Equal Length (ELH) vs Unequal Length (UEL) Headers - Pros and Cons

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[@carfanatic4397]

I've grown up listening to Subaru's with only UEL and thought it was the only way to go. Im buying an STI soon so happy ive found your video. The information you've provided and the sound during that pull in the video has changed my mind. Equil length in my opinion is king. Sounds unreal

[@alexvargas4114]

Went ELH on my sti and holy cow the throttle response is just mad fast and it still sounds great in my opinion i went with a plm up pipe with turbosmart ewg and tomei ELH and i think ELH are definitely you can tell how happy the car is after and how it runs is just 10x better i love the rumble but for the reliability and the performance i love it thank you for telling us, really a cool dude you always replied to my messages on IG which i’m always thankful for

[@noevalencia1908]

Love your content man, your the main reason I love the sti so much and have been getting sucked into it more and more. I’m going to get one soon.

[@chriscorbin4005]

Same here I'm searching now for one prefer either the lapis blue pearl or wrx blue

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Mines for sale 👍🏻

[@TheE3R]

Like both, nothing can beat the ULH sound but performance wise ELH, and the Killer B...top notch!

[@FWRXTER]

UEL rumble sounds iconically “Subaru” but there is just something about ELH that sounds like a finely-tuned rally weapon

[@BBYDrvrr]

Ended up adding tomei uel headers to my Sti with the tomei cat back , super happy with the performance the bolt on offers but once those gears get into rev the sound is 🔥

[@GU5S]

I went Equal length and absolutely no regrets. Still sounds awesome and throttle response and top end are noticeably improved.

[@LancerXDS]

I understand the power and gains of equal length but I rather go with UEL because of the rumble as long as the AOS and cyclinder 4 cooling mod is there, I don't see the motor blowing unless your just pushing it

[@isaaccampos1601]

Thank you so much for all the information! I’m new to having a car, and let alone a Subaru. But your video helped me very much. And by the way, you are very underrated. Keep it up, and shoot for the stars.

[@jboldy7564]

I've got a 22 WRX and honestly can't wait to hear some header options that become available over time. Saw a video of somebody putting UELH's on a FA24 BRZ and it really opened it up. Also can't wait to head some ELH's in the future once people start really getting into the new motor.

[@josephtruax4086]

What ever you don’t put UELH on the FA motor if it’s boosted…we have a twin scroll turbo and it will destroy the power and boost will not be reliable

[@jboldy7564]

@@josephtruax4086 yeah I know we can’t run uelh’s thanks to the twin scroll, but in the future I’m sure there’s bound to be somebody who attempts to put them along with a new turbo just to get that old Subaru sound out of the new motor

[@DonSlahern]

Great advice! Thanks for breaking this down. This will definitely help with my decision going forward. 🤘🏻

[@houseking9211]

I've never owned a subie, but UEL is how they should sound imo

[@NoNo-yb7ds]

I’ve been running Tomei UEL headers/Up Pipe on my 06 STI for many years now. I got the headers and up pipe heat coated on the outside prior to install, knowing of the heat issues near cylinder 4. Also running intake, APS down catted down pipe with HKS Carbon catback, Cobb lightweight crank pulley and I just love the sound/performance that I gained from all parts tuned ! From idle to running and gunning it, sounds bad ass and has more balls than factory set up, yes it’s true ELH can produce more HP and yes you lose classic “Subie rumble” but where I live Smog is a constant issue every 2 years and they are Nazi’s when it comes to it, so I can’t really go much further than where I have taken it now. But at 305HP to the wheels (stock turbo/stock injectors) and 345HP torque to the wheels I smile ear to ear every time I take it for a drive. If smog wasn’t a thing for me, you better believe I would make my STI some 500+HP monster ! With a badass IAG built motor bigger turbo, bigger intake manifold, injectors, TGV deletes, front mount intercooler, E85, all the good stuff ! 😎

[@RSXengineering]

STIs sound so good compared to modern turbocharged cars which don't even have headers anymore. Not efficient at all but worth it just for the exhaust note

[@peeposadboy]

Well, what’s confusing even more is the HKS, Grimmspeed and ETS MaxFlow V2 are all actually “slightly” unequal length design. Grimmspeed just outright calls their an unequal length, and I’m sure they’d sell more if they didn’t. But if you look at all 3 of those headers and how the runners are, they’re all pretty similar to each other. The only “true” equal length imho are the headers from KillerB Holy Headers and the PLM EL Headers. If you look at those, you’ll notice they’re basically the same design as the FA20/FA24 EL Header design, it’s just the FA doesn’t have an up pipe.

