Sorry for the weird thread name. :confused:


My friend's friend has a Cobb Stage2 (2.0 flash) with full catless turboback, Uppipe, and headers, (stock wheels).

versus my:

Cobb stage 2 (flashed over a year ago), Full catless turboback, uppipe, GFB pulleys, and Prodrive Y-hose.

We're pretty much even in first gear all the way to 3rd, but my 4th gear begins to pull on him, say about 1 - 1.5' per second.

2 different people drove the other car on 2 different runs and the same results.

Just wondering, aren't headers suppose to help top end along with Cobb stage 2? We both max at 1.1 bar, dont see why my 4th gear top end is stronger than his.


Anyone know? I wanted headers and now im reconsidering seeing it didnt help my friend.


Thank you!! :)

your ej205 > his ej205 or his ecu has seen more knock than your ecu

also, most of the "headers" out there suck.

This brings up a good point about headers. Is it really worht it? I mean, I have what you would call a stage 2 and I was wondering if it would be worth it for me to put on a set of headers. Besides a pulley it is one of the only mods left to do before turbo, injectors, pump, more em. Any thoughts? Also, with your situation, most likely it is your motor over his. Some cars run stronger, thats just how it goes. Not all of them are identicle, especially once you start to throw parts at them.

Yes they are worth it. The example indicated isn't a good generalization as we all know different cars with different levels of mods on a base map will have different results. Dyno proof on a Stage 2 car (http://www.s3mag.com/Overall2.jpg). As for myself, I think everyone should have headers in their upgrade path. They DO have pros/cons that everyone needs to be aware of and a good starting point is my Header FAQ (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=601219).

<-----Stage 2 header owner who has no problems in keeping up with VF-30/STi owners

I am thinking of doing it in the spring. I have a Vishnu Pulley waiting to go in right now and that does not require any more engine management. A few months back I had the car dyno tuned at Turbo Trix by Shiv from Vishnu and although I was pleased with the results, I felt that there was more power to gain due to my lean condition that he found. So now I am tempted to buy a header and go back up there in the spring to get it tuned again by their tuner Junior. Just thinking about it right now. I want to break that 250whp mark. Not like it matters though since every dyno is different and its your driving that backs up "numbers". Thanks for those links.

Headers are great. You need to tune for them or you will get mixed results. With an out-of-the-box reflash there's no telling what the results will be.

Dream of AccessTuner

iam with unabomber.. i have cusco header.. and a kid that had the same setup as me and ran the same psi but had stock header.. put down 15whp less then i did..

im not doubting that headers may put down more horsepower. Just dont understand how a car w/o headers has better highend. 2 different drivers drove the same car versus me.

Oh well.. i really appreciate the input, thanks. :)