Headerized my GTI yesterday...

[R.O.R-2.0]

So, i got a FREE S&S header for my mk2, and it needed a new collector, and a new o2 sensor bung, but it wasnt cracked, and it was freshly blasted..

anyways, fast forward thru all the repairs to the header and all that crap, didnt break any exhaust studs, nothing like that, went off without a hitch.. i DID have to remove my intake manifold tho.. but that wasnt bad, and was half expected.

anyways, being how long the header was, i couldnt really hook it up and include the catalytic converter also, so OFF came the cat..

and believe it or not, the cat was still full of matrix. SCORE.

anyways, got the header installed, and welded the collector to the stock exhaust, went on without issues..

now my car has CONSIDERABLY more power up top. and even a little more on the bottom end.

unfortunately, it sounds like a 4 cylinder with a header now.. it almost sounds RICEY around 4000 revs, and i still have a stock resonator.

but, comparing the header upgrade to the twin tube downpipe upgrade, in terms of performance, the header wins hands down.

as for fitment and difficulty to install, i guess neither wins, they are both a biotch to install.. TT headers require removal of the stock sway bar, and thats just not cool if you ask me.. i just ADDED a sway bar, and its a bigger upgrade than a header!

but for longevity, i imagine the twin tube rules supreme, with its flex joints, and flex ring at the bottom.

ive heard alot of mixed reviews about using headers on 8v engines, and im really glad ive used all the different variations to the stock manifolds, and now a header, because, im going to say, hands down, the header gets my vote. in another year, we will see how i still feel about the header installation..

[1.9aaz]

Its amazing what simple harmonic "equalizing" can do for an engines performance. A 930 with a nicely worked engine was on the dyno one afternoon and made nearly 30 extra horsepower by us simply trimming 6'' off the exhaust outlet. A big learning experience for me. I usually go through 2 or 3 headers/exhaust designs/fab ups before I have one I am satisfied with. Some math junkies crunch the numbers and design in CAD, I am old school, trial and error... I just consider it just extra "practice"

If you are interested in trying some fab work of your own, and have nothing better to do like me, experiment with trimming down 2 of the runners (1/4-2/3) equally a few inches and see if you get a little better sound/power band performance.

[R.O.R-2.0]

Its amazing what simple harmonic "equalizing" can do for an engines performance. A 930 with a nicely worked engine was on the dyno one afternoon and made nearly 30 extra horsepower by us simply trimming 6'' off the exhaust outlet. A big learning experience for me. I usually go through 2 or 3 headers/exhaust designs/fab ups before I have one I am satisfied with. Some math junkies crunch the numbers and design in CAD, I am old school, trial and error... I just consider it just extra "practice"

If you are interested in trying some fab work of your own, and have nothing better to do like me, experiment with trimming down 2 of the runners (1/4-2/3) equally a few inches and see if you get a little better sound/power band performance.

im going to mess with the pipe diameter, and muffler location before i chop up the header..

i think all i need to do is move the muffler forward, and add a longer tailpipe..