header for BE recomedations please

[AR-45ACP]

Hi I have a 03 BE totally stock thinking of trying to free up a little hp. I found this one (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/02-03-04-05-IMPREZA-WRX-2-5-L-2-5RS-EXHAUST-HEADER-RS_W0QQitemZ220404567742QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item220404567742&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318url)on ebay will it fit? anyone have one?
Thanks all! Jay

[DLC]

I've had both the unequal- and equal-length headers on my BE, and both have their good and bad points.

The header you linked to is an unequal runner design. Because of its design it will provide more power than the stock header, and it will also retain the low, rumbling, uneven-spaced exhaust note that Subarus are known for.

Others available on eBay have equal-length runners. TWE, MRT, Brullen, Cobb and OBX also have used such designs, though the first and the last of those are probably the only ones still readily available. The equal spacing of exhaust pulses does sound rather un-Subaru, but it does create proven power over the unequal-length setup.

There are videos available on youtube, some from my own car, if you're interested in the differing sounds.

[blackstar]

i've had my borla uel header on for about a year. works great, i noticed a increase in throttle response, and smoother acceleration throughout the rpm range. the only issue i've had is within a few months it threw a cel - cat converter efficiency. found the flange from the cat converter to the header is not perfectly flat, causing an exhaust leak - not to mention the annoying pop noise when decelerating. i double gasketed it, which it is working better, not leaking as noticeable, cel off, but i'm taking it to an exhaust guy to either bend the flanges to better mate up, or replace the flanges using a 3 or 4 bolt flange.

[anothernord]

Here's a borla knockoff thats super cheap: $135.

http://www.speedyracer.com/servlet/the- ... for/Detail (http://www.speedyracer.com/servlet/the-173/Subaru-Impreza-Header-for/Detail)

[DLC]

I think that knockoff should also work just fine on a dual-port EJ22 as well, unless I'm misinformed :)

[rougeben83]

I'm glad to see the uel knockoff prices have gone down again. I remember them being around that price back when I bought mine...people have been buying them for around $200+shipping for the past year or so on ebay. I would jump on that if youre on a budget.

Otherwise $300 obx EL headers would be my pick, but I could careless about the "boxer rumble" and want more power mid to high-end.

[BigLooga1]

I had Borla unequal lenght headers combined with a Borla Cat-back and it sounded friggin awesome.

My opinion is that the power difference between the EL and UEL headers is so small that if comes down to how you want your car to sound. Boxer rumble is my pick!

[decke48]

personal i hear no real huge difference in sound between stock headers and EL. if you actually measure stock headers. both runners are the same length its only a 1" difference because of the port collector. most of the sound comes from the poor design in the collector with the seam pressed tubes. the "boxer rumble" drived from the turbos because of the long runner design for the drivers side head. and short passengers head runner. you can get EL to sound deep and still have the "rumble" you just need the right exhaust setup. just the UEL give you unequal length sound fairly easy.. EL give you much more power you just need the upgrades to make the power boost efficent. there not out of the box upgrades really.
so for the "boxer rumble" out of box UEL are your choise. for power and less rumble EL are your choise

ive heard EL exhaust setups ive liked better the UEL setups. its really personal taste

[JBCLEGACY]

Be aware there are fitment issues with the knockoff headers.
I wrapped and coated mine, then discovered the headers rubbed power steering lines, and it was sitting against my oil filter...