young'n wrx

Im not to sure what ported headers are or what they do but im sure somebody has i bit of info on them.
A few people have ported headers heat wrapped etc.. does this mean you get get youre standerd headers ported then wrap and refit youre self?

thanks in advance.

c

911

It is a phrase where someone who knows what they are doing (ie Harvey or API to name just 2) hand grind the internal bore of the stock cast iron headers to even out that diameter of bore especially where the cast sections (3 of them) meet and normally miss-match.

They are then put back together with fresh gaskets and NO sealent (most important that).

Some wrapp them, I did not, I just replaced my stock heat shielsd which by a miracle actually came off (they are usually rusted on).

You then bolt it all back together.

You can get yours done by exchange at Welcome to the API website
Call David there and tell him '911' sent you.

rookie350

I removed and ported mine myself also took the back of the turbo off (hot side) and milled and ported that. It took me and 3 hours to port and polish. I only heat wrapped the up pipe i would have done it all if i had more heat wrap.

Well worth doing if nothing else just for the improved sound, its awesome

ScoobyDoo69

iTrader: (17)

911,

Harvey says it's fine to use a bit of sealent, so long as none or very little gets into the bores, and obviously he's done a lot of them.
Why would you say not to use sealent?

N602 WRX

Sealent dries very hard, if you get it in the bore of the pipe it could blow off and go through the turbo possibly damaging the propeller.
I used it when i ported mine tho , very sparingly! no problems!

911

Doo 69, N602 has explained why.

Harvey is an expert on the header stuff and i totally respect what he says, but a piece of roack hard exhaust gungum popping into a godzillion rpm turbo at full chat could be The End of the turbo.

Mine sealed great 'dry' but I did use OEM gaskets.

young'n wrx

thanks guys i kinda had a clue but thanks for confirming. think ill contact api.

c

D-an-W

iTrader: (1)

I used new OEM gaskets without any sealant (I hate the stuff), they aren't cheap but well worth it as 911 says.

Harvey ported and wrapped mine for me, the results were great.

911

I think it is common knowledge that ported cast headers can give better low/mid rpm torque to a stock or even 20g TD turbo as the bore is quite small in the headers giving a good high speed gas flow from the cylinders to the hot-side of the turbo.

This is the reason for porting. Done badly and you can loose some of that benefit.

young'n wrx

Hi guys went on the api website and cant seem to find any prices for porting headers and wrapping them.

what am i looking at cost wise?

thanks.

andythejock01wrx

This is a copy'n'paste from a PM i got from Dave at API (a year ago ! ).

"Decat up pipe from APi is a standard GC8 one modified to take the sensor and ported and polished. Which I would recommend for the whole header set up Ported Headers inc up pipe is £150.00 Fitting 3 hrs at £45.00 ph"

HTH,

Andy Mc

young'n wrx

wow 3 hrs to fit them back on. seems like a bit of a job!!

ScoobyDoo69

iTrader: (17)

3 hours to take them off and put them back on isn't bad..

bazo440bhp

hello mate i would not heat wrap the headers it causes dampness to stay inside your flexi pipe if ya using aftermarket 1s will last about 5 month like mine did i have not used it since and exhaust has been fine since and ya can port and polish them ya self u only need a flexi dril and a dye drill bit with a fine bit to finish off do not take it past 1mm of the oem gasket od iv done mine and what a difference and that was on a stainless 1 them oem headers are 2 times the weight type this on ebay 260199122094 they a cheap and gud buy iv had mine for over year now from fast2cool

harvey

iTrader: (48)

Exhaust paste can be used VERY sparingly with care not to let it enter the bore.
There is a lot more to porting than just opening up the diameter. The shape of the porting is of the utmost importance and my porting has been developed over a number of years and includes a fair bit of flow bench time to perfect the operation. Some of the findings were both surprising and interesting.
The ported headers are matched to a purpose designed up-pipe.
There is no "polishing" on the exhaust side although the machined finish is relatively smooth.
There is a lot more than 3 hours work involved to do it properly, even with heavy duty, air power tools.
We swap over ported headers for a fixed £70 and that can take 2-3 hours including the up-pipe and is very much dependant on the condition of the existing car. Vehicles that live near the sea side can be a struggle.
Sometimes, slightly lifting the engine on loosened engine mountings makes the job far easier.
Porting will slightly alter the exhast note.

In the several hundred sets of headers I have done, any dampness present from time to time in the flexi (and elsewhere) has never been a problem.
Wrapping is desirable as it reduces under bonnet heat and noticably improves spool.
Properly ported headers will result in improved spool, dropping the rpm point where 1 bar is achieved, slightly more boost, noticably improved torque across the rev range and better top end willingness. Basically the car is nicer to drive and even off boost performance can be felt to be that much more efficient.
The area under the curve is signifigantly increased.

tonywrx

how much do port the headers for?

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

APi ported headers are £150.00 + VAT wrapping extra, or buy a roll [£39.00 + VAT ]and do it yourself. As Harvey says; they are better wrapped than not wrapped. Carriage would be about £14.00 to most English mainland postcodes.

It is one of the cheapest performance mods that you will ever do. It improves spool. it makes the engine rev more smoothly. It has no downside.

David APi

kylejennings05

will it still have the burble though?

rigga

iTrader: (4)

yes still the same cast manifold that gives the best burble.... only when you go to aftermarket manifolds does the classic sound diminish


By the way wrapping the headers is best done with gloves as its a very itchy material

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

If anything porting enhances the burble.

The trick with wrap is to soak it in a saucepan of water first, that cuts down the itch co-efficient. We send out a pair of surgeons gloves with every roll to try and assist. But you are right doing it ' commando ' style is a poor idea.

David APi

tonywrx

do you need to take the headers off?

rigga

iTrader: (4)

Can't port the internals when they are still bolted to the engine........ unless you mean just warapping them? and yes they will still need to be removed,straightforward enough though.

tonywrx

cool

p1dazza

I
thinkported headers has been my best valuie for moneymodification so far. Car wanted to rev higher and more freely and it was pulli ng harder from a good bit lower down. Cruising it might use less fuel.
If anything the burble is deeper/stronger.
Have a look here;..............lots of useful stuff.
index

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Sure you can do them in situ Rigga, We take the spark plugs out and feed a long flexi drive dremel in through there. It is necessary to do the same with a long mirror on a stick through the next nearest spark plug to be able to see what you are doing.

There can be a bit of an issue with swarf going through the turbo. But if you start it up from cold with your foot hard on the accelerator,

let it rev to about 9000, the swarf will get blown straight through the turbo before it realises what is going on.






















NOT

If you are unskilled in this job, please do not try this at home.

David APi

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

?????

rigga

iTrader: (4)

So good you posted it twice David...... ha ha

Andy.F

P1 Dazza, are you and Harvey quite close ?

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

geographically or emotionally?

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Beat me to it Cookie.