Different Headers?

jamesjedi · 10-09-2011, 08:49 AM

Are these different styles of headers? Or is it the picture? I believe they are both OBX.

Oh Haha · 10-09-2011, 09:06 AM

I believe the difference is that the top set has the extensions to mate up to an early style, dual inlet, muffler. The bottom set does not.

jamesjedi · 10-10-2011, 07:52 AM

They look to have different pipe routing. Would there be any performance difference? The second set look like a copy of Georges.

KTL · 10-10-2011, 08:08 AM

The first set is Bursch/QSC brand, the second is obviously OBX. I've used both and neither are super good fitment. Had to force/muscle them onto the studs, or ream the flange holes, to get them to fit in place.

OBX are definitely a knock-off of George's European Racing headers. The QSC are not a copy. QSC have more of a flattened pipe layout that does not wrap upward at the front of the engine.

jamesjedi · 10-10-2011, 08:36 AM

I was wondering if they were mis-labled. Thanks.

Is one better in design than the other? Is there an advantage to it not wrapping up into the front of the engine?

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesjedi

I was wondering if they were mis-labled. Thanks.

Is one better in design than the other? Is there an advantage to it not wrapping up into the front of the engine?

The upper pic has what is called a rotational collector, the lower a splayed collector. When properly implemented the rotational collector is more efficient. That said nether is probably properly implemented, but for the money both are probably a fair value

jamesjedi · 10-10-2011, 09:33 AM

Thanks Bill. I appreciate your input.

KTL · 10-10-2011, 09:41 AM

From my experience with the two, the shorty type fit more like a SSI or Georges would fit. So you don't run into interference with other things under the car, nor at the lower valve covers. On the longer ones I had, the flat, forward laying pipe contacted the main oil supply tube beneath the engine oil cooler. Was not happy with that...... I think the valve cover fitment was tight with the longer ones? After thinking it through a bit, I do recall now that OBX makes both types- short and long.

Also, if I recall correctly, both of those headers allow for you to use the factory SC/Carrera oil scavenge line that runs along the back of the engine and then in the passenger wheel well to the external thermostat. Point being is you don't have to switch to the SSI/early oil line that is crescent-shaped and runs underneath the engine-trans mating point.

Let's just say that with both headers shown you get what you pay for. Do a search and you can find people's experiences. I had the OBX for a year before I de-modified the car to sell it. Worked fine and fit pretty good. Did I expect a huge increase from them? Nope. My intent was to take advantage of weight savings in losing the factory heat exchangers. OBX shorty setup with the muffler extensions and M&K shorty soda cans did the trick. Power gains were undetectable from the butt and I never bothered to dyno it. Didn't care as I was just doing lapping days with the car.

DaveE · 10-10-2011, 09:52 AM

The top will bolt directly (more or less) to a stock muffler. The bottom type is probably patterned more after a racing header and designed to be bolted to megaphones, but you can get extensions to bolt them (more or less) to a stock muffler.

jamesjedi · 10-10-2011, 10:00 AM

Thanks all for their input.

Oh Haha · 10-10-2011, 11:31 AM

Wow, I was off on that one. My apologies.

euro911sc · euro911sc's Garage

Do not buy OBX headers. Mine cracked apart at the welds in under 5 months and 2 track days. I got no refund or service from the vendor or OBX. I ended up buying a used set of Georges headers. Same engine and they have lasted for 2 years with no issues. OBX products may work on other makes, but on 911's they fail miserably...

OBX Headers Cracked apart...

Live and learn... from my mistakes