Website design By BotEap.comChoosing the right type of headers and the correct exhaust setup is very important because it will save you a lot of headaches down the road. Will it be too loud, will it buzz, is the performance worth the $$$ are probably questions running through your head. We’ll make it as simple as possible to explain the differences and benefits of a UEL versus EL header setup for the Toyota 86.

Website design By BotEap.comShould you get aftermarket headers first?

Website design By BotEap.comHeaders are probably the best bang for your buck in terms of performance upgrades for your Toyota 86, plus a tune. However, the cost is in the comfort of your daily commute because the exhaust will definitely be louder and will most likely purr at higher rpm. Depending on your aftermarket exhaust, the noise/drone could be unbearable.

Website design By BotEap.comBefore I switched to aftermarket headers, I was wondering, how loud is my exhaust now? Can I take it if it was stronger? If not I would definitely switch back to stock exhausts or switch to quieter aftermarket exhausts like the Q300’s. I will definitely write an article in the future explaining different ways to silence your noisy exhaust.

Website design By BotEap.comMy personal experience is that going from Magnaflow exhausts to JDL UEL headers, it was noticeably louder. Using a free iPhone decibel app, he measured 75-80db with just the Magnaflow exhausts on the highway and 85-90db with the heads. It may not sound like much, but to put it in perspective, a jump from 70db to 80db is actually 2x as loud. From what I can tell, it didn’t feel twice as strong, but I can definitely tell the difference.

Website design By BotEap.comI’m a fairly young guy in my 20s so the noise wasn’t a killjoy for my commute to work, but for those with a family or kids bringing along I would definitely consider the jump in noise.

Website design By BotEap.comYes, I want headers, but I only care about performance

Website design By BotEap.comThe general statement and the truth is that EL headers work better than UEL headers. The reason behind this is mainly due to the design of the headers. The 4-2-1 layouts for EL headers make it more efficient and perform better at mid RPM, which the 86 desperately needs due to torque drop.

Website design By BotEap.comAlthough the general statement is true, my opinion is that you cannot compare UEL and EL headers solely on the design of these headers, because differences in brand and quality play a big variable in performance.

Website design By BotEap.comFor example, Drift-Office did an excellent comparison on the performance differences of the most popular UEL headers for the Toyota 86 / Scion FRS. In short, they eliminated all the variables in their study: all cars had 6MTs, ran on the same fuel, and had similar exhaust setups plus UEL headers.

Website design By BotEap.comThese cars with different UEL headers were then tested on a Dyno, which measures horsepower and torque as the car goes through the RPM range.

Website design By BotEap.comResult of the study shown below: Source: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60586

Website design By BotEap.comThe conclusion is the following. When choosing headers for performance, it’s not just a matter of deciding between 2 easy EL or UEL options. It’s really about doing the research on a list of popular headers on key criteria for what makes a header perform well (ie dyno performance + weight).

Website design By BotEap.comTo help narrow down this search, my recommendations in terms of performance for the Toyota 86/Scion FRS would be either the JDL UEL headers or the Ace 4-2-1 EL headers.

Website design By BotEap.comI want my exhaust to sound good

Website design By BotEap.comThis section is a bit more difficult to explain because how good an exhaust sounds is purely subjective. What I will explain is the main difference in terms of escape notes between the UEL and EL headers. UEL headers produce an exhaust note most people are familiar with as “Subaru Rumble”, on the ’86 Toyota, while EL headers do not.

Website design By BotEap.comThe general consensus is that most people like the rumble. I personally have a UEL header, so I can attest to Subaru’s love of rumble. Again, this is personal preference, and I would highly recommend going to a local FRS/86 meetup and hearing in person about the different exhaust setups people have. The videos can only give you a general idea of ​​the sound note an exhaust makes, but they miss the ability to tell you how loud the header/escapement setup will be in person.

Website design By BotEap.comThe 30 second summary

Website design By BotEap.com– Only upgrade to aftermarket headers if you don’t mind your exhaust being a bit louder.

– EL headers work better overall, but performance is very different depending on which brand you decide to go with. So, do more research on the product, not the design.

– Only UEL headers will have the Subaru noise and will be a bit louder than EL headers.

Website design By BotEap.comIn short, this is how I would make my decision between the 2 options. If you are looking for a track focus build that will squeeze every HP/Torque out of this engine, I would definitely go with the EL heads. For most who use this car as a daily and/or weekend warrior, I would base my decision on which headers sound best to them. Do you want suffered rumble? My guess is yes!