ScaryFatKidGT
01-14-2009, 04:15 PM
There has been alot of people posting on here and asking how to get the classic "boxer rumble" out of there N/A legacys and RS's and instead of just getting a quick answer they usually get called a noob, told to use the seach button, the thread gets locked, ect. Now i dont think it is because anyone on here is mean or rude but someone post this question like every week and people are just sick of answering it so i made this post to explain it.
Basically what you need to know is UNEQUAL LENGTH HEADERS and a axle/catback of choice, a whole catback is going to sound a little better.
The boxer rumble, is named after the subaru boxer engine and the sound it makes compared to other 4 cylinders, it is basical what a WRX STi sounds like a low down throaty growl that makes your car sound like it has some power behind it without necessarily being really loud and it has a nice low rumble at idle. Basicaly the oposite of a honda or acura 4 cylinder being high pitched and raspy.
So how to get the sound
The stock N/A headers are unequal length but not by much the gen2's are only like 1"-2" apart if i am correct so the best way is to start by getting some UNEQUAL length headers. Borla and OBX both make unequal length headers for are N/A subarus and both are pretty similar. Borla is the only company to make a header for the single port heads. Also there are unequal lenth headers for the 2.5L engines sold on ebay usually called "borla knockoffs" these headers are less expensive than the borla or OBX ones and some people say that they are actually better quallity than the borlas some are mandrel bent and others arn't so read the description before you buy.
After the headers a catback exhaust will finish out your sound generaly 2.25" is the good size to go with unless you are planning to get cams, head porting or a turbo then you could go with 2.5"-3". Stromung is the only company that makes catback exhausts for these cars, they offer them in about any size and they are good quality but they can be expensive so, any axle back you think sounds good will work just have an exhaust shop fabricate a midpipe for you. Also SPT useto make an axle back for these cars which you could get an exhaust shop to fabricate a midpipe for.
Now Unequal length headers are going to give you the boxer rumble you are looking for but your not going to see much power increase over stock with the headers alone maby around 5hp, Equal lenght headers on the other hand give you 10-15hp alone but then your car sounds like a honda
After you have your boxer rumble and still are feeling the mod-bug or you want more power go read "Perdue's N/A Tuning Guide" post.
links
borlas for the 2.5 - http://www.borla.com/applications/looku ... der/17183/ (http://www.borla.com/applications/lookup.aspx/1998/Subaru/Legacy/GT+LimitedHeader/17183/)
OBX - http://www.obxracingsports.com/products.php?pk=957
obx headers on ebay - http://motors.shop.ebay.com/items/obx-h ... Z1QQ_sopZ1 (http://motors.shop.ebay.com/items/obx-headers_W0QQ_newuZ1QQ_sopZ1)
um i wasnt expecting to write this much but what do you guys thing? post and say
I couldn't really think of how to explain the boxer rumble so i just wrote somthing
I'm just trying to get rid of all the repeated questons and stuf on this topic
p.s. im sick of lossing what i typed so im guna post it and il edit for mistakes later
Basically what you need to know is UNEQUAL LENGTH HEADERS and a axle/catback of choice, a whole catback is going to sound a little better.
The boxer rumble, is named after the subaru boxer engine and the sound it makes compared to other 4 cylinders, it is basical what a WRX STi sounds like a low down throaty growl that makes your car sound like it has some power behind it without necessarily being really loud and it has a nice low rumble at idle. Basicaly the oposite of a honda or acura 4 cylinder being high pitched and raspy.
So how to get the sound
The stock N/A headers are unequal length but not by much the gen2's are only like 1"-2" apart if i am correct so the best way is to start by getting some UNEQUAL length headers. Borla and OBX both make unequal length headers for are N/A subarus and both are pretty similar. Borla is the only company to make a header for the single port heads. Also there are unequal lenth headers for the 2.5L engines sold on ebay usually called "borla knockoffs" these headers are less expensive than the borla or OBX ones and some people say that they are actually better quallity than the borlas some are mandrel bent and others arn't so read the description before you buy.
After the headers a catback exhaust will finish out your sound generaly 2.25" is the good size to go with unless you are planning to get cams, head porting or a turbo then you could go with 2.5"-3". Stromung is the only company that makes catback exhausts for these cars, they offer them in about any size and they are good quality but they can be expensive so, any axle back you think sounds good will work just have an exhaust shop fabricate a midpipe for you. Also SPT useto make an axle back for these cars which you could get an exhaust shop to fabricate a midpipe for.
Now Unequal length headers are going to give you the boxer rumble you are looking for but your not going to see much power increase over stock with the headers alone maby around 5hp, Equal lenght headers on the other hand give you 10-15hp alone but then your car sounds like a honda
After you have your boxer rumble and still are feeling the mod-bug or you want more power go read "Perdue's N/A Tuning Guide" post.
links
borlas for the 2.5 - http://www.borla.com/applications/looku ... der/17183/ (http://www.borla.com/applications/lookup.aspx/1998/Subaru/Legacy/GT+LimitedHeader/17183/)
OBX - http://www.obxracingsports.com/products.php?pk=957
obx headers on ebay - http://motors.shop.ebay.com/items/obx-h ... Z1QQ_sopZ1 (http://motors.shop.ebay.com/items/obx-headers_W0QQ_newuZ1QQ_sopZ1)
um i wasnt expecting to write this much but what do you guys thing? post and say
I couldn't really think of how to explain the boxer rumble so i just wrote somthing
I'm just trying to get rid of all the repeated questons and stuf on this topic
p.s. im sick of lossing what i typed so im guna post it and il edit for mistakes later