing the ACE for a week or so it'd be hard for me to compare.

I'd love to compare an ACE Clubsport 400 to the JDL UEL, probably very similar with a bit more top end.

For a car where you don't give a crap if your car sounds like a Subaru, ACE is definitely the way to go. I'm vain and my Subie has to sound "right" so I'll stick with the JDL, lol

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by DocWalt

I've driven both back to back, neither optimally tuned (aka, not overly aggressive), but similar state of tune.

JDL UEL was very similar midrange, maybe a smidge more, ACE 250 definitely had more top end. I'm pretty sure the JDL has more low end grunt (like 2500 RPM or below), but without DDing the ACE for a week or so it'd be hard for me to compare.

I'd love to compare an ACE Clubsport 400 to the JDL UEL, probably very similar with a bit more top end.

For a car where you don't give a crap if your car sounds like a Subaru, ACE is definitely the way to go. I'm vain and my Subie has to sound "right" so I'll stick with the JDL, lol

The ACE Clubsport 400 is going to be a Type-B fabricated setup and was designed for a RHD niche market seeking an A-350 variant. What they got was a very long tubed header with a similar powerband to the A-350. A-350 is still the king out of all the ACE headers, however, ACE has spent a helluva time creating a variety of configurations for every possible user, except for the UEL market.

When people ask us for a UEL, we point them to the following setups:
JDL
Tomei
MXP

We're pretty open to that in regards to recommendations.

[brzaapi]

This is just my opinion, but relevant to the UEL vs EL discussion.

I owned 3 WRX(STIs) before i picked up my first BRZ. A Subaru should sound like a Subaru. Right? Maybe, the BRZ is a different animal in my book...but to each their own. I did believe this however for my first 2 BRZs. I started with an OFH (not bad for the money) and then moved to a Tomei UEL. Didnt feel a huge difference but the quality was nice.

However, as i got more into tracking. I picked up a 3rd BRZ and decided to go with the ACE 421. And i thought "Damn it only comes EL". Well i can tell you after owning 3 BRZs with 3 different headers....that i wouldnt go any other way. The ACE is twice the header than my previous two. And I actually prefer the EL smoothness now.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by brzaapi

This is just my opinion, but relevant to the UEL vs EL discussion.

I owned 3 WRX(STIs) before i picked up my first BRZ. A Subaru should sound like a Subaru. Right? Maybe, the BRZ is a different animal in my book...but to each their own. I did believe this however for my first 2 BRZs. I started with an OFH (not bad for the money) and then moved to a Tomei UEL. Didnt feel a huge difference but the quality was nice.

However, as i got more into tracking. I picked up a 3rd BRZ and decided to go with the ACE 421. And i thought "Damn it only comes EL". Well i can tell you after owning 3 BRZs with 3 different headers....that i wouldnt go any other way. The ACE is twice the header than my previous two. And I actually prefer the EL smoothness now.

But my WRX is a EL....

I'll be hitting that 1000 mile mark today too...

[brzaapi]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

But my WRX is a EL....

I'll be hitting that 1000 mile mark today too...

All turbos love EL headers.





Warning: Newbs, ignore this post.





_

[raven1231]

Originally Posted by brzaapi

All turbos love EL headers.





Warning: Newbs, ignore this post.

It's all about DA RUMBLZ DOE

[Jmonty]

Originally Posted by CounterSpace Garage

Here are a list of front pipes we recommend for good quality and fitment:

ACE Front Pipe - Catless
Berk Front Pipe - Catless
Berk Front Pipe - HFC
MXP Front Pipe - Catless

A catless front pipe increases sound output by quite a bit. Running a HFC does tame the sound a bit. The Perrin 2.5" is quite mellow in that regard so running a catless front pipe isn't too bad.

Let us know if you need a tune specific to your car. Thanks!

How is the Ace FP and Type A 350 with the stock catback as far as noise

[sw20kosh]

Originally Posted by Jmonty

How is the Ace FP and Type A 350 with the stock catback as far as noise

Sounds like a$$. Greddy SP ELITE, INVIDIA Q300, Perrin resonated will work if you are wanting to keep the noise down.

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by Jmonty

How is the Ace FP and Type A 350 with the stock catback as far as noise

MXP SP is a very good sounding exhaust too.