The lack of power gains is more because there is no tuning. The headers alone don't do much. Its all in the tune. JDL does have gen 2 headers that can be had with or without a cat. The FT speed catted header should be a good option as well. IMO its not worth it until proper tuning is available, but that UEL sound is pretty great.

 

Yeah gonna wait for tuning. Already put suspension, exhaust and bought wheels just waiting for wheels to be shipped. Probably do brakes next then.

 

First, the only reason to put catted UEL headers in would be for the noise unless they are specifically fitted with high-flow cats.

Second, there is no reason (except burble noise) to replace the headers (with either catless or catted) on the Gen 2 right now because the only way you can get use out of the extra flow from the catless header is with a tune. People have done it already and have found actually small losses.

Third, while various different EL and UEL headers showed slightly different dyno characteristics on Gen 1, the major reason IMHO to choose a quality UEL vs. a quality EL would be to get the "burble" of the UEL.

Finally, based upon all of the above, there is no reason to believe that there will be much difference between headers specifically designed for Gen 2 vs. what is currently out there for Gen 1.

Conclusion:
Once tunes becomes available it should be advantageous to switch headers, but most gains will come from getting a catless header. However, gains may also come from an aftermarket header with high flow cats. It is unlikely it will matter much if you choose EL vs. UEL and it is unlikely it will matter much, if any, if the new header was specifically designed for Gen 2.

 

I'd assume with different internals and significant flow increases over gen 1 the old headers won't do much.

I could be surprised, however I doubt it.
Personally I'm waiting for verified results. Probably uel for the noise and mid range over top end.

 

I'd assume with different internals and significant flow increases over gen 1 the old headers won't do much.

I could be surprised, however I doubt it.
Personally I'm waiting for verified results. Probably uel for the noise and mid range over top end.

Considering that decatted stock headers on Gen 1 performed pretty much comparably to aftermarket catless headers, I would expect similar results in Gen 2. It’s never been about the header design, it’s always been about removing the cats or replacing them with higher flowing cats.

 

JDL FT86 Catted UEL Header Here is the catted version.

 

JDL FT86 Catted UEL Header Here is the catted version.

Nice find..!! I missed that. Now you see why so many people choose the catless version. It costs double for the catted version. Part of me really wants to pull the trigger and pick one up, butI think I will wait for tuning to be available and see some results. The gen 2 manifold is actually really good. That TQ dip will be easily fixed with tuning alone.

 

Interesting - anyone know if the catted one will throw codes with the stock tune? Not messing with O2 tomfoolery - I don't have the patience for that.

I see the cat has an EPA number on it - which is good.. i wonder if they can get different (more restrictive) cats if you ask/pay the difference if it throws codes.

Not really interested in more power/tuning - just like the UEL sound.

 

Are there quality, high flow catted front pipe options for Gen 2 cars yet?

 

"supposedly" FTspeed is "working" on a catted 22+ header.

 

On 1st gen cars, theirs proved to be pretty high quality and make good power. The downside is that the runner lengths are not nearly as uneven as most other brands. So that off balanced gurgle is barely noticeable.

 

Also JDL. This comes as an over pipe\front pipe combo. You can add dual resonators or the "ultra quiet" which is a catted version. The catted header, dual resonated front pipe and catback of your choice would be a perfect setup IMO

JDL FT86 2.5" Over / Front Pipe Combo

JDL FT86 2.5" Over / Front Pipe ComboJDL has designed a unique solution for those looking to replace both their Over Pipe and Front Pipe. We have combined the two components in a single unit that is joined by a v-band. This provides additional clearance and ease of installation all while...

jdlautodesign.com

 

Ahh - seems they are GESI cats - these were very high quality back when I was looking for downpipes for my GTI.

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Not sure if they are the 300 cell or the 400 cell that comes with the JDL.

I Wonder what cell count is the stock header - probably 600-800 i'd imagine.

 

I cant say I know what all of the changes were. I know that the alignment between the over pipe and header flange is clocked slightly different. Some people running 1st gen headers on a 2nd gen have seen that some fit better than others depending on how forgiving the holes in the flange are. I doubt the tubing size was increased as the JDL already offered on of the largest diameter primary tubes for the 1st gen cars. Keep in mind that bigger is not always better as well. Too big and your exhaust gas cools too rapidly and you actually lose power.

 

I’m pulling the trigger on the catted JDL. I need some rumble in my life! One of the biggest reasons I went with the 86 over a Miata. I’ll let you guys know how it sounds with the AWE touring.

 

Are you going to pull the secondary cat? If not, you're going to kill the cat.