[@JayL781]

So that sound clip that shit was amazing like I didn't think I could love another sound from a Subaru holy shit it was so quiet idling but when you got on it it sounded so much better wow😮 damn okay I want equal length headers for sure I want the same setup like right meow 😊

[@808whitefa5]

EL header all day. 😊

[@fernandor887]

Like always great video brother

[@newguynasti2008]

Totally agree with you but I'm not going for the power. I gonna stick with unequal and the cylinder 4 cooling mod. Definitely want my sound instead of the like 30 or 40 horse. My STI is a subi and I want the rumble personally not the Evo sound and power.

[@pw85___]

a decent stock location turbo upgrade + the upgraded UEL will perform pretty nice anyways

[@TMTFish]

I love the ULH rumble, but the problem is the compression build up in the cylinders is why a lot of these engines fail. The fix is ELH because they balance out the compression creating a smoother exhaust flow. I have the Cyl 4 mod too, but it only makes like a 15F change , and really only affects extreme temperatures. But, I totally don't blame you. The ULH is beautiful, amazing rumble. The ELH , especially Killer B has a fantastic sound too with a lot of setups.

[@pw85___]

@@TMTFish it's much bigger than a 15 degree change on that coolant mod. At first testing they were seeing a 75° difference just from the added coolant flow on that head alone. Now EGT's I'm not sure of.

[@pw85___]

@adidas2284 coolant temp is what I meant sorry.

[@byFrancoSv]

I hate ELH sound, sorry... I take less power but keep my rumble, thats 1 of the reasons why I get the STI, the sound.

[@Chopped86]

Not that I disagree with you but a high end EL vs the garbage stock UEL will of course make more power. I feel like you’d be hard pressed to find a big difference between a $700 EL and a $700 UEL besides the weight savings. I went with a UEL on the 86 because it cut 38 pounds off the nose to make up for the 34 pounds the SC added and I went with UEL for the forester just due to price because more dollars on the turbo makes a bigger difference than what header you run. For the price difference of a UEL to EL I could go ball bearing twin scroll with a spool valve vs a journal bearing single scroll.

[@shiloh5199]

Scoobyfreak, I thought you were selling your VA chassis STI?

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Still up for sale

[@GSekong]

ELH all the way, i love the sound of efficiency haha

[@yesimraging]

Basically one is for rumble and the other is for performance

[@claytonpabst]

Is the stock cat-back restrictive? Planning to do intake, DP, fuel, turbo + cooling stuff. Will keeping the stock exhaust from the DP and back hurt power? I like the sound and want to stay as quiet as possible.

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Yes it’s very restrictive. You can go with a quieter aftermarket option if you want to keep the volume similar.

[@mackeralkingjr9601]

Hey clean Subaru 👍. I have a 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX Sport Wagon 5 speed, i was thinking of going equal length header up pipe and 3 inch catted down pipe. The car has a catback from previous owner already. He threw in a silicone turbo inlet as well not installed. I was gonna grab a silicone post maf hose as well eventually. All this on stock turbo for now, would you recommend the equal length header? For basically air intake bolt ons and exhaust bolt ons, no turbo upgrade just stock turbo.

[@Scoobyfreak86]

I would move over to el for reliability if you want the motor to last overtime.

[@mackeralkingjr9601]

@@Scoobyfreak86 thanks you appreciate the response, have a great one! 👍😁👍

[@aquapisces24]

I thought the OEM headers to be heavier than aftermarket ELHs. Unless you're referring to aftermarket ULHs compare to aftermarket ELHs.

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Aftermarket

[@raymondgilpin8290]

Awesome video! I was just debating on which route to go

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johno_george]

What's your opinion on the Grimmspeed UEL Headers and would you ever try it?

