Adding headers (i.e. Tuned Exhaust) on vehicles 30+ years ago - you'd see a good improvement over stock exhaust. Today - not so much. In fact I'd seriously doubt you'd see anything at all. Engine exhaust ports and exhaust systems are a lot more tuned then they use to be. And any performance gains you may see will be at the higher RPM range.

Las headers I added to an engine was my 84 GMC pickup with the 2.8l V6. That engine was a dog. Noticeable difference in performance. But adding headers to a vehicle that has a forward facing engine is a lot easier then this engine. The small performance gains and cost/time isn't worth it. But then again I've done a lot of things that wasn't worth it because it was fun.

 

A20052....Besides headers, theres lots more to change at additional cost. This mod will be for someone who's wants to, has the $$$ to do & willing to take a big chance & understand that, but.... With no dyno specs on what hp/tq gains are made, certainly means its an expensive chance to take.. You say anything is better than stock....what does that mean? Tnx.

 

Fair points. These headers are certainly for someone who has money and does not mind spending it. Take a look at this blog entry-it is from Alex Wilhem, a fairly well known guy in the Toyota MR2 2GR-FE swapped community: 2GR-FE Power Gains

 

Love how they have headers for the Sienna minivan ... LOL

 

They were made by a guy working for Weapon-R for himself and a couple of his buddies. There's actually a fairly large community of modified minivans called Vankulture.

 

I have spend a lot of money modding many of the cars I have owned. Now going in, most understand mods will not increase the value of the and may decrease it‘s worth. So I bought a set of high end long tube headers for a Corvette. But to really get all the hp out of them, I needed a new Z06 intake manifold, cold air intake, Z06 heads, high performance cam, Z06 clutch and of course new HRE wheels and big rubber. While the car is a hoot to drive and hear, you tend never sell it for two reasons. Blast to drive and you have so much money invested you never get back. So mod away but it goes on for a long time till one day you are totally satisfied or totally broke. Fun to do but not the smartest move on the board.

 

I have spend a lot of money modding many of the cars I have owned. Now going in, most understand mods will not increase the value of the car and may decrease it‘s worth. So I bought a set of high end long tube headers for a Corvette. But to really get all the hp out of them, I needed a new Z06 intake manifold, cold air intake, Z06 heads, high performance cam, Z06 clutch and of course new HRE wheels and big rubber. While the car is a hoot to drive and hear, you tend never sell it for two reasons. Blast to drive and you have so much money invested you never get back. So mod away but it goes on f

 

Some photos:

 

Very very nice......

 

Well,I couldn't wait and ordered them. Should ship next week.

 

VANkulture Community | Test ride in Leo’s fully custom Sienna, with CAI, headers and full exhaust with twin tips | Facebook

Test ride in Leo’s fully custom Sienna, with CAI, headers and full exhaust with twin tips. This thing is a beast and sounds amazing. Retail system available soon. #VKfamily

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VANkulture Community | Quick rev session of my sienna. | Facebook

Quick rev session of my sienna.. after all parts installed revs climb stupid fast. 🤪🤪🤪🏎🏎🏎

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The headers are arriving this Friday!

 

Link/source? Need more info!!

 

I have yet to receive them-they are arriving on Friday. Bought them from RCA Garage for $617+tax since I'm in Illinois where RCA is: Weapon R 2011 Toyota Sienna 3.5L SS Race Headers (CEL Eliminator Recommended), 953-204-121 – RCA Garage

I also ordered two O2 90 degree extenders since these are catless headers: O2 oxygen sensor angled extender spacer 90 degree 02 bung extension M18 X1.5 USA | eBay

 

Is that for sure capable with the 3rd gen Highlander? Sorry for the confusion

 

I will be the first to install it on the Highlander, but according to Weapon-R,it will fit. I will have to modify my downpipe/y-pipe-as in what way,I cannot tell yet until we put it on the lift.

 

I wonder how they get passed smog, since most of the VK guys are here in California.

 

No clue,but I'm in Illinois,so I don't care haha. I'm guessing with the check engine light eliminator, aka defoulers or a tune.

 

I was just going to ask lol. What about emissions? Would love to see the progress (pics pls)!

 

Will definitely post pictures. No one cares about emissions in Illinois lol. You can buy those O2 90 degree extenders that I posted to eliminate the check engine light, or you can get a tune for circa $300 from R9K Tuned. Tune increases RPM limit to 7,200 RPM, removes speed limiter, removes trouble codes etc.

