Exhaust Headers, Which one produces best performance? Options

[ILoveMySilly97]

I have a 1997 Toyota Celica GT with the stock engine. All I have is a Short Ram Injen Intake and I'm thinking about getting some headers for it but I don't know which one will give me the best performance and best durability. I want a direct bolt on if possible. My exhaust system is bone stock. I noticed some members have the ebay ones but are they legit? Most of the ones I've seen online are all the same design? I found this "KO-Speed" one from eBay for a little over 100 after shipping and taxes. Yes I know I live in Cali and it'll not pass smog but I have the stock one just in case. Lol. Any good?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/STAINLESS-STEEL-SS...7f0&vxp=mtr

This post has been edited by ILoveMySilly97: Jul 30, 2012 - 11:09 PM

[95CelicaST]

I have a 1997 Toyota Celica GT with the stock engine. All I have is a Short Ram Injen Intake and I'm thinking about getting some headers for it but I don't know which one will give me the best performance and best durability. I want a direct bolt on if possible. My exhaust system is bone stock. I noticed some members have the ebay ones but are they legit? Most of the ones I've seen online are all the same design? I found this "KO-Speed" one from eBay for a little over 100 after shipping and taxes. Yes I know I live in Cali and it'll not pass smog but I have the stock one just in case. Lol. Any good?

Why would you buy more than one header for your inline 4-cyl?

[Tigawoods]

Why would you buy more than one header for your inline 4-cyl?

you know what he means

[Promasta]

don't get a header. won't improve performance (maybe 1-2 hp) and makes the celica sound ricey.

[Tigawoods]

I have a nice engine tone with the addition of my header

[ILoveMySilly97]

don't get a header. won't improve performance (maybe 1-2 hp) and makes the celica sound ricey.

Really? Did you get it dyno'd? Or are you just making a guess?

[trdproven]

Its all the same china parts bin headers for the gt

[Xander_X]

They're pretty much all the same for the 5S. Yes you will only gain 1-3 hp but you will lose just as much, if not more in ft/lbs of low end torque. I wouldn't waste your time or money on a high flow exhaust manifold (lets just call a "header" what it is lol). The only reason for one, for performance at least, would be if you completely built the head (high lift cams, lighter valves, angled valve job, full port & polish of the head and intake) Then the "header" would be beneficial. On a stock head, it's really just for looks or to complete a full high flow exhaust (which again, added to a stock system is more for looks and/or sound than performance.) Some may claim to notice more power, but after over a decade of doing this, I'm a firm believer it's just a placebo effect ... Like when I swear my car is snappier with a full tank of gas lol.

[trdproven]

Its not really the greatest of parts to get but with a full exhaust at least your gear ratio feels longer a bit

[Box]

I'm not going to bother with a header for the car. Mainly because all of them screw up the O2 sensor location and can't use with stock primary cat without modifying everything. Rather spend the money on a good muffler anyway.

[Smaay]

don't get a header. won't improve performance (maybe 1-2 hp) and makes the celica sound ricey.

no it doesnt. I had the ebay header on for months until i turboed the car. i have no dyno plots to prove it but i bet you gain 5-10 HP throughout the range by removing that huge CAT

[Promasta]

if you say so lol.

5sfe with 294 cams and header back exhaust makes 123 whp (140 bhp) and 126 ft-lbs. (dyno chart in the sticky)

stock with wear is about 110 whp.

so i'd say header alone gives 1-2 whp, header back exhaust gives 3-4, and cams give about 10

[Tigawoods]

Im sure cams give closer to 20 with a SAFC tune.

Ill dyno mine when I get it back on the road

This post has been edited by Tigawoods: Aug 2, 2012 - 2:58 PM

[Promasta]

yup, the safc tune gave these guys +13 whp

http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=81235

[RabidTRD]

There are different headers out there besides the eBay ones... you know. Ebay one does nothing for performance accept get rid of the cat. A true extractor header with long tubes, narrow in diameter, will draw exhaust out better and flow faster for a higher output on performance. There are MR2 guys who have gotten the 5SFE up to close to 200hp with out turboing it. I'm not saying an exhaust will make your car 200 hp... but when doing a build, it's a given that you have to have a higher flowing exhaust.

[smkr3w]

On the subject,
I can't find the thread but I remember the discussion about adding a (jasma) 3sge header to a 5sfe. Would that prove to be better than say an 'ebay' header if it bolted on? Longer runners and 4-2-1.. instead of the abrupt 4-1.
Just wondering.