Headers

[tdoggy57]

What is everybody's opinion on headers? I am going to go with the Borla exhaust, but I don't know if I should get the headers also or just stick with the catback. How much of a difference do you really think it will make?

[usptwins]

depends if you want the sound, if you can pay for the extra part, and if you can get away from the local cops with it. Also, have you decided on what type of header you want? EL, or UEL?

[Supermassive]

Headers are proving to be pretty much unnecessary if you are running N/A at the moment. There have been threads and threads and threads showing that headers dont gain much if any power. It's purely cosmetic as all it will actually do is change your exhaust sound and look shiny when it's on a lift. Once there are cam kits headers will likely have more effect but as for now, the only good advice is if you really want it and can afford it, buy it. But if there are any other upgrades you would like, get those first.

[FR-S Matt]

Originally Posted by Supermassive

Headers are proving to be pretty much unnecessary if you are running N/A at the moment. There have been threads and threads and threads showing that headers dont gain much if any power. It's purely cosmetic as all it will actually do is change your exhaust sound and look shiny when it's on a lift. Once there are cam kits headers will likely have more effect but as for now, the only good advice is if you really want it and can afford it, buy it. But if there are any other upgrades you would like, get those first.

Um, the Nameless prototype header that Tainen dyno'd with yielded 11-12 HP with the headerback system. Borla's produced more power as well. The only one that I recalled horrible was the Agency Power one.

JDL is working on a quality header as well. Many of the major companies still haven't released their final designs yet. It's best to wait unless you want to jump the gun and go with Borla's UEL or EL.

I'm personally waiting for a Nameless coated header whether they offer EL or UEL. It will go well with the Nameless headerback system.

[Supermassive]

Originally Posted by FR-S Matt

Um, the Nameless prototype header that Tainen dyno'd with yielded 11-12 HP with the headerback system. Borla's produced more power as well. The only one that I recalled horrible was the Agency Power one.

JDL is working on a quality header as well. Many of the major companies still haven't released their final designs yet. It's best to wait unless you want to jump the gun and go with Borla's UEL or EL.

I'm personally waiting for a Nameless coated header whether they offer EL or UEL. It will go well with the Nameless headerback system.

Those are full system dyno figures...there are no charts that i have seen of the individual pieces for either Borla or Nameless headers. If you can post up some charts with headers only data, or hell show a comparison of the header back system and then another with the headers installed as well so we can get an estimated gain then we'll talk.

Until then the only people that will truly benefit from headers are those who will run hot cams, and those who run FI, for everyone else it's just a noise maker.

Also I am running headers...but mine are a little more purpose built

[tdoggy57]

Thanks guys, sounds like an easy decision for me.

[Sportsguy83]

Originally Posted by Supermassive

Those are full system dyno figures...there are no charts that i have seen of the individual pieces for either Borla or Nameless headers.

For the Nameless system (and I guess the Borla too), you just need to get the headerback exhaust numbers and subtract that from the Full exhaust Dyno to get an idea what the header itself adds.

Dynoing a Header by itself (rest of exhaust stock) is really not a good indication because the reason to add a header is to complete a full exhaust, not to only free exhaust close to the engine to just go right back and restrict it past the header.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Sportsguy83

For the Nameless system (and I guess the Borla too), you just need to get the headerback exhaust numbers and subtract that from the Full exhaust Dyno to get an idea what the header itself adds.

Dynoing a Header by itself (rest of exhaust stock) is really not a good indication because the reason to add a header is to complete a full exhaust, not to only free exhaust close to the engine to just go right back and restrict it past the header.

Exactly. There's dynos of the Nameless price before and after installation, but not baseline. In any case everything I quoted is correct.

[Supermassive]

I guess the point I'm trying to make is where's the comparison between Nameless' or Borla's exhaust systems with and without the headers back to back so we can see how much effect they have. My initial statement is that even with a full exhaust system the headers provide little to no gain for our particular setup. I am sure that with the way the aftermarket is moving for this car we'll see combinations of parts that may benefit greatly from an aftermarket header solution for NA, but with the present offerings it's not a necessary upgrade when you aren't going for a full blown engine upgrade path. If however you merely want a couple HP and a different sound then by all means go for one.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Headers in the turbo Subaru world usually only gain about 10hp on average, so I'm not entirely sure where you get off saying it's not worth it. If someone wants more power and they're not willing to throw boost into their engine the choices at this stage are limited. In a few years they'll still be limited because there's only so much one can bolt on to an engine when not considering forced induction.

I/H/E. There's reason we see those 3 letters together all the time.

[ChaChas345]

I thought it was common knowledge headers generally dont do anything by them selves and its better to have it done with the exhaust system. Guess it isnt common knowledge -.-

I am getting the Perrin Headerback system. I want to get headers in the future if Perrin develops headers for this char which I am sure they will. So my question is if the sound quality would be a big difference between non resonated and resonated header back.

I also want to get a cat in the headerback since I live in California and from what I read they wont have a cat in the headers if they develop them. So is it safe to say I should get the resonated catted header back Perrin system over the non resonated? I read from another poster, gmookher I think, that the non resonated isnt that loud but I am afraid that if I throw headers on their it will be obnoxious and cause unwanted attention from cops in so cal.

I heard a youtube video of a header back of a non resonated uncatted header back and it was VERY raspy. Not 100% sure if it was raspy because of the camera angle or if it was because of it being catless. Can someone clarify for me? The video has been posted on these forums a couple times its a Perrin header back catless non resonated with the camera right above the back of the car. Will their be drone if I get an unresonated catted header back then eventually get headers when released?