Are Headers worth it?
It's a 50/50 thing here. Using the search feature will give you MANY good and bad views on the topic. I on the other hand have not seen any header worth cutting/scraping/banging up my hands for.
For the money it's just not a big gain really...
For the money it's just not a big gain really...
Last edited by STL 350Z; Jan 14, 2012 at 08:01 PM.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 548
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From: Tulsa, OK
Dont listen to any of these douche bags, listen to people with them on their cars....
as a matter if their worth it??
well that depends what your goal on gains are.
Header,... you will loose HP, especially in the top end, but....
You will gain torque that WILL be felt in 1st/2nd/3rd gears.so it really depends on what your looking to gain. Since top end HP isnt really too big of a deal to me, its more about what I'll feel on the street in day to day driving thats under onder 75mph...
as a matter if their worth it??
well that depends what your goal on gains are.
Header,... you will loose HP, especially in the top end, but....
You will gain torque that WILL be felt in 1st/2nd/3rd gears.so it really depends on what your looking to gain. Since top end HP isnt really too big of a deal to me, its more about what I'll feel on the street in day to day driving thats under onder 75mph...
With good headers, you gain top end power at the possible expense of low end torque. As I said before, it shifts your power band upward in the RPM range.
As for who ANYONE should listen to regarding performance gains, it should be the people with actual numbers to back up their claims. It doesn't matter if the person has headers or doesn't if all they have to back up their claims are butt dynos and woo-hoo stories.
Last edited by onagao; Jan 15, 2012 at 02:35 AM.
LOL at the name calling... if I had a complex I would give you a vacation 
https://my350z.com/forum/intake-exha...d-headers.html
OP, you can search back through threads and I would expect you would find actual before and after dynos for header installs. Although maybe not, since most who do NA mods aren't spending enough on mods to justify the before dyno expense.
As onagao states, look here:
https://my350z.com/forum/intake-exha...fter-dyno.html
As the graph shows, gains are roughly ~11whp/8trq ... but consider where those gains are seen, you get a very minimal TQ increase from ~3250-4250, but no HP gain until >5500rpm. Also consider that a stock DE does not have a 6500rpm redline, its 6200 or 6300rpm. Now here is the part to really consider. I have seen uprev tunes with just an intake offer similar gains. A good tuner can maximize a tune for gains over the conservative Nissan map.
In terms of bang for the buck, its just not worth it IMO. Getting to the manifold bolts on the VQ is very difficult, this assumes you have the proper tools and none of the bolts have seized after being heat cycled so many times.
Dave had a Dyno Dynamics, it is now owned by Hill's Garage. Another example of the quality wiring done by Function Tuned. I had to have my entire car redone after taking it there.
OP, its your money, spend it how you want. I just know I see a steady stream of people every year that max out their NA mods and can't find the power they want, sell everything and then go F/I and say they wish they would have just done that in the first place.
https://my350z.com/forum/intake-exha...d-headers.html
OP, you can search back through threads and I would expect you would find actual before and after dynos for header installs. Although maybe not, since most who do NA mods aren't spending enough on mods to justify the before dyno expense.
As onagao states, look here:
https://my350z.com/forum/intake-exha...fter-dyno.html
As the graph shows, gains are roughly ~11whp/8trq ... but consider where those gains are seen, you get a very minimal TQ increase from ~3250-4250, but no HP gain until >5500rpm. Also consider that a stock DE does not have a 6500rpm redline, its 6200 or 6300rpm. Now here is the part to really consider. I have seen uprev tunes with just an intake offer similar gains. A good tuner can maximize a tune for gains over the conservative Nissan map.
In terms of bang for the buck, its just not worth it IMO. Getting to the manifold bolts on the VQ is very difficult, this assumes you have the proper tools and none of the bolts have seized after being heat cycled so many times.
dont remember torque numbers, but it wasn't till I was reflashed by Dave@function'd(I think Mustang Dyno). But after talking about it for a while with him, he explained to me then that it was normal for HP to go down. The real reap of benefits on that upgrade is felt with a reflash with better torque numbers.
I had a small engine fire when one of the wire harness near the new headers, nothing too damaging, just wrapped the harness. didnt know if it was the manifolds or just a fluke, but its never happened since, and I daily drive all seasons
OP, its your money, spend it how you want. I just know I see a steady stream of people every year that max out their NA mods and can't find the power they want, sell everything and then go F/I and say they wish they would have just done that in the first place.
Buy test pipes or high flow cats + a tune = the price of headers. Really though, headers aren't worth the money or time. If sound is what you want just buy a really loud exhaust.
Registered User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 548
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa, OK
Also... the rasp is going to be entirely dependent upon your exhaust setup. With my Stillen exhaust, the rasp they that combination produced was pretty retarded. However, with my Motordyne setup, there's no rasp at all.
And before someone thinks I'm just cheering for headers, I should probably clarify: For most people, headers are just not worth the money of the part and labor for our cars - even with the gains I got from them. However, I'm planning on throwing on a Vortech in the near future, so they'll be entirely justified when that comes around.
I used to do some circuit track days when my Z had only CAI and Axleback. I always ran out of juice after 5k rpm. I gained a little improvement up there when I installed the test pipes and plenum spacers.
After my engine rebuild, I got a stage 2 cam - nothing much changed. I could barely pull away from another Z that has basic mods. Then I installed the headers. The car has lost some low end power but she pulls after 4k. I tested mine against another Z with basic bolt-ons at the strip and I was ahead by around 3 cars. I'll be getting a tune within 2 weeks from now. (I hope it works out well)
So yea, headers work but they're only worth it if you have cams and all the breathing mods. If you're following the N/A route, this is a good mod. If you see yourself doing FI in the future, then forget it.
After my engine rebuild, I got a stage 2 cam - nothing much changed. I could barely pull away from another Z that has basic mods. Then I installed the headers. The car has lost some low end power but she pulls after 4k. I tested mine against another Z with basic bolt-ons at the strip and I was ahead by around 3 cars. I'll be getting a tune within 2 weeks from now. (I hope it works out well)
So yea, headers work but they're only worth it if you have cams and all the breathing mods. If you're following the N/A route, this is a good mod. If you see yourself doing FI in the future, then forget it.
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