 

Second – these are long tube race headers and do not include catalytic converter. A custom tune or defoulers will be needed if using stock ECU to pass emissions.

I missed this part. Yea...it won't meet emissions without a cat. And just so you're warned...it's a FEDERAL crime to tamper/eliminate any emissions. You'll have a hard time selling the vehicle later too.

The last header I installed was on 1984 GMC pickup. But I bolted right up to the OEM Y-Pipe and catalytic converter.

 

Pictures of the actual headers

 

More pics

 

Interesting - Unless the photos are distorting, the pipes do not look to be equal length. I would imagine you'll have a lot more tinty exhaust noise with those thinwall pipes vs the thick cast iron manifolds. Sounds like little "clicks" or maybe like "exhaust leaks" describes it better if I remember correctly from each pipe where it meets the cylinder head.

 

Will be curious to see how they hold up. Weapon R wasn't known to make as good quality products in the past for the import market, but I don't think there are any other comparable headers on the market now...just happens to be that one of their employees has a Sienna and can get it made and could hook up his fellow daddymobile owners, and the spillover benefits the other 2GR engine platforms as well.

For sure, this isn't CARB legal, so these VK guys here would likely get it "passed" during smog time.

 

Yea, I was pleased with how these look and the welds and bends are good. The walls are a bit thin, but that's fairly typical with aftermarket headers. For $617, I can't really complain.

 

Some more info: They weigh about 12.2 lbs collectively(6.4 lbs for rear header and 5.8 lbs for front header). Collector size is 2.25".
Front header ought to bolt right up. Rear header will likely require modifying the y-pipe.

 

Any improvement on the current collector would be welcome. The current design seems really stupid to me. Squashed tubes, basically. Still wouldn't do it, though since there's no provision for a cat.

 

Any improvement on the current collector would be welcome. The current design seems really stupid to me. Squashed tubes, basically.

I have yet to install these,but someone installed them in a RAV4, and he's pleased with them. Says that he feels improved pickup during midrange. On the negative side, there's a slight rasp from 3,000-4,000 RPM, but that might be due to him not having resonators.

 

Just installed these. A couple of important notes to consider:
1) Make sure to get new exhaust manifold gaskets.
2) Make sure to buy flat style exhaust flanges. The ones provided by Weapon-R are low quality, and will leak!
3) Get 2 spacers/defoulers so you don't get check engine light codes.
4) If you are getting them installed at a mechanic, make sure he has a welder and sawzall. The rear header will require cutting the flange or modifying the Y-pipe. If your mechanic modifies the Y-pipe, you will need exhaust tubing.

With that out of the way, I'm enjoying these headers. Feel more pickup throughout the range, and more particularly midrange pickup from 40-60mph. The sound of the exhaust is deeper throughout the rev range as well. You will notice a slight smell from going catless.

 

Just an update,1 year and a half later. These have been performing very well, without any issues.

 

Probably going to be picking these up locally soon, good to hear they've held up well for you. They're going on my 2008 RX350 AWD. Front looks like a straight shot but like your Highlander, the rear will likely have to be modified, I'm going dual with an x-pipe so that's bound to happen anyway. They're being sold for 550 CAD which I think is a little high for these since they're used, I'll see what I can do.

 

I think 550 CAD is a decent price for used ones. These are going $900-950 USD new now.

 

Thanks for your input, that was before I checked your post years ago when it was first created and they are definitely more rare now than before. It has been about another year since your last update, do you still feel like they were worth it? I have a bad front cat on my RX so I figure I just put these in, some 02 extenders and sell off the old stuff, make a full exhaust then get a tune. My RX is getting as many performance parts as I can find so I figure these would be a nice addition to it.

 

Absolutely. These headers are still going strong, and I really enjoy the sound these make. If I recall correctly, I noticed a bit of power bump in the midrange RPM (2,000-4,000 RPM).

 

Thanks for letting me pick your brain!

 

spam

🤦🏽‍♂️ what a spam response. Not one single relevant exhaust system in that link.

 

what a spam response. Not one single relevant exhaust system in that link.

I've found that any company that needs to advertise this way are the low of the low companies. I'd NEVER buy anything from a company that has to advertise this way.