Decent set of AE86 headers ??

[jondee86]

Bit of a long shot I know, but is there anyone in NZ who can build
a decent set of AE86 headers along the lines of this...



Don't need stainless... just a sturdy set of 4>2>1 steel headers
that will last like Coby's but actually add a bit of performance to a
smallport in an AE86. Obviously mandrel bent bends and proper
merges would be part of the deal.

I don't mind paying for a decent set, and would rather put the
money into a local fabricators pocket than send it off shore.

Cheers... jondee86

[Dell'Orto]

Bam's on eastern hutt road could do them

[Shrike]

http://www.frostmotorsport.co.nz/ is another one they also have a facebook page

I have seen work posted on what he did for a rwd silvertop exhaust will try find a pic

Found them

[jondee86]

@ Dell'Orto
Been talking with Bam about fixing up another set of headers that
I already own, but he is hella busy at the moment.

@Shrike
Yeah, I saw the Frost Motorsport web page, but passed on it as the
page is useless, and doesn't show any real exhaust work. However,
now that you have showed me the pic, I'll give them a call

Also going to chase down MacBilt Eng in Grenada, as I know they
used to build a basic 4>2>1 header for the rally guys. What would
be a bonus is if someone has a jig and can build the headers
without having a car in front of them. Saves all kinds of hassle
getting cars from one place to another.

Cheers... jondee86

[Dell'Orto]

Matt Lauder who works/used to work for Shred is a pretty handy fabricator, I think he's set off on his own business now. Could be an option, though unlikely to have a jig

[Shrike]

@ Dell'Orto
Been talking with Bam about fixing up another set of headers that
I already own, but he is hella busy at the moment.

@Shrike
Yeah, I saw the Frost Motorsport web page, but passed on it as the
page is useless, and doesn't show any real exhaust work. However,
now that you have showed me the pic, I'll give them a call

Also going to chase down MacBilt Eng in Grenada, as I know they
used to build a basic 4>2>1 header for the rally guys. What would
be a bonus is if someone has a jig and can build the headers
without having a car in front of them. Saves all kinds of hassle
getting cars from one place to another.

Cheers... jondee86

Most of his work is word of mouth not sure if he likes to advertise and tbh he seems to be steady with work

More exhaust pron pics







Wouldn't hurt to ask if he has a jig for your car wouldn't surprise me if he did :p

[jondee86]

Ha... interesting to see that Bam's and Frost Motorsport both list
at the same street address in Taita !! Going to have to check that
out and see if it is a co-operative effort.

Cheers... jondee86

[CAMB01]

They are in the same building yes. And yes Bam is mega busy, as he cant do my rollcage.

[rollaholic]

wasnt there a crowd called palmside in chch that were doing a bit of stuff for ae86s?

[jondee86]

wasnt there a crowd called palmside in chch that were doing a bit of stuff for ae86s?

Yes, they do a pretty ordinary 4>2>1 with very basic merges. If push
comes to shove, it may do a job if I can get one made with proper
merges. Keeping that idea in reserve for the time being.

Another idea is to retain the factory cast iron manifold with a bit of
porting, and add the N1 downpipes...



Cheers... jondee86

[AE86fan]

Hey Im after something similar as Im still running the factory manifold, be keen to hear how you go....maybe they could do a deal for Two??

[Boost_4_Life]

The Palmside ones arent too bad i found for the price. Most guys have had pretty decent results that i know of. my silvertop made better mid range with them, and they are lasting pretty well on the rally car.

[Makaveli]

How much you want to spend? I can get anything. Fancy TRD N2 headers?

[jondee86]

How much you want to spend? I can get anything. Fancy TRD N2 headers?

The problem is not the cost, but rather finding something that I could
confidently spend money on, and know that it was going to give me some
worthwhile gain on my car.

Most of the bling... bling... headers have primary tubes way too big for a
lightly modded engine, and/or short tubes only suited to making top end
power. The majority are 4>1 designs, whereas I would like the 4>2>1 type.
It is rare to find any dyno proof of performance gain, and even then the
modification level of the test engine is not known.

