Headers

[michael everson]

Please forgive all my dumb questions. I am very new to all this Subaru stuff. I see headers all over Ebay for real cheap money. whats the deal with headers for these cars? are they worth it? If nothing else, it looks like they woould really clean up the engine compartment.
Mike

[StatGSR]

its mostly common for the NA 2.5s to go for "unequal" length headers, which produces the typical subaru rumble, it is a sound upgrade more than a performance upgrade. Equal length headers are preferable from a performance standpoint but will make your car sound more like a honda then most subaru people would care for.

There is little to no reason to replace the header/turbo manifold on the turbo engines unless you just feel like blowing money, i would be concerned with fitment issues on "ebay" priced turbo manifolds though. It is more common to just replace the cross pipe and the up pipe with an aftermarket solution, like those offered by Grimmspeed.

[michael everson]

Thanks for the info. Just what I needed to know.
Mike

[wallace18]

Please forgive all my dumb questions. I am very new to all this Subaru stuff. I see headers all over Ebay for real cheap money. whats the deal with headers for these cars? are they worth it? If nothing else, it looks like they woould really clean up the engine compartment.
Mike

Mike I went with what AJW recommended. Ebay stuff is mostly junk unless it is a brand name. JMO.

[Mechie3]

Headers on a turbo car can decrease spool time and improve power. Go too big though and spool times increase.

[Wayne Presley]

Some of the headers drop down below the frame rails on the 818.

[longislandwrx]

I got a great deal on a Perrin ELH, then sent it to Grimmspeed for coating, which surprisingly was cheaper than all the local shops by a large margin, even when shipping was factored. I did it for the power and the weight. A header can easily save you 15 lbs.

Stay away from ebay, they just don't fit or last.

The Grimmspeed manifolds are super nice, I've owned a set previously and would def recommend them. When you add it all up though, they can be just as much money as a good header and are still really heavy.

[Xusia]

Mechie3, my donor/engine is a 2.0 which came stock with ULH. I would prefer ELH for the sound, but I was under the impression - possibly mistakenly so - that going from ULH to ELH would INCREASE spool time because of the added header length & volume. So which is right?

[StatGSR]

^ equal length may increase spool time if the piping design is significantly longer than the original unequal design, or it might not, but it will be able to make make more power for sure. get a proper ceramic coating on it like the swain tech white lightning and you should be able to keep the heat in and increase exhaust gas velocity, would be a great idea regardless of what design you choose to go with.

nasioc thread on equal vs unequal turbo exhaust manifolds.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1455871

[Frank818]

Out of curiosity, the EZ30 comes with equal length, unequal or any depending on year?

EDIT: EQL, should be equal.

[Wayne Presley]

EZ comes with short manifolds whether the R or D varients.

[philly15]

I got a great deal on a Perrin ELH, then sent it to Grimmspeed for coating, which surprisingly was cheaper than all the local shops by a large margin, even when shipping was factored. I did it for the power and the weight. A header can easily save you 15 lbs.

Stay away from ebay, they just don't fit or last.

The Grimmspeed manifolds are super nice, I've owned a set previously and would def recommend them. When you add it all up though, they can be just as much money as a good header and are still really heavy.

+1 on grimmspeed, they also offer a service to port, polish, and coat your stock manifolds, much cheaper than buying a set of headers especially for staying with the UEL configuration.
I also second the staying away from ebay for certain parts that is. Ive owned catbacks and turbo inlets off ebay with no issues, but my friends have used down pipes and up pipes and they just dont hold up long. the welds tend to crack after not too long and they rust out alot quicker (i realize part of this is all our wisconsin road salt) but ive had quality brands last much longer.

[AJW Performance]

Anything before the turbo I would stay far away from anything ebay related exhaust wise.
I have seen so many toasted motors and turbos from poor quality uppipes and headers.

[RM1SepEx]

AJW, I'm glad I bought mine from you! :-)

[Silvertop]

AJW, I'm glad I bought mine from you! :-)

Got my EL headers made to order by a quality outfit out of Calgary, Alberta. Beautifully welded stainless steel, then ceramic coated. Almost too pretty to put on the car. I'm not going to need to worry about questionable ebay stuff either.........:)

[Mitch Wright]

I will be using EL headers and twin scroll turbo from Moore Performance Parts. Correct tube diameter and length for you application does make a difference.

[Frank818]

Hey Silvertop, was the ceramic coating done by them in Calgary?

[Silvertop]

Hey Silvertop, was the ceramic coating done by them in Calgary?

No, the header builder's usual vendor for ceramic coating was heavily backlogged due to flood issues from earlier this summer. I wound up getting the ceramic coating put on at a shop here in Forest Lake, MN. But there is a vendor in Calgary that does it. Send me a PM if you need direction. Forum ethics.............

[Frank818]

Ok tnx Silver. I am still far from there, but I will take note on my "build list" and will let you know once I get there.