Ebay 7afe Header Install

[16g-95gsx]

Just figured I would post this up since I haven't seen it anywhere else. This started because my flex section was breaking apart on my 4afe, and a replacement flex would have ran me 30 bucks plus it would have to be installed. A replacement press-bent front pipe would run 80 bucks. A 7afe header from ebay was all of 60 bucks shipped, so this seemed like the best option. Onto the pics.

First of all this header mimicks the factory header pretty close, but winds up being a tad shorter on the front pipe.







As you can clearly see the front pipe is shorter and the flange is at an incorrect angle.



There is quite a big difference in collector area, and being a 4-2-1 design it will have different resonance effects as well.





Once installed you will find that it sits like this, rendering it a non-"bolt-on" affair.





Nothing a quick modification can't solve.





And installed....

Overall it certainly made more power across the board from the swap, and the header is virtually silent, so no concerns about buzzy exhaust sounds. I found my economy increased around 2-2.5mpg highway, and all around the power seemed to pick up a bit. Overall I'm satisfied with the results, and feel it was far better to do this than run another press-bent front pipe. You could easily gut the cat at the same time since we are dealing with a car that has no rear O2 sensor, for even more gains.

Some notes:

-This is an ebay header, you need to automatically assume that the flanges are warped. Take them to a belt sander and ensure that they are flat.

-The head flange bolt holes did not line up very well and had to be wallowed out a bit on the outsides. I am not sure if every header will be like this, as I'm sure the quality controls in China don't match OEM standards . This is nothing that a simple drill bit or dremel can't solve. Just be sure to file the surfaces smooth afterwards so that the exhaust stud nuts have a clean engagement surface.

-The hanger mount does not match the factory setup. I removed the OEM hanger mount completely and have the header hanging in open air, supported solely by the head and the other exhaust hangers. You can bend the other hangers down a bit to lift the exhaust up if you have subframe clearance issues.

[PhatRoyale]

Great writeup.

Added to the DIY sticky thread.

[ERROLAE92]

: Bowdown: nice thread men!! congrats nice work!

[kaitaiya]

one thing i would like to know is being that you used a 7afe header on your 4afe, do you have any trouble with it clearing the cross member? i know the 7afe header is longer from the head to the flange than the 4afe header. and it's been an issue with other members and their remedy was to notch the cross member where it hits. i used a 4age 16V header on my 20V and had to do some mods myself. it still needs a little modification but it works for now.

[ERROLAE92]

but ................. the header of 20v ST, not fit in the 16v blue top.

the base should be modified to fit

: Thumbsdow

now I have a header "built", and I have the header of 20v silver top, but like I said, you must modify the base ....
What do you do in this case, keep current and try to make it fit the 20v header?

: Confused:: Confused:: Confused:: Confused:: Confused:: Confused:: Confused:

[kaitaiya]

it will fit if you redrill the holes. or slot the holes. the exhaust ports line up it's only the outer 2 bolts that don't line up. also the 16V oil cooler plate may space the oil filter out too far and might touch the header. if you are looking for a 20V downpipe to work with the stock head pipe, check out SV3power.com. i have one of their MR2 kits coming so i will mod it to fit my ae102 with the 20V to bolt up to the stock exhaust.

[ERROLAE92]

mmmmm ..... then I must make new holes to fit ...


thanks, I'll take a look at the page