Basically, I'm not prepared to lay down $1200 to $1500 for a header unless
there is some pretty solid proof that it will show me gains thru the midrange
and into the top end. And I don't want or need stainless... extra cost for a
less durable product ?? Mild steel FTW in the real world

Seems like a pretty simple ask, but it is proving to be real problem tracking
down anything ready made. It's either custom build or settle for something
that is a bit agricultural. However, I am not letting up just yet... I have a
couple of lines of enquiry which may yet provide an answer.

Cheers... jondee86

[touge_ae101]

We are going through the same process with the ae82 at the moment. We have used Harris Pipes in chch to do a design for its current specs and how we want the engine to respond etc. They primarily build exhausts for motorbikes but are also some very clever sound engineers hence why giving them a shot. They supplied all the collectors and a megaphone as well which is supposed to get good gains from a 4age.. Getting a fabricator from work to weld them up will be all purge welded and slip jointed etc (food grade welds ftw). Car should be back on the dyno straight after taupo on the 3rd jan so hoping to see a few gains.

I heard about them through a friend who put a 2zz in an AW11 and made 10kw atw more than any other standard 2zz (even std ECU) I've seen with only headers designed and built by Harris pipes. He used to help them with the race bikes they run and in return they did the design etc.

tbh although it is a bit of money getting everything designed and building them, its still no more money than you would spend on a quality set of headers from japan.

[jondee86]

Interesting !! I know of Harris Pipes by reputation, was even looking at their
web site the other day. So I will be keen to see what you build, and how it works
out on the dyno. Given that your engine aims are a bit different from my own,
it looks as if I shall have to try getting some headers built locally.

After talking with a very experienced race car and engine builder, I have decided
on a simple 4>1 design with a proper merge collector and cone. There will be no
science involved... just build one to rough dimensions that are known to have
worked on other engines, and hope that it works on mine

And subject to being able to get hold of a little more information on the TRD N2
downpipes, I may try fabricating a set of those as well. BTW, I had a read of
your racecar thread... very impressive skills and dedication to getting the
best out of your cars !!

Cheers... jondee86

[GOLDAE86]

I put some macbuilt headers on my 86 and got great torque gains. Best $300 I ever spent on it. They have been dyno proven. Distrb has the fwd headers on his 82. I have bought materials to build my headerz to the first posts specs.but untill ive proven them via dyno im not sure if they would be any good. Hope this helps.

[jondee86]

I put some macbuilt headers on my 86 and got great torque gains.

That is what I have been waiting to hear I was out at MacBilt last week looking
at their headers, and I have been tempted to try a set. Now that you have put in the
good word, I shall get hold of Al and sort something out. Maybe get him to use some
better merges and a cone to match up to the 60 dia cat back exhaust I already own.

Thanks for posting.... cheers... jondee86

[touge_ae101]

Macbuilt headers are always going to be good they are a clever bunch of engineers! there are quite a few simple calculators for calculating runner length which could be used as your running a plenum and a 'normal' setup NA 4 cylinder. Could put a simple amount of science behind them and some more justification of expected results.

Thanks its all about development and getting the most out of a very un-utilised engine and chassis in standard form. There were some really interesting points to note in the Harris pipes design which I'm sure could be applied to most header designs. If you are thinking about customising the Macbuilt design a bit there could be some good gains (although I haven't a seen a set of Macbuilt headers they could already incorporate the features)

[jondee86]

The MacBilt headers are along the same lines as the Palmside headers. Basic
4>2>1 design with near enough equal length primaries. I'll get it made with a cone
and a flexi and a WBO2 bung... that will be close enough for a first attempt.

I've looked at pics of pretty much every header ever made for the AE86, and read
at least a hundred articles about how to design headers And in the end it seems
that even the experts expect to do quite a lot of trial and error testing before
they hit the magic formula for one particular engine setup. Some designs aim
for a peak hp gain, and some for a broader spread of torque. Some are for highly
modded race engines, and some are for everyday drivers.

I'll try the 4>2>1 and see how it goes. If I'm not happy, I shall most likely get a
set of 4>1 made so I have a direct comparison. I'm getting close to dyno tune time,
so I will get a base run with the factory manifold and custom 2" exhaust. Then
I will be able to see exactly what my "improvements" achieve

Cheers... jondee86