 

It will be fine. The secondary cat may actually have to do some work now thats all. The OEM front cat does a really good job and the second one is more of a novelty to please the EPA. A higher flow front cat MAY let some untreated hydrocarbons through making the cat in the rear earn its keep. It should in no way be enough to cause it to clog or anything.

 

Thank you, you are a wealth of knowledge sir!

 

If you are daily driving, it will probably take awhile or you may get away with it. But if you are tracking the vehicle... it WILL die. Have seen so many on the 1st gen's. You want to keep from overheating the CAT, fuel does that. Running leaner is going to begin to deteriorate the cat. It will fail.

 

It’s my second car that I may track occasionally. Would a failed cat cause some kind of more serious engine problem, being restricted and all, or would I just need to replace it?

 

IF it were to plug the secondary cat, then just replace the oem front pipe with another one or an aftermarket one. I honestly dont see how it would plug though. There is already 2 cats on there now. Swapping the front one for a more free flowing option should not cause any harm to the second one. You would notice the car being down on power and exhaust getting more quiet if plugging occurs. No real harm comes from it as long as you dont ignore it forever. I completely melted a cat on my speed 3 at the drag strip once. The guy in the opposite lane kept rolling in too far and backing up trying to stage his old buick. So I kept goin on\off my 2 step for extended periods. When I finally launched the car fell on its face. My cat was glowing red and fused shut. Swapped it out for the exact same one again and have had it on for 75000 miles.

 

Does anyone have a link to an o2 defouler that would fit the JDL header? Thinking of using that until a tune comes out.

 

Installed the catted JDL UEL header this this weekend and HOLY CRAP does this car sound amazing. Didn’t get a chance to record a video yet but it sounds like this but with ZERO rasp.

No defouler needed!

 

Thats about 14 min of my life I'm never getting back.

The dude is that video has had the worst sounding exhausts on his cars forever. Typical kid that thinks making it loud is the same as making it sound good. Totally different things.

Facts. Loud does not equal good sounding, I have a lot of opinions about his cars as well but they aren't really relevant to the topic at hand. To each their own.

Hot take: UEL headers are inefficient, and the sound they make is not "clean". I'm all for people getting whatever they want for their own car, and yes its been proven that they made power over the stock / help eliminate the torque dip, they just aren't for me. My very first WRX I questioned as to why it sounded broken the first time I started it up

 

Stop tempting me...!! I keep telling myself to wait for tuning.

 

Wasn't impressed by the sound....could be rasp or the levels. Not sure

 

Agreed, hopefully the JDL catted headers sound significantly more refined.

The video he posted was of Tomei UEL catless headers; sounds like it has a TON of rasp and boom, it could just be the camera's microphone, but I can't imagine trying to live with that on anything but a dedicated track car that I'd be wearing ear-plugs in 100% of the time.

 

He was full straight piped so not exactly what I'm going for...I'd prefer to have my one cat in the j pipe instead of the header but it might not make a huge difference

 

He said his setup in the video was Tomei catless UEL headers + OEM front/over pipe + AWE Track catback.

I'm sure with a non-straight-pipe catback and catted headers, it'd be a different story.

 

The dude is that video has had the worst sounding exhausts on his cars forever. Typical kid that thinks making it loud is the same as making it sound good. Totally different things.

 

THANK YOU... I know this is just me being old as shit but I feel like all the videos of builds on the 2nd Gen are by young dudes who stance and straight-pipe the shit out of them and then say it isn't low enough or loud enough. I was really worried about going with the GR86/BRZ because I already had this image in my mind of all the younger crowd being douchebags in the car and it seems like that's how we're being portrayed on Social Media. We need some serious track-builds to start making a presence on YouTube and Social Media because I just know I'm going to get hounded on the street by these guys.

 

Lmao, I wasn’t sure if he linked his own video or someone else’s, so I didn’t want to put it so bluntly and to each their own... but yeah, agreed that the setup in the video sounds subjectively terrible, to say the least 😂😂😂.

 

Yeah hence why I said without the rasp. His setup is awful because of that but you can tell the potential is there?

 

Oh yeah. With proper cat(s) and resonators, a UEL will sound great. Cant wait to hear how yours sounds.

 

FWIW, my JDL UEL catless headers on my Gen1 with stock everything else made a little more noise and a little more burble than on stock headers - but it wasn’t a major change.

I expect similar on Gen2…

 

Anything relatively cheap and desirable has this problem...hence mustangs and Nissan altimas. Wrx sunroof is a vape vent, and so on.
It's simply a reflection of the culture. If I ever won a million or so I'd definitely buy a 90s civic and build it properly just to prove that it's possible to make one reasonably fast, reliable and clean. They're always trashed.