Batlground 1.5 Scroll Header/UpPipe review

[09Legacy]

I ordered BATLground’s 1.5 scroll header/up pipe last week. I was first skeptical on the quality of the header based on the price. When I opened the box, I was very surprised in the quality of the header. The welds look great. It looks like something that they could charge twice as much for. Here is a pic of the manifold, and another pic next to my stock one after I got it off the car.




At this point I expected it to fit as good as it looks. I was not too surprised when it fit perfectly. It came close in a few areas, but nothing that made me worry.



My only issue is that it did not come with an o2 bung for the primary o2 sensor. The exhaust shop that made my exhaust welded a new bung in for $40. I also had to go to Radioshack to get a 1/2 watt, 2.2kOhm resistor, but that was $2, and I think it is not needed on all years.

I absolutely love how the car sounds now. It lost that boxer rumble, but still sounds different than other 4cyl cars. I have a Cobb AP, Cobb intake, Invedia downpipe, and an exhaust shop cut off my factory muffler and replaced it with a Magnaflow. Tuning is scheduled for Monday at BATLground. I can’t wait to see how it does on the dyno, but the car feels faster. I will post a dyno chart after the tune.

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[chameleon30038]

Very nice looking piece ... what did you use the 1/2 watt, 2.2k ohm resistor for ?

[abgusaf]

for the money this looks like an excellent piece

[illmatic]

Is this a full-race 1.5 scroll replica?

[09Legacy]

Originally Posted by chameleon30038

Very nice looking piece ... what did you use the 1/2 watt, 2.2k ohm resistor for ?

My CEL came on because I unplugged the EGT sensor. I think it is a legacy only issue.

Originally Posted by illmatic

Is this a full-race 1.5 scroll replica?

It is hard to say, It looks mostly the same.

Dyno today....

[09Legacy]

Sorry for the late dyno results. I was having issues getting the email Batlground sent me. Here is my results. 261awhp, also my legacy is automatic, so on a 5speed car, you should see higher results.

[Batlground]

Originally Posted by 09Legacy

Sorry for the late dyno results. I was having issues getting the email Batlground sent me. Here is my results. 261awhp, also my legacy is automatic, so on a 5speed car, you should see higher results.

Thank you for choosing Batlground for the dyno tune. We were very happy with your final results. Please let us know if you need anything further.

[CTSparky]

do you have a previous dyno tune?
Is there anyway to compare what the header did alone as a modification?

[09Legacy]

I can get you the before tuning dyno chart, but that was still with all the mods. I did everything at once, but did no before dyno's.

[CTSparky]

ah ok.. I've purchased one myself I'm going in for my tune on 12/3. I have an old tune that accounts for everything except this.

I was wondering on the gains just on this.

[No Limit Motorsport]

Originally Posted by illmatic

Is this a full-race 1.5 scroll replica?

It absolutely is, and by replica you mean design and R&D stealing knockoff.

[09Legacy]

Originally Posted by No Limit Motorsport

It absolutely is, and by replica you mean awesome in every way.

fixed, your welcome

[09Legacy]

Originally Posted by CTSparky

ah ok.. I've purchased one myself I'm going in for my tune on 12/3. I have an old tune that accounts for everything except this.

I was wondering on the gains just on this.

I am curious what the gains on just the header will be.

[No Limit Motorsport]

Originally Posted by 09Legacy

fixed, your welcome

Sorry this part made me heated. The advertisement I got from the warehouse trying to sell me them literally ripped even there description off word for word, they just replaced every part that said "full race" with "insert chinese brand x"

[Tut4u2]

Originally Posted by No Limit Motorsport

Sorry this part made me heated. The advertisement I got from the warehouse trying to sell me them literally ripped even there description off word for word, they just replaced every part that said "full race" with "insert chinese brand x"

Just to play devil's advocate...didn't you guys copy the design of the APS headers minus the flex joint in the middle?

[vogun16]

Originally Posted by Tut4u2

Just to play devil's advocate...didn't you guys copy the design of the APS headers minus the flex joint in the middle?

I think you are confusing NLM with another vendor, perhaps Fast motorsports?

[09Legacy]

Hey guys, can we stay on topic? I am still excited of how my car sounds with this header.

[vogun16]

Can we get an audio clip?

[vogun16]

Originally Posted by vogun16

Can we get an audio clip?

