Enthusiasts and vendors alike... header testing inside!
06-26-2009, 08:05 PM
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Enthusiasts and vendors alike... header testing inside!
I've been waiting for a long time to do this. I've had the time to personally collect a production header from 5 different companies, and in the next few weeks, they will all be tested on my personal vehicle. I am not here to cause a pissing match between vendors, or to claim an outright "best header", since that's not logically possible. Everyone on here has a preference of where they want the power to be felt the most at.
Each header will have information documented on them, from the most important being the dyno, to what the car feels like on daily driving (butt dyno to some), any noticeable change in sound. Videos will be taken for every header, sounds while idling, through the rev range, and pulls both on the dyno and on the street. I will also have pictures available for those who want a better look at the headers that I test, but I'll do that at the members request.
All headers used in this comparison will be compared to the stock header. Dyno pulls will be posted on the same plotting graph as the stock header once those results are posted. The tuning that is done for the stock header won't be the peak power my car is putting out, but as I said just a baseline. This way, we can avoid having to tune for every header. If we tuned for every header, that would skew the information.
The testing will be done at All Aspects Dyno, a well respected dyno tuning shop in Virginia Beach. All Aspects is well known on the east coast for their work with Subaru's to say the least. They have an all wheel dynojet and my tuner BennyHHR has the dynojet software.
Now, the headers I have on hand now are:
GM Stock Header- (combined with 3" cti downpipe)312 whp/ 247 wtq
Hahn Shorty Header
JBodyPerformance Header 260 whp/ 219 wtq
The header/dp combinations I have are:
Clear Image Auto Header/dp
Vibrant Header/dp
Vibrant after two more degrees timing.
All of the headers will be hooked up to a dp with a 3" exit into a 3" hahn catback. Unfortunately both combo setups I was able to get a hold of are 2.5" exits, but I have a reducer fitting from hahn that will connect to those.
Now the fun part. I am welcoming either anyone on here that wants to contribute to this project and donate their header for a short time. The testing would be around a week, and if need be, I would send one of mine to replace yours during the time I had yours in my posession. The ones in particular that would make this more complete are from:
Custom Tubes Inc. (CTI)
ZZP
Cobalt-Addiction
Pacesetter
Weapon R (not expected..., don't know of anyone that even has one.)
I'm even reaching out to the vendors. If you are willing to send your header for the testing, you would be allowing testing to be done on a highly modified lsj and could boost sales for you. All of the details could be sent to you if you so wish. If a signed agreement would make you feel better, as long as both parties could be properly satisfied, then I'm all for it.
If anyone has a 3" setup from Clear Image or vibrant, I'd like to swap with you as well just for a time. This is big, but would help to cut down on the bickering about who's best. I know there will be ideas floating around, and I am open to them if it will make this better.
Oh, and just for the record, I don't have a personal preference of which one I want to be the best..., I could give two ***** less. That's not why I'm doing this. There will be no opinions stated except the feel while driving the car. Everything else will be on paper or on video. People will have their thoughts and beliefs, which is fine but I won't allow this to turn into a ***** thread. Please help keep this one clean and productive.
Each header will have information documented on them, from the most important being the dyno, to what the car feels like on daily driving (butt dyno to some), any noticeable change in sound. Videos will be taken for every header, sounds while idling, through the rev range, and pulls both on the dyno and on the street. I will also have pictures available for those who want a better look at the headers that I test, but I'll do that at the members request.
All headers used in this comparison will be compared to the stock header. Dyno pulls will be posted on the same plotting graph as the stock header once those results are posted. The tuning that is done for the stock header won't be the peak power my car is putting out, but as I said just a baseline. This way, we can avoid having to tune for every header. If we tuned for every header, that would skew the information.
The testing will be done at All Aspects Dyno, a well respected dyno tuning shop in Virginia Beach. All Aspects is well known on the east coast for their work with Subaru's to say the least. They have an all wheel dynojet and my tuner BennyHHR has the dynojet software.
Now, the headers I have on hand now are:
GM Stock Header- (combined with 3" cti downpipe)312 whp/ 247 wtq
Hahn Shorty Header
JBodyPerformance Header 260 whp/ 219 wtq
The header/dp combinations I have are:
Clear Image Auto Header/dp
Vibrant Header/dp
Vibrant after two more degrees timing.