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Never tried so don’t really have much feedback to share. Although, they make some great products (run quite a few).

[@dudechan]

Do you need a tune and upgrade your fuel system with upgraded headers?

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Yes, highly recommend doing both. Proper el headers yield the most gains out of all the bolt ons (minus turbo).

[@izzy19878]

Hi I've got an 2011 WRX. If you want to change the headers and can you put a twin scroll turbo on it?

[@Scoobyfreak86]

You could but need to tune for it.

[@kiritowow2736]

To be honest UEL is just an US market stuff，it should change to ELH like Japanese EJ207 from factory

[@Jose.D.P.]

I have a 2017 also, but where can I get those headlights your 17’ sti has?

[@Scoobyfreak86]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6uwmZulhdeWqacsi=VOlVr0CLdsDMirZU

[@matt2244]

SO UEL will destroy your twin scroll turbo? and best to just stay with ELH?

[@matt2244]

@@Craiggg12345 Whoops sorry, New to this whole Subaru thing. I'll change it.

[@sauceyballs]

Well I’m stock. My tuner talked me out of headers saying I’m basically dumping a lot of heat in the engine bay for no reason and all SS headers will eventually crack. Also told me I don’t really need to do coolant mods since I’m going to be stock. That I would be better off with just a pro tune.

[@db8rdb8r]

Other than killer B, which brand ELH header you will recommend? Thanks

[@Scoobyfreak86]

ETS

[@db8rdb8r]

@@Scoobyfreak86 Thank you😁

[@robsti669]

Good video. ELH all the way.

[@lamonz4227]

Does the vb overheat like the ej?

[@breeny85]

So weird seeing the engine in standard form without any caps or dress up bits

[@TheGuccibane]

Equal length = Rip iconic subaru

[@EG809-]

Uel is better in my opinion.

[@markminja2871]

Why

[@MrEvilTag]

They are worse in literally every parameter

[@DesertEagle90]

Just because it sounds extremely better doesn’t mean it’s better though.. it’s like comparing a beef cheeseburger to a veggie burger as far as health goes

[@bobbygonzalez2153]

Equal length is always better on every engine

[@DesertEagle90]

@@bobbygonzalez2153 even though it sounds like a civic 😔 if only they made a ELH where there could be a rumble sound 😏

[@jesseg1758]

What about the FA20 engine?

[@Scoobyfreak86]

I don’t have experience with the fa. This pertains to ej’s.

[@ManuelPerez-sw9nj]

So running unequal length is not as reliable ?

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Correct. Restricts flow and introduces a lot more heat than necessary. El opens flow so motor doesn’t have to work as hard and it distributes heat more evenly.

[@Strelok762]

My question is, how bad is the heat soak to Cyl 4?

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Bad enough to cause issues. Most prone cylinder to detonate due to the excessive heat.

[@Strelok762]

@@Scoobyfreak86 I'm new to the STI so bare with me, is it bad enough to warrant ELH's just to avoid that issue? My 2019 STI is my all time dream car and my daily.. so of course I'm wanting to keep her as long as I can

[@Scoobyfreak86]

@Strelok762 depends on how far you want to go with it. I did el for the reliability aspect of it over the sound/gains.

[@Strelok762]

@@Scoobyfreak86 true, the rumble is cool, but I'm happy with the 310hp (more wouldn't be bad).. essentially I just want to enhance the good things about her not reinvent the wheel, ya know?

[@Strelok762]

Especially because I race in AutoX and time trials too 😅

[@nikesbeast]

Cambering my wheels caused premature inside balding. What should I do? I can’t run my car as low as I want if I don’t camber. Should I just get new tires with same camber or raise my car and run no camber? What do you guys think?

[@nikesbeast]

And UEL imo

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Depends on the look you are going for. Running any type of camber will result in premature inside wear.

[@nikesbeast]

@@Scoobyfreak86 thinkin about raising my car and straightening out my wheels.. but it sacrifices the tuck lowered look :(

[@alikdouh369]

I need headers for Toyota Corolla 2014 zre 182 hatchbacks any link please

[@leonnottingham4618]

I actually like the equal length sound better