Is aftermarket UEL headers with a cat a bad idea? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

IAmNotTheDriftKing · 08-21-2013, 12:44 PM

So I really want some UEL headers. Not only is there a performance gain over stock and ELs, they also sound amazing! Only one company makes UEL headers with a catalytic converter that I know of, which is FA20club. That made me excited. Then I read somewhere that this is a bad idea because it is just bound to break in a year or two. This doesn't make sense to me, the car already comes with UEL headers(atleast that is what i have heard) with cat, so why will aftermarket ones be a bad idea.

tldr: Is it true that buying aftermarket UEL headers a bad idea because something may break, or should everything be fine?

ATL BRZ · 08-21-2013, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAmNotTheDriftKing

So I really want some UEL headers. Not only is there a performance gain over stock and ELs, they also sound amazing! Only one company makes UEL headers with a catalytic converter that I know of, which is FA20club. That made me excited. Then I read somewhere that this is a bad idea because it is just bound to break in a year or two. This doesn't make sense to me, the car already comes with UEL headers(atleast that is what i have heard) with cat, so why will aftermarket ones be a bad idea.

tldr: Is it true that buying aftermarket UEL headers a bad idea because something may break, or should everything be fine?

The stock headers are equal length (almost).

A catted header is fine as long as you tune for it and don't run too lean and burn it out. It will make less power than a catless header, though. Also if you track the car often and in high ambient temps the cat in the header may fail prematurely.

I'd recommend JDL Auto Design's UEL header for their craftsmanship and lifetime warranty.

AdrianG · 08-21-2013, 12:49 PM

EDIT: ATL BRZ beat me to it.

Does anyone know if you could ditch the header cat and instead install the sensor on the second one?

ATL BRZ · 08-21-2013, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianG

EDIT: ATL BRZ beat me to it.

Does anyone know if you could ditch the header cat and instead install the sensor on the second one?

More trouble than it's worth.

IAmNotTheDriftKing · 08-21-2013, 12:52 PM

Well I need to run a cat because my county is one of two counties in my state that does emissions. I know the FA20club headers also comes with a lifetime warranty but they aren't very pretty.

Do you know where I could get more info on a tune to work with a catted header?

I forgot to mention, I don't track my car but I do go autocrossing in it, which I don't think should be a problem.

ATL BRZ · 08-21-2013, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAmNotTheDriftKing

Well I need to run a cat because my county is one of two counties in my state that does emissions. I know the FA20club headers also comes with a lifetime warranty but they aren't very pretty.

If your state doesn't do visual inspections (like mine) then you can still pass emissions with a catless header. You just have to get rid of the CEL that will likely follow with either a secondary O2 sensor spacer or an ecu reflash (tune). Remember the car has a secondary cat in the front pipe and if there is no visual inspection then it's simply reading the OBD2 data coming from the car and if it's "reading" that the primary cat is present (even if it's not) then you're good to go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAmNotTheDriftKing

Do you know where I could get more info on a tune to work with a catted header?

Well if @FA20Club.com are making the catted uel headers, and they also sell tunes.....

sw20kosh · 08-21-2013, 01:26 PM

FA20CLUB + their specific tune that they have created for it......

Chee-Hu · 08-21-2013, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAmNotTheDriftKing

...Not only is there a performance gain over stock and ELs, ...

Source? I thought it was EL that made/make more hp than UEL from what I've gathered and read so far.

bakerr6 · 08-21-2013, 02:05 PM

ELs typically do make more power. FA20club headers could be just as "pretty" if they had a similar coating on them. I wouldn't buy based off looks though, but more or less quality

Wes · 08-21-2013, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chee-Hu

Source? I thought it was EL that made/make more hp than UEL from what I've gathered and read so far.

Yeah I thought that was weird as well, EL should make more power up top than UEL. If my memory serves me correctly, UEL makes more mid range power.

ngabdala · 08-21-2013, 02:13 PM

You need an O2 spacer to prevent CEL if your state does not inspect the header visually.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianG

EDIT: ATL BRZ beat me to it.

Does anyone know if you could ditch the header cat and instead install the sensor on the second one?

