New headers installed!

[Joel Lester]

Check out the pic of my new headers. Just installed them last night. The project went as well as can be expected. These headers were only about $260. I bought them to compliment my new Techno Power kit which is from Pedro's garage. That kit basically re-maps the ECU and you get a bigger throttle body and intake Tee flow enhancer. I should be getting back the re-map ECU and throttle body Monday - a snap to re-install. The whole deal should add 25bhp!

[Wayne 962]

I bought a set of similar looking headers for really cheap as well. They actually looked pretty well made, but I went with the FabSpeed system instead...

-Wayne

[Joel Lester]

Cool Wayne. One question... there is a hose or line of some sort that hangs down and rests on the new header (drivers side). I have used a wire tie to try and suspend it out of the way. It is also very close to a rear suspension piece but when the car is on jack stands and the suspension "hanging" I'm not sure it is going to interfere with it. Have you had and problems with this? Any ideas what to do? I would assume that it is not good to have this hose touching the headers once they get hot. Thanks!

[ronster]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

I bought a set of similar looking headers for really cheap as well. They actually looked pretty well made, but I went with the FabSpeed system instead...

-Wayne

What influenced your decision?

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by Joel Lester

Cool Wayne. One question... there is a hose or line of some sort that hangs down and rests on the new header (drivers side). I have used a wire tie to try and suspend it out of the way. It is also very close to a rear suspension piece but when the car is on jack stands and the suspension "hanging" I'm not sure it is going to interfere with it. Have you had and problems with this? Any ideas what to do? I would assume that it is not good to have this hose touching the headers once they get hot. Thanks!

Post a picture?

-Wayne

[ronster]

Joel you and I are conversing on my post reg. headers so maybe we can get Wayne to merge my post into this one or vice versa. The headers you got are the Schnell and they are supposed to be very good headers. When you look into the exit side of the header (the collector end) are there any splitters inside or is it hollow? Thanks.

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by ronster

What influenced your decision?

The Fabspeed system was specifically designed to handle the increased flow from the 3.4 engine...

-Wayne

[ronster]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

The Fabspeed system was specifically designed to handle the increased flow from the 3.4 engine...

-Wayne

Got it, I'm dealing with a 2.5L.
Thanks.

[Joel Lester]

Wayne - I don't have a picture... yet. But as often I do with some of these projects, I stop and think... it totally dawns on me after a glass of wine. I will take the left rear wheel off and have a first hand look with easy access. A couple of wire ties should be easily installed and take care of the potential problem. Sounds like a few guys would like to get a "cheaper" set of headers from Pelican - perhaps you could start offering them? I would have loved to get them through you.

[Schumi]

Those are the exact same headers I got off ebay for fun a while back. I can tell they are the exact same as I recognize the thick, crudely waterjet cut flanges and the same exact weld seam location on the rearmost primary tube.

I paid $138 including shipping and tax (shipped in state).

If you are installing these on a 2.5L, be prepared for a loss of torque down low and very minimal high end gains. The fact of the matter is, the 2.5L cars cannot and will not flow enough air to require such large diameter primary runners that these Chinese headers have (they are about 1.9" ID tubes if I remember correctly). Whereas with the 3.2+L cars they eliminate the integrated catalytic coverter, freeing up a considerable amount of flow on the top end of the RPM range, the 2.5L early cars have the header with no integrated cat- like your OEM one pictured.

It is a fun project IMO regardless of the gains... but don't let the sound fool your head- trust your bum... and let us know weather you really feel any gains.

[ronster]

Originally Posted by Schumi

Those are the exact same headers I got off ebay for fun a while back. I can tell they are the exact same as I recognize the thick, crudely waterjet cut flanges and the same exact weld seam location on the rearmost primary tube.

I paid $138 including shipping and tax (shipped in state).

If you are installing these on a 2.5L, be prepared for a loss of torque down low and very minimal high end gains. The fact of the matter is, the 2.5L cars cannot and will not flow enough air to require such large diameter primary runners that these Chinese headers have (they are about 1.9" ID tubes if I remember correctly). Whereas with the 3.2+L cars they eliminate the integrated catalytic coverter, freeing up a considerable amount of flow on the top end of the RPM range, the 2.5L early cars have the header with no integrated cat- like your OEM one pictured.

It is a fun project IMO regardless of the gains... but don't let the sound fool your head- trust your bum... and let us know weather you really feel any gains.

Interesting as the headers Joel bought are advertised as Schnell headers which are manufactured in Europe.
This is from EHow:
"Schnell is a European company that makes some of the world's best headers, exhaust systems and exhaust tips specifically for Porsches. Installing a set of Schnell exhaust tips provides a sharp-looking addition to just about any modern Porsche, whether it's a 993 Carrera, 997 Turbo or 986 Boxster. Keep in mind that Schnell exhaust tips will not increase the performance of your Porsche."



