Engine '98 - '02 Headers

'98 - '02 Headers

Okay, here's what I'm working on. I've got a couple companies interested in making us some headers. The problem is that I need to buy a large lot of them in order to get them produced. I'm talking 50 units. I'm going to do my very best to have these available for less than $300 plus shipping.

If you're serious about having a header, email me at drtweak@phoenixtuning.com

I would buy it man but other plans in mind don't allow me lol

Dr. Tweak, this is a great service that you are doing to the Corolla community in R&D but let me give you a warning about most Corolla owners in that from past observations from different forums people that frequent these boards are very hesitant when it comes to spending/investing money in their cars.

You can take EL Prototypes ( www.elprototypes.com ) as a case study. When the '03 Corolla came out everyone wanted a header for it. ELP put down the money into R&D and created a header for $200. When it finally came out for sale everyone complained that it was too expensive, and grunted why it could not be made cheaper, or that the gains did not justify the money. So now ELP has many of these headers sitting collecting dust:



I would say that ELP has been one of the few companies that has made good products, and delivered to the consumer. Now I know they had their ups and downs, but I know many people that have been happy with their products. Why did ELP not make a header for the 98-02? Because there is no one to buy it. Everyone talks, no one reaches for their pocket.

I think if you could come out with a product that everyone would be hyped about and that would sell for ~$40 then you could make more money in volume sales, but that is just a wet dream.

Anyway, good luck in your project, but I highly doubt you will get 50 people to pay. Now if you do, then we can bet something!

X

Yeah that is true. I can say that I will definatly want to buy one for $300 or less, but when will I have the money? I dont know.
I have also seen people say they will buy something and back out.

I can not justify 300 bucks to a header, I am sorry man.

Damn, I soooo would pay up front right now if my damn car didn't just get into the body shop after my wreck, shit.

Well guys, this sucks. I run a poll and a bunch of people say yes, you'll buy one, and then you all disappear.

I'm going to keep working on this and do my best to produce one anyway. Why? Because I believe, deep inside, that if this stuff was actually available and ready to sell, people would buy it. They would save up, or people who don't regularly come to the forums would buy them. Then maybe more people will be interested in Corollas, because you can actually get parts for them. Maybe then our community will grow and we'll rival what other communities have. So I'm still going to keep it up.

But this is disappointing.

*edit* By the way, I have two companies that are interested in making headers for us, and I should have some more news by the end of the week.

And one more thing. Those two people who clicked "Yes", please email me.

Man seriously i'm real sorry bout that, I don't mean to make excuses but this wreck happened about at the worst time. In about a month I could most certainly give you some money for one.

dr. tweak, check yer email!

jake, you got mail.

BTW my email is drtweak@phoenixtuning.com

Shifty, I understand. If you can do it in a month, that's fine. Hit me up with an email.

-Doc

dr.tweak, just for everyones refference i will post this here;
so what exactly are we waiting on as far as production goes? if there are enough people you know of will buy it? or will they produce it regardless? what time frame are we looking at?

I'm going to have them made either way, but the more people that can make a deposit now or in the next couple weeks, the sooner it will happen. Otherwise it's going to be a long time.

I can't say for sure about the timeframe, I'll have a much better