136 replies to this topic

[Scuba-Roo]

So theirs a few theory's around about the NA headers, and how to get a good boxer sound from your NA Subaru. I spent my day off doing an oil change and checking out what fits and what doesn't.
Car used:MY02 Subaru Impreza RS, with an xforce stainless steel muffler that is a direct bolt on to stock form the diff back, no increase in pipe size. Video was taken using a GoPro HD.


To start with, we have the stock Subaru headers, as used buy all NA 2.5L Subaru's excluding gen2.


As you can see their pretty much equal length. And don't sound too crash hot.










Don't get your hopes up on shinny pipework though, and dint expect any power gains, I had a small increase in fuel consumption and that could have even been due to the different fuels i was using.


You can defiantly notice the Subaru boxer note with them.







Here are the gen1 headers, nice and clean of course.




Rumor has it these are a direct bolt up- INCORRECT

Why you ask?




But on Liberty's and Outbacks they may just be long enough, Dad isn't keen on me trying them on his gen3 outback. The pipe just needs to be extended slightly, i can't see it costing much more then $30-$40 from an exhaust shop. I will get my set of gen1 headers extended to suit. Even the flange bolt holes line up, so close, yet so far. The exhaust hasn't got enough slack in it to stretch up and fit, believe me i tried.


Hopefully this answers a few questions, and helps people out. If anyone has a liberty or outback would like to test fit the Gen1 headers i have your more then welcome to borrow them. I'm located in the Newcastle Area, but work on the Central Coast


Cheers Mark

[Sam]

I am really considering these.. I would try them out on my car but is a little hard considering im in coffs harbour..

But the top ones are the ones out of a 97-05 impreza?? Theres heaps of these on ebay but none for an outback..

[Scuba-Roo]

I am really considering these.. I would try them out on my car but is a little hard considering im in coffs harbour..

But the top ones are the ones out of a 97-05 impreza?? Theres heaps of these on ebay but none for an outback..

The ones i just put a pic in of? They'll fit your car.

[Sam]

The ones i just put a pic in of? They'll fit your car.

Thats them
Cheers

[Grant]

Good work Mark

[Morgan]

If you want to test them on my car you're more than welcome

[Sam]

If you want to test them on my car you're more than welcome

Please do! And maybe put up a sound clip too? Cheers..

[AussieTemplar]

Yep, my next step for my car is really getting that boxer note. I've got an xforce sports exhaust, but I think it tends to sound farty.. My exhaust shop told me they would be able to actually make up some UEL headers for me.. Or should I just find a set and get them to put them on? As much as I wish, I'd love to do it my self but I'm not that mechanically advanced

Thanks for the vids scuba.

[bobbyjimmy]

I've got a set on my Outback.
Bolted straight on. 8 nuts and 2 bolts, 3 gaskets and done. I didn't use any of the hardware that showed up, used new genuine stuff.

I noticed abit more burble (I don't have a cannon nor a straight thru fully sick exhaust thou) and no increase in exhaust noise - but abit more noise from the engine, which I put down to no shielding/insulation.
I also noticed a melted rack boot - might of been due to age or maybe due to the no shielding/insulation again, but was only like $20 to fix and did take like 6 months.
I also noticed it was effing close to LH side of the swaybar (fat Whiteline one, 22mm or so), so wrapped abit of exhaust heat wrap around the sway bar and the headers to stop the random turning right "clink" noise.

[Scuba-Roo]

If you want to test them on my car you're more than welcome

i can give them to matt at work and he can pass them on to you and vice versor?

Yep, my next step for my car is really getting that boxer note. I've got an xforce sports exhaust, but I think it tends to sound farty.. My exhaust shop told me they would be able to actually make up some UEL headers for me.. Or should I just find a set and get them to put them on? As much as I wish, I'd love to do it my self but I'm not that mechanically advanced

Thanks for the vids scuba.

no worries, it's as simple as, abc. have a good hunt on ebay, i got my headers freaken cheap! right place right time

Pretty sure 'SUBARU' did a DIY on it a while back, if not i'll do one

[AussieTemplar]

no worries, it's as simple as, abc. have a good hunt on ebay, i got my headers freaken cheap! right place right time

Pretty sure 'SUBARU' did a DIY on it a while back, if not i'll do one

Any idea what I should search for? The best I've found are those Borla Replica's which I can't see on there anymore. From memory they were for $350 shipped?

[Scuba-Roo]

subaru headers, subaru 2.5L headers subaru extractors non turbo...anything along them lines, i certainly didnt pay that much for mine!

[AussieTemplar]

subaru headers, subaru 2.5L headers subaru extractors non turbo...anything along them lines, i certainly didnt pay that much for mine!

http://cgi.ebay.com....=item2eb3cfb295
what do you think?

[aekOne]

bingo!!

[Scuba-Roo]

Think im glad i got stuff of ebay US two days ago when the aussie $ was worth more then US$


Srsly but, check postage to Australia and wait til the aussie dollar goes up again


When i was looking for some i set myself a limit of $200, including postage if required.








After a few days driving with the OEM headers i reckon my car goes better with them. But it may just be in my head

[Sam]

I've got myself a set of UEL headers very cheap
I've put them in and the exhaust sounds a lot better but....

They do indeed sound tinny, so I will be heat wrapping them.
They also sit about 3mm off the left hand side of the front swaybar (like bobbyjimmy said), so I will do what he did and heat wrap the swaybar as well.
When I start the engine, it feels a bit rough. Hopefully i will not notice it after I heat wrap them.
All in all, at the moment I am very happy with the uneven headers. I would recommend these to any NA driver after the Rex note.
Call me a wankker I don't mind, I like them.
The ice cream tastes nice to me

Cheers.

[Scott]

good work mate, i had these on my gen1 and gen2 back in my non turbo days

i must say they do sound awesome for non turbos

[bobbyjimmy]

You could also chop the flange (hehe) off your old headers (if your not going to keep/use them again) and use them as "spacers" to get another 10mm or so clearance.

[Morgan]

Lol flange, and nipple. You're on a roll today mate!

[AussieTemplar]

I've got myself a set of UEL headers very cheap
I've put them in and the exhaust sounds a lot better but....

They do indeed sound tinny, so I will be heat wrapping them.
They also sit about 3mm off the left hand side of the front swaybar (like bobbyjimmy said), so I will do what he did and heat wrap the swaybar as well.
When I start the engine, it feels a bit rough. Hopefully i will not notice it after I heat wrap them.
All in all, at the moment I am very happy with the uneven headers. I would recommend these to any NA driver after the Rex note.
Call me a wankker I don't mind, I like them.
The ice cream tastes nice to me

Cheers.

where did you get the cheapies??