Hi guys,
I bought some used fabspeed gen 1 headers.
Looking at them and matching them up to the gasket, they seem to not match up. That is, when you line up the bolt holes, one edge of the gasket overlaps the manifold opening(lengthwise) by about an eight or 3 mm. If it hangs into the gas flow it could be disruptive. Looking at the marks on the header faces, it seems to be the way the gasket was fitted in the past also.
Not sure, if this is normal but I'm worried, that these headers don't line up with the head exhaust ports perfectly and if I install them I'm going to lose power.
A) Has anyone fitted these headers and had an improvement?
B) Do the stock headers do the same???
C) Am I better off keeping the stock headers installed??
I'm aware the fabpeed website claims some gains, which is why I bought them, however I don't want to remove the stock headers and go backwards.
Any thoughts guys?
Many thanks,
Loui.

 

not a big deal. research gasket matching and dremel the headers to match the gaskets and your good to go

 

Not a very good idea, unless you could care less about harmonic distortion being directed back through your valve train.

 

I would not put them on,,just my opinion..
Good Luck..

 

Return them or sell them and buy bigger turbos and intercoolers

 

Ditto. Not worth it for the $. Stock manifolds good for big power.

 

Wow,,those are some expensive headers or cheap turbos/intercoolers to buy with that money ..

 

Thanks guys,
I think I'm regretting my decision buying and probably going to stay stock, get a umw flash and an exhaust down the track.I guess I was more worried about the mismatch of the manifold ports to the head exhaust ports.
Is it worth playing with the stock manifold off and cleaning them up so they match perfectly?? Or are they matched well already from the factory??
Many thanks,
Loui.

 

Care to explain? I don't see the issue of port matching gaskets.. I've done it with no Ill effects

 

There made from china they will crack put the stock ones back on.

 

He has stock turbos. There are vendors selling billet k16 kits for nearly what headers cost. Way more bang for the buck

 

Previous owner "drimmeled" my stock exhaust manifold and I just replaced drivers side because I got tired of the exhaust leak every time I start her up cold! It would go away when warmed up.

 

I am assuming the gaskets match the head ports. If that is the case, then the overlap I have with the gasket and header port would mean I would have to Dremel the headers for the ports to match, not just the gasket. I will only find that out when I remove the stock manifold. I have enough doubt now not to put the fabspeed headers on. I might buy a cheap secondhand stock set and port and polish them.
Cheers guys,

 

I believe they are telling you that the stock manifolds as stock will be good for high HP numbers= why are you trying to port etc?

 

On other cars I have owned, the header ports were actually larger than the exhaust ports on the head. As long at the gasket matches the exhaust ports on the head, you shouldn't have a problem.

Later, Steve