IAmNotTheDriftKing · 08-21-2013, 02:38 PM

FT86speedfactory put borla UELs and EL headers both with no cat. The uels made more power everywhere. Here is a picture.

ATL BRZ · 08-21-2013, 02:46 PM

I thought this thread was about cats in headers? Not starting yet another EL vs UEL debate...

m.wood0213 · 08-21-2013, 03:10 PM

08-21-2013, 12:44 PM	#1
IAmNotTheDriftKing Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: I own an FR-S. . . whatelse! Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 318 Thanks: 114 Thanked 140 Times in 84 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Is aftermarket UEL headers with a cat a bad idea? So I really want some UEL headers. Not only is there a performance gain over stock and ELs, they also sound amazing! Only one company makes UEL headers with a catalytic converter that I know of, which is FA20club. That made me excited. Then I read somewhere that this is a bad idea because it is just bound to break in a year or two. This doesn't make sense to me, the car already comes with UEL headers(atleast that is what i have heard) with cat, so why will aftermarket ones be a bad idea. tldr: Is it true that buying aftermarket UEL headers a bad idea because something may break, or should everything be fine?

08-21-2013, 01:26 PM	#7
sw20kosh Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: 2013 Black FR-S Location: SF Posts: 3,030 Thanks: 881 Thanked 2,014 Times in 990 Posts Mentioned: 153 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	FA20CLUB + their specific tune that they have created for it...... __________________ 86DRIVE Challenge

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Using OEM Mic for Aftermarket Radio AND/OR Replacing OEM Mic with Aftermarket Mic	ecko04	Electronics \| Audio \| NAV \| Infotainment	10	05-05-2018 04:47 PM
225/45/18 Bad Idea?	alex88	Wheels \| Tires \| Spacers \| Hub -- Sponsored by The Tire Rack	15	04-22-2014 12:25 PM
Is it a bad idea to run headers without a tune??	Mike86	Engine, Exhaust, Transmission	48	09-06-2013 04:31 PM
Any idea what this is?	idreamofdrifting	Scion FR-S / Toyota 86 GT86 General Forum	14	02-08-2013 11:50 PM
Best idea for a bed ever!	dorifuto	Off-Topic Lounge [WARNING: NO POLITICS]	9	11-19-2012 11:34 AM

08-21-2013, 12:49 PM	#3
AdrianG Generally Well Liked Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: '08 STi Hatch, '11 Outback 3.6R Location: Ontario Posts: 419 Thanks: 43 Thanked 197 Times in 125 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	EDIT: ATL BRZ beat me to it. Does anyone know if you could ditch the header cat and instead install the sensor on the second one?

08-21-2013, 12:52 PM	#5
IAmNotTheDriftKing Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: I own an FR-S. . . whatelse! Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 318 Thanks: 114 Thanked 140 Times in 84 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Well I need to run a cat because my county is one of two counties in my state that does emissions. I know the FA20club headers also comes with a lifetime warranty but they aren't very pretty. Do you know where I could get more info on a tune to work with a catted header? I forgot to mention, I don't track my car but I do go autocrossing in it, which I don't think should be a problem.

08-21-2013, 02:05 PM	#9
bakerr6 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: 2013 raven black fr-s Location: cincinnati, oh Posts: 1,447 Thanks: 503 Thanked 443 Times in 305 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	ELs typically do make more power. FA20club headers could be just as "pretty" if they had a similar coating on them. I wouldn't buy based off looks though, but more or less quality

08-21-2013, 02:38 PM	#12
IAmNotTheDriftKing Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: I own an FR-S. . . whatelse! Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 318 Thanks: 114 Thanked 140 Times in 84 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	FT86speedfactory put borla UELs and EL headers both with no cat. The uels made more power everywhere. Here is a picture.

08-21-2013, 02:46 PM	#13
ATL BRZ TEQSPORT Brand Manager Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: '24 GR86 + '16 FR-S Location: Atlanta Posts: 3,666 Thanks: 3,725 Thanked 4,137 Times in 1,707 Posts Mentioned: 90 Post(s) Tagged: 6 Thread(s)	I thought this thread was about cats in headers? Not starting yet another EL vs UEL debate...

User Name		Remember Me?
Password