robertgraham

iTrader: (2)

are the performance gains claimed in the ebay ads, etc realistic?

i`ve seen alot of people on the forum using them, but will they actually give a 20bhp and 40nm gain?

Delboy2

Very likely if mapped to suit the increase in flow rate they yield It would also be beneficial to have the car mapped if/when they are fitted as the increase in flow will likely cause areas of the map to be used (previously unused) due to the airflow/load changes

Cheers

robertgraham

iTrader: (2)

is it worth while importing them personally from the states or can anyone supply them over here for a good price?

robert

69WRX

Check this thread
http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthrea...=megan+headers
wrrjones sells them over here for £250
You can get them from the states for about £190 but you may have to pay duty on that which will take them towards the £250 mark and you will probably have to wait a few weeks.

Mackers

I can sell you these for £225+ £18.50 next day insured delivery

Dave.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...e=STRK:MESE:IT

wrrjones

would honer the warranty because i would as i am a officail Megan dealer and i also no scoobs and can offer fitting and all advice .... chris

robertgraham

iTrader: (2)

Looks like its time to start saving

StickyMicky

im waiting for my mate to fit a set before i judge if i should fit them or not

seams a shame to wrap them

Carl Davey

iTrader: (3)

Mine run awfully close to the the sump, unsurprisingly i've noticed an increase in oil temps since (well, lower oil pressure).

Mine were £175 from the states and escaped duty - unless there is a bill waiting for me when i get home. Don't use the gaskets they supply.

Andy.F

As Carl mentioned, £130 plus delivery from the states.
Megan seem to work ok on a TD05 or larger turbo but they lose a lot of bottom end response on a TD04.
Also not sure about the expansion bellows ? I've just had an expansion bellows blow out after 2k miles on similar construction headers. For durability, slip joined headers may be a better option.

Andy

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

I've just received mine from the states, £173 delivered. Nothing from customs as yet

What gaskets did you use Carl? OE?

Also It came with a lambda boss, but the other thread needs blanking off, its smaller than the M18 one, I assume for some EGT on the later models.

Does anyone know the thread size for this and where I can get a blanking plug?

BVM

Borla headers are much better value. The are 100% stainless steel, CERAMIC coated inside and out and have a 1 million mile warranty. Doubt any ebay headers offer all that.

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

What does BVM stand for? Borla Value Motorsport?

Details of these headers please

BVM

http://www.jscspeed.com/wrx/exhaust/borla_header.htm

Bats-Wrx

iTrader: (1)

I have just finished fitting a set of these yesterday. Very close to the rad on the drivers side also had to move the wiring that goes along the bottom as it was rubing against the headers. It could be possible just be down to my car though as it seems its hit a large stone prevouisly and bent a bit of the panel.

If they last untill december i'll be happy.

BVM

A set of the Megan's or Borla's? I havent heard of any fitment issues witht he version II Borla headers.

Carl Davey

iTrader: (3)

Ditto Chris actually, i got distracted by how close they were to the sump and forgot how close they run to the front cross member. I had to move wiring too.

I'm not overly concerned however. I'd imagine headers considered to be more 'superior' and consequently expesive would have similar fitting issues. I've always stated that for £175 they can disintegrate for all i care. Next time i will probably use GT Spec or Gruppe S as i will be looking for some more longevity.

Oh, for the record my car made circa 25bhp and 35lb/ft extra with these headers, a re-cored TMIC, some cool air mods and a map tweak amongst other things.

BVM

NASIOC Header FAQ:

The primary purpose of an aftermarket header on a turbocharged Subaru is to remove or replace the stock exhaust manifold with a better flowing unit.

HP gain is 15HP and 20TQ. This figure is highly debated as different manufacturers use different dynos with different cars with different levels of mods. It also varies because some headers incorporate an uppipe into their design. This makes it nearly impossible to compare the gains of a header without an uppipe vs. a header with an uppipe.

Which manufacturer is best? This topic is highly debated. There have been no reported consistent "bad" headers on the market. Obviously, there may have been bad pipes sold, but not enough to report as "bad" overall.

Who manufactures headers? (Price ranges listed are generalized)
5Zigen ($500-$999)
alpha werks (<$500)
Aqua ($1000+)
AVO ($500-$999)
B&B ($500-$999)
Borla (<$500)
BPM ($1000+)
Cusco ($1000+)
DC Sports ($500-$999)
DN Performance ($1000+)
Flatt Racing ($1000+)
Forced Air Technologies (<$500)
Fujitsubo ($500-$999)
GP Moto ($500-$999)
GReddy ($500-$999)
Gruppe-S (<$500)
GT Spec (<$500)
HKS ($500-$999)
Invidia ($1000+)
JIC ($1000+)
JUN ($1000+)
Maxim Works ($1000+)
Megan Racing (<$500)
MRT ($1000+)
Quicktime Performance ($500-$999)
Skunk2 ($1000+)
Supersprint ($unknown)
SSAutoChrome (<$500)
Syms ($1000+)
Tomei ($500-$999)
XO2Racing (<$500)
XX Tuning (<$500)
ZeroSports ($1000+)

What differences are there with headers? The main difference is exhaust piping length. Headers are made to be unequal length or equal length. Unequal means the piping on the driver's side of the engine will be longer than the passenger's side. Equal means the piping length is equidistant from the engine outlet to the header outlet for all piping.