Where did you put the 02 sensor? Is it an issue if it is located at only one runner?

[No Limit Motorsport]

Originally Posted by Tut4u2

Just to play devil's advocate...didn't you guys copy the design of the APS headers minus the flex joint in the middle?

No I don't make any products (aside from our gold Tial BOV's).

[09Legacy]

Originally Posted by vogun16

Can we get an audio clip?

I have to borrow a real camera from a friend. my blackberry does not take good audio.

Originally Posted by vogun16

Where did you put the 02 sensor? Is it an issue if it is located at only one runner?

the shop put it into the downpipe after the turbo.

[CTSparky]

Edit: 2/17/2012: To All: This was my first impression and dealing with this part. I encourage you to read further so that you get a full picture of my ordeal here. In retrospect I would not order this piece. Read the entire thread for the gory details.

Originally Posted by 09Legacy

I am curious what the gains on just the header will be.

I have yet to get tuned but I had the header put in yesterday and rather than start my own thread I thought it worthwhile to put my impressions here.

So yesterday while at work I had the shop I have my work done across the street put in the header/uppipe combo. This is the same shop that put in the O2 bung in for me before I had the header ceramic coated both inside and a high 2000 degree coating applied on the outside.

The shop told me that it took them 4 hours to do the work and that the factory heat shield no longer fit due to the loss of mounting points on the new uppipe. ( I later cut the heat shield and reinstalled it after taking off the parts that would clatter on it.)

I suspect that a shop very familiar with subaru's might put it on a bit faster. The recommended hour rate for the part was 3 hours.

The shop said that there was minor fitment issues with the header, but that they got the header to fit ok after some finagling. (I did not ask them the specifics of the fitment issue)

I have driven the car about 50 miles continuously since I've had the header installed.

On cold startup the car has a bit of a metallic rattle that goes away after 30 seconds of running. I haven't had my head under the hood when this happens and it gos away pretty fast. I also don't notice any persistent leak that I can tell.

From the cabin:
From inside the cabin I think the engine has actually gotten quieter. The engine still has a bit of a lop but I did lose the signature sound of the subaru. I'm assuming that the pulses being more spread out has led to a bit quieter car. At speed there is no noticeable drone. When accelerating I can hear a slight soft tapping type sound, and to be honest I have nothing to attribute it to other than I might be hearing the engine more clearly?

Still with the change in the sound my car does not sound like a honda as much as that there is no subbie burble.

From the exhaust:
I have a stock cat back exhaust and the note is not increased in volume. The pulsing is more spaced out and sounds the way I like it.

Performance:
The car has not been tuned yet to realize benefits but I have noticed some differences. It appears the car rolls into throttle a bit faster, and that progression into boost is possibly a bit smoother. I do not get that sudden surge of torque like I used to but the torque is still there, just realized a bit sooner and less sharply. I have also noticed that I've lost about 2-3 lbs of boost pressure under hard acceleration. I can only suppose that the wastegate duty cycle can be changed, and when I get tuned this weekend I'll also be putting in a EBCS to help control this. Also note that this is on my S# mode and in S mode i can hit my 16psi target (S 16/S# 20-21psi). I did think that I got to 21 in shifting going thru a gear, but in a single gear pull I did not realize the pressure. I noticed I failed to put back the vacuum lines in the front of the intercooler. I'll reply tomorrow when I've updated it.

overall I'm happy with the car and the performance. I'll try to get some videos posted up at some point so that people can hear it. I'll also post my pre and post dyno graphs of the product testing.

edit: I replaced the vacuum lines and I still have problems hitting the high boost. I'm going to see if I can get the shop to look at it today while I wait. Thanks KillerB for the advice...
edit2: read the entire thread. I have had some success and many problems form this product.

[YZ86]

Looks great in my opinion. in for more info

[KillerBMotorsport]

Tapping sound under acceleration is often a leak where one of the flanges meet the head. Also a reason you're not reaching boost.

[CTSparky]

Originally Posted by KillerBMotorsport

Tapping sound under acceleration is often a leak where one of the flanges meet the head. Also a reason you're not reaching boost.

Thanks Killer B. I'll try to have them put the car up and look at it today. I'll tell them the symptoms.....

Worst case scenario is that when I get it to my tuning shop I'll have them put it up and look at it before the tune...