All of the headers will be hooked up to a dp with a 3" exit into a 3" hahn catback. Unfortunately both combo setups I was able to get a hold of are 2.5" exits, but I have a reducer fitting from hahn that will connect to those.
Now the fun part. I am welcoming either anyone on here that wants to contribute to this project and donate their header for a short time. The testing would be around a week, and if need be, I would send one of mine to replace yours during the time I had yours in my posession. The ones in particular that would make this more complete are from:
Custom Tubes Inc. (CTI)
ZZP
Cobalt-Addiction
Pacesetter
Weapon R (not expected..., don't know of anyone that even has one.)
I'm even reaching out to the vendors. If you are willing to send your header for the testing, you would be allowing testing to be done on a highly modified lsj and could boost sales for you. All of the details could be sent to you if you so wish. If a signed agreement would make you feel better, as long as both parties could be properly satisfied, then I'm all for it.
If anyone has a 3" setup from Clear Image or vibrant, I'd like to swap with you as well just for a time. This is big, but would help to cut down on the bickering about who's best. I know there will be ideas floating around, and I am open to them if it will make this better.
Oh, and just for the record, I don't have a personal preference of which one I want to be the best..., I could give two ***** less. That's not why I'm doing this. There will be no opinions stated except the feel while driving the car. Everything else will be on paper or on video. People will have their thoughts and beliefs, which is fine but I won't allow this to turn into a ***** thread. Please help keep this one clean and productive.
Last edited by Deathscythe; 08-27-2009 at 10:12 PM.
06-26-2009, 09:05 PM
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do you have the flange needed for it? I can weld it on if need be.
that's cool, I appreciate the thought. I just want to see what will come out of this. I'm also giving vendors a chance to flaunt their stuff. Kinda get away from the ricer math thing.
that's cool, I appreciate the thought. I just want to see what will come out of this. I'm also giving vendors a chance to flaunt their stuff. Kinda get away from the ricer math thing.
Last edited by Deathscythe; 06-26-2009 at 09:05 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
06-27-2009, 12:59 AM
#17
If not I would like to suggest getting dyno results off the same tune for every header like you mentioned.
AND
Get a dyno run comparison of each head with a custom tune pushed to the max. I know people like the argue AFR vs Timing so lets not get into that. So keep the afr the same and just push the timing as far as you can for each header. That will provide more information.
Also, do you plan on measuring the length of each runner for each header? It would be interesting to see which headers claim to be "equal length" actually are.
06-27-2009, 01:03 AM
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yeah get a close measurement on them headers,,, cough JBP cough... not saying anything but some dont seem to sound to equal to me : ) awating results so i guess watchin for now...
06-27-2009, 10:32 AM
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Are all the runs going to be made on the same day?
If not I would like to suggest getting dyno results off the same tune for every header like you mentioned.
AND
Get a dyno run comparison of each head with a custom tune pushed to the max. I know people like the argue AFR vs Timing so lets not get into that. So keep the afr the same and just push the timing as far as you can for each header. That will provide more information.
Also, do you plan on measuring the length of each runner for each header? It would be interesting to see which headers claim to be "equal length" actually are.
If not I would like to suggest getting dyno results off the same tune for every header like you mentioned.
AND
Get a dyno run comparison of each head with a custom tune pushed to the max. I know people like the argue AFR vs Timing so lets not get into that. So keep the afr the same and just push the timing as far as you can for each header. That will provide more information.
Also, do you plan on measuring the length of each runner for each header? It would be interesting to see which headers claim to be "equal length" actually are.
Measuring the length of each of the runners was an idea that was thrown around between Joe (my tuner) and I, and it seems that it is in the interest of a few here, so we will do that: measured from inside the runner to make sure the length is as precise as possible and the collector isn't accidentally accounted for. Thanks for bringing that up.
Honestly, the pacesetter just slipped my mind. Actually a few days ago, I was talking about this with ralliartist in another thread of mine. If someone would be willing to do the swap, then I'm all for it. But I'll update my first post. Thanks.
Last edited by Deathscythe; 06-27-2009 at 10:32 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
06-27-2009, 10:37 AM
#24
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I remember, but I just found out that a member in my group down in va beach has one as well. If he changes his mind though, trust me I'll let you know.