What about the header comparison? The header comparison idea was started by the NASIOC member downshift1 on this thread and resulted in the publication of the test findings in Speed, Style, & Sound Magazine. An authorized reprint of this article can be found via this link. Larger versions of the dyno plots can be viewed here, here, here, and here. Quite a few headers were tested and the results bring up a lot of interesting data on headers for turbo Subarus.

What changes will be made to the exhaust sound?
a. Equal length headers: there will be a drastic difference in the exhaust note. It will change from the boxer rumble to a more traditional engine tone. This can be negative for some people as they love the unique sound of a boxer engine.
b. Unequal length headers: there is generally mild to no sound (db) increase or change in tone. Any changes in unequal length headers are generally considered subtle.

Which header has the best gains? There is no irrefutable evidence that any header has better gains than another. The consensus, if there is one, is they are all within 5HP or less, gain wise, of each other.

Are there any downsides to headers? Yes.
a. Some manufacturers' early versions of headers had fitment issues, which could be cause for concern if purchasing a used header.
b. There may be a few manufacturers who still produce headers with possible fitment issues.
c. Increased in turbo spool time. The actual RPM reduction will/may vary with manufacturer/heat wrap or coating/overall header temperature but a good rule of thumb is around a 300 RPM increase (spool comes on later) in spool time.

Are there any other benefits from a header? This link contains some very interesting testing of EGT readings from a header. The results seem to indicate the cause of high EGT readings is due to the poor flow/design of the stock exhaust manifold. Though this information isn't 100% foolproof, it offers strong credibility to the thought that headers may be a possible solution to high EGT issues with modified vehicles.

Are there any do it yourself options? Yes. This thread contains a compendium of thoughts and experiences with port matching and port and polishing the stock exhaust manifold. Though there is a lot of theory and speculation there isn't a whole lot of evidence to support this modification having the same impact as a full set of headers. It certainly is a cheap, do it yourself project with few possible negative impacts though.

Where do I buy a header? Every Subaru/Import performance store sells headers. For purchasing, support your local economy or the NASIOC Vendors.

What questions should I ask of the retailer or manufacturer before purchasing?
1. Is this header equal or unequal length?
2. Do you provide EGT bung welding? (if applicable to the end user)
3. Do you provide ceramic or other coating services prior to purchase?
4. Does this header include an uppipe?
5. Are there any fitment issues?

How hard is it to install a header? Allow around one hour for install time if using your factory uppipe or have already installed an aftermarket uppipe. Professional installation, depending on your area, is around $75. If using a header with an uppipe, and you still have your factory uppipe, allow around 3 hours for install time. This can depend on many variables. A lift and air tools will significantly speed up the process but aren't entirely necessary. Professional installation, depending on your area, is around $200. Shadetree mechanics will install for around $100.

How do I install a header? Refer to the header manufacturer's instructions.

What about ceramic or other heat wrap coating? Though there are pros and cons to heat retention treatments with exhaust components, the general consensus with headers is that heat retention benefits outweigh the liabilities.
Pros:
Increased heat retention, which is beneficial for exhaust flow.
Reduces underhood temps, which decreases IC heatsoak.
Cons:
Additional expense.
Additional lead time, in the case of coatings.
Increased heat retention, which accelerates metal fatigue, especially at weld joints.
No proven HP increase.
If you plan on using a coating, ensure you are aware of what impact this will have on your header warranty if applicable. Coating or wrapping your header can void exhaust component warranties.

What types of ceramic or other heat wrap coating are available? The two most popular manufacturers of heat wrap are Thermo Tec and DEi. The two most popular coating manufacturers are Jet Hot and Swain Tech Coatings. Wrapping will cost ~$75 and coating will cost ~$150. Wrapping is a DIY project with a shorter life span than the professional only coating with a longer life span.

Should I reset my ECU after this mod? It is never a bad idea to perform an ECU reset after a mod. The traditional route is to disconnect the negative battery terminal, press the brake pedal for a few seconds to bleed the system of charge, and reattach. Some use the more advanced Vishnu Reset.

Bats-Wrx

iTrader: (1)

Megan headers. The only reason i went for these was my oe ones were leaking and they were a nice stop gap for the current engine.

Bats-Wrx

iTrader: (1)

Anybody know the thread size for the hole nearest the turbo?? I have a wrong sized bolt just stuck in for the mean time.

Carl Davey

iTrader: (3)

M12 x 1.25mm IIRC.

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

I read that in a search somewhere too. Unfortunately its not the std M12 bolt thread pitch Where did you get your blanking plug Carl?

Carl Davey

iTrader: (3)

I can't really say as the chap who supplied mine doesn't want the hassle. If you read my thread in projects very closely there's a clue.