Read more: Schnell Exhaust Tips | eHow.com Schnell Exhaust Tips | eHow.com
So either the Chinese copied the Schnell or Schnell is outsourcing manufacture to the Chinese or it's false advertising.
One of the main reasons I've not installed the cheaper headers, as you mention, is the loss of low end torque to gain higher speed performance. My understanding of the more expensive headers is they contain splitters in the collector that keep enough back pressure to allow a hp gain without losing torque on the low end. You really need to assess what you will be doing with your car before you jump into changing what the car was designed to do. If you are heavy into AX you would not want to lose low end torque and if you DE a lot you would want to pick up performance at the higher speeds. If you do both then you will have to compromise. For street driving it probably doesn't matter that much and a better sounding exhaust without drone would work fine.

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by Joel Lester

Cool Wayne. One question... there is a hose or line of some sort that hangs down and rests on the new header (drivers side). I have used a wire tie to try and suspend it out of the way. It is also very close to a rear suspension piece but when the car is on jack stands and the suspension "hanging" I'm not sure it is going to interfere with it. Have you had and problems with this? Any ideas what to do? I would assume that it is not good to have this hose touching the headers once they get hot. Thanks!

Very important question Joel. Remember that those headers get white hot when in use so anything touching them will get quick fried to a crackly crunch. The hose you speak of is probably the power steering line. Make sure it is routed and tied well out of the way. More than one Boxster has burned to the ground after installing a nice shiny set of headers but forgetting about the PS line. High heat will quickly destroy the hose and PS fluid is quite flammable.

Regarding HP increase... I haven't seen aftermarket headers produce meaningful gains on a 2.5 motor yet but if you get the tuning really right it is possible. They do look good and sound good though.

[ronster]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

Very important question Joel. Remember that those headers get white hot when in use so anything touching them will get quick fried to a crackly crunch. The hose you speak of is probably the power steering line. Make sure it is routed and tied well out of the way. More than one Boxster has burned to the ground after installing a nice shiny set of headers but forgetting about the PS line. High heat will quickly destroy the hose and PS fluid is quite flammable.

Regarding HP increase... I haven't seen aftermarket headers produce meaningful gains on a 2.5 motor yet but if you get the tuning really right it is possible. They do look good and sound good though.

Are there any other issues to deal with when installing them on a Tiptronic?

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by ronster

Are there any other issues to deal with when installing them on a Tiptronic?

No, they should fit fine. Just make sure you provide enough clearance so that nothing is touching them while in use.

[ronster]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

No, they should fit fine. Just make sure you provide enough clearance so that nothing is touching them while in use.

Thanks!

[Joel Lester]

Keep in mind that I put the headers on in the first place to tie in with my new, larger 75mm throttle body, modified intake (larger) and re-mapped ECU. The combiniation of all these changes will hopfully make a difference - they say 25bhp increase (of course who know how much... really!).

[ronster]

Originally Posted by Joel Lester

Keep in mind that I put the headers on in the first place to tie in with my new, larger 75mm throttle body, modified intake (larger) and re-mapped ECU. The combiniation of all these changes will hopfully make a difference - they say 25bhp increase (of course who know how much... really!).

Install an Evolution Motorsports Cold Air Intake and complete the system. Talk about awesome sound and increased torque.

[ronster]

A few months ago I looked at a set of used headers advertised on Craig's List for a Boxster. All the guy knew was they were well made, not Chinese and had come off a Boxster. I passed on them and forgot them. The day after I got interested in looking at headers a friend of mine called, out of the blue, and asked if I was interested in buying a set of headers he's bought off Craig's List for his wife's Boxster. He bought them without knowing his wife's Boxster has the cats in the header and he didn't want to go through the mods to make them work. I looked at them and they look like either Fabspeed or Brombacher headers, very well made with finished and polished intakes, equal length, excellent welds and the splitter in the collector that maintains enough back pressure so you keep the low end torque. I took them to our local hot rod exhaust shop, Johnney Franklin's, and they looked at them and agreed they were high quality. So an hour later my new to me headers are installed and are beautiful sounding at higher rpm, give a smoother power band through the rpms, no loss of torque and are quiet at idle and lower rpms so I won't have the neighbors calling the police. The headers were $150 with a new set of gaskets and it was $170 for the install which included rerouting the power steering hose and dropping the plastic covers, on the bottom of the car, down a bit. As a credit to Porsche all the nuts came off the system after 12 years with ease.

[Joel Lester]

VERY cool picture. I love it! I wish I could have gotten that pic but unfortunately I'm one of those guys without a lift and have to lay flat on my back while working on mine!

[Schumi]

Note that I used the term 'Chinese' to describe the headers not knowing exaclt where they came form, other than assuming they were made in China.

It is very likely that the headers were made elsewhere, but I highly doubt they wre made in Germany, or really anywhere other than southern asia... based on the fact I paid $130~ for mine and yes, they are exactly as posted in these photos.

I have been chief engineer for several racing cars over the years, all with tubular steel or titanium headers. Given the headers I bought, with the bends the way they were and the welds a nice as they were, I literally don't think I could make myself a set of these headers for much less than I paid (~130$) for them. It's pretty amazing.