ej22t UEL header question

[2.2TLegacy]

So I want to finish my exhaust on my '93 tleg and I just had a quick question for you guys. Obviously you get what you pay for with car parts but I am not trying to break the bank with this. You guys have any luck with the SS UEL headers and uppipes on ebay?

[Legacy777]

I would recommend you stick with the stock exhaust manifold. It will keep exhaust velocities higher and retain more heat to drive the turbo. I just don't think it's necessary to go with aftermarket headers....but that's my opinion.

[2.2TLegacy]

even with a vf39?

[Thesubielover]

Yeah, my buddy CJ on here is running stock headers with the vf39 and injectors/fmic etc. He just heat wrapped them while the engine was pulled. I'll let him chime in here too.

[ruffmill]

I've been looking @ the $100 ebay ss exhaust headers since the headers that came on mine are full of holes and covered with chicken shit welding. I figure it will save me time and effort of fabbing new ones up my self. Ill post some pics when I get them.

_ruffmill

[GTwagon]

i would get a grimmspeed ported manifolds and cross section.
it should never crack unlike any header of any material you get it in.
great heat transfer since its cast iron.
its oem looking so if you live in a nazi state like me, you wont get bother by the police.
it'll hold resale value more.
just my .02

[sqc151]

i had headers on my 04 STi with a vf39 and it yielded another 30tq.
depends on what your looking for. i wouldnt bother if its a daily driver. the stock headers are sufficient enough and can hold a bit of power. unless your in the 350+ range. i dont see the need for headers.

[devilzdriver]

i have UEL's they SUCK, came with the car, i have stock 04 WRX headers chillin and i found a grimmspeed uppipe for cheap, like 80$ cheap and coated. Now to the UEL's they are just straight trash, and radiate a shit ton of heat.... just keep stock set up!

[kimokalihi]

The stock headers are UEL's. I think you meant to say aftermarket UEL headers.

For the OP, forget ebay headers or aftermarket altogether. Find stock WRX, EJ22T or STI headers used for cheap. Save money in the end or spend about the same if you go really cheap and you won't be replacing them because the shitty welds crack 10-20K miles down the road. All the cheap ones I've seen are made from pretty thin steel increasing the inside diameter by a notable amount and like Josh mentioned that will decrease your exhaust gas velocity and hurt your spool and response. I'd recommend either the grimmspeed ported and coated headers (although the coating they did on my turbo was junk, maybe they do a better job on their products I don't know) or just get a stock header and port it yourself and have it coated at a good reputable shop that's local or ship it somehwere. You could wrap them but I don't like wraps. They always get fiberglass on you when you're doing it and it's hard to keep out of your skin. Then every time you're working near the header you'll get it on you again and they smell bad when you're first breaking them in. On top of all that, wrapping will not provide an even job across the whole header like a coating will. There will be parts that are overlapped more than others and parts that the wrap isn't even touching the metal due to tight corners and angles.

[Legacy777]

Soaking the fiberglass wrap in water before installation helps with the fibers and installation, but I agree on your comments Kimo....and do prefer coatings.