not sure if i want headers or not??

[Westen86]

It sounds like you want simple. FT86 Speedfactory catted header is the PERFECT factory replacement for a mild boost in performance. Fixes the dip with no tune, though further enhancements can be found with the OFT. You can also get it shipped with a Ceramic coating. Rumbles at idle and levels off as you go up so it isnt noticable on the freeway.

[8inchAzN]

Originally Posted by wparsons

This is the JDL 4-2-1 EL (blue) vs the JDL UEL (red), gains compared to stock will be a lot more drastic:


A good tune might be all you need to be happy though.

Do you know where I can buy the blue UEL and a tune in this area? Also how much would it likely cost?

[DarkSunrise]

Agree on the FT86SF header recommendation. If you just want a moderate gain in the midrange from 3200-4500 RPM, it's perfect. Here's a dyno chart so you can see where it picks up power:



I had it for a while and it was great for daily driving, better than the catless UEL I had before it and quieter.

[Phuviano]

Thanks for all the responses, you guys have been helpful. Still not sure what route I'm going to take, but will take the time and do more research on everything.

[FLYFISHR]

Come out to BRZWORLD on Wednesday night, 9pm @ 2081 Steeles Ave. There are a lot of us with different setups and are more than willing to give advice on various setups. Plus you can hear what they sound like in person.

[bfrank1972]

Originally Posted by FLYFISHR

Come out to BRZWORLD on Wednesday night, 9pm @ 2081 Steeles Ave. There are a lot of us with different setups and are more than willing to give advice on various setups. Plus you can hear what they sound like in person.

Good advice, nothing better than an in-person experience.

[JBezugs]

Originally Posted by 8inchAzN

Do you know where I can buy the blue UEL and a tune in this area? Also how much would it likely cost?

The blue in that dyno graph is JDL's 4-2-1 EL header, the red line in that dyno above is the JDL UEL header which provides the highest UEL gains that I've seen on par with the Tomei/Gruppe-S. I installed the JDL 4-2-1 EL header on my 17 BRZ a few months back; got it tuned with Sasha at OnPoint Dyno with ECUTek (via Touge Tuning in Misssisauga).



Sasha said that it’s one of the highest HP NA BRZ’s he’s ever had. Car pulls strong right to redline and the torque dip is all but gone. These numbers are a 5th gear pull, with the stock intake, stock overpipe and stock front pipe still in place.

For reference, this dyno is a bit of a heartbreaker... stock BRZ/FRSes typically make anywhere from 140 to 155hp on this dyno.

The JDL UEL header has been on this same dyno before as well. Note that since these dynos were for different vehicles, there is some variance in numbers, but Sasha uses SAE J1349 correction on all his dyno plots which standardises dyno conditions (temperature, humidity, etc.) so the only variance is the cars themselves.



Yourself and OP can PM me for more info in terms of pricing etc. I’m local.

EDIT: Also found a dyno plot from OnPoint with the Tomei header. Same caveats apply as mentioned above. Note that the Tomei car has a fully catless exhaust (the stock front pipe w/ cat is the most restrictive portion) which is why the % gains are much bigger.

[RToyo86]

Originally Posted by Phuviano

I know, that's my concern. I want a bit more torque, and i want mid range, not top end. Although i know its going to be louder, but not sure if its going to be loud for my liking.

Does adding a header add drone? My exhaust doesn't really have drone, imo.

You can get drone when paired with other aftermarket Exhaust parts.

The stock front pipe keeps the smell down from running a catless header and also quiets down the exhaust a lot.
Your best bet is a header, maybe overpipe, stock front pipe, stock/quiet catback if you want the car to be civil.

Since you have a axleback you can always add the header/tune. If you think it's too loud, swap back to a stock muffler, or look at something like Perrin 2.5, CSG romp RS or Q300

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by 8inchAzN

Do you know where I can buy the blue UEL and a tune in this area? Also how much would it likely cost?

Someone else already covered it, but the blue line is their EL 4-2-1 (not the same as their original EL 4-1).


Not sure who carries it locally, but you can order direct from JDL. It's not cheap, but if you want good gains it'll cost you.


IMO, it's not worth the hassle and cost if you're only getting small gains, you'd be better off just sticking with a tune at that point.

[coryandy]

Originally Posted by Westen86

It sounds like you want simple. FT86 Speedfactory catted header is the PERFECT factory replacement for a mild boost in performance. Fixes the dip with no tune, though further enhancements can be found with the OFT. You can also get it shipped with a Ceramic coating. Rumbles at idle and levels off as you go up so it isnt noticable on the freeway.

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Agree on the FT86SF header recommendation. If you just want a moderate gain in the midrange from 3200-4500 RPM, it's perfect. Here's a dyno chart so you can see where it picks up power:



I had it for a while and it was great for daily driving, better than the catless UEL I had before it and quieter.

Speaking only from my personal experience, mine lasted about 100 miles before throwing a code. Granted, it was used when I installed it. But I recall seeing others with mixed issues of how long that header will last before causing a CEL. YMMV In my case, I was literally on my way to the tuner when it happened, so...

[cywinr]

Headers alone will not give you any noticeable difference in performance. Start with the OFT and stock headers. If that is not enough, you can consider getting headers and keep the rest stock. You'll get a more rumble but volume will still be low. Since you are not racing, there is no need to upgrade the rest of your exhaust.

[86MLR]

Cough, 2017+, cough, punch out cats, cough, Ecutek, cough, good tuner and some dyno time (money saved from not spending $1k dollars on aftermarket headers and thermal protection), cough, make typical amount of power as a Tomei UEL header does.

If you want a Tomei UEL header you can buy mine once my new gaskets arrive, the only noticable gain from the Tomei UEL over the punched out 17 header was noise, I'm going back to the punched out OEM header, all the gains, none of the noise.

Disclaimer: my playing around has only been on a standard engine NA.

Opinions may vary.

[BEZO760]

So I was in a similar situation as you; bought my first "sports car" and started looking into headers. I also don't want something too loud but with aftermarket headers you will 100% go up in volume. That said I found that pairing the JDL UEL header (which have an option of getting a coat on it so that you don't have to wrap it) with the JDL ultra quite front pipe (comes with a cat and a resonator) gets rid of basically all the rasp. I absolutely love how it sounds and can send clips if youd like to hear it.

I had a Tomei UEL header before the JDL and it was a tinnnnyyyyyy bit louder than the JDL, if you wanna buy it I also got an OFT that is unmarried and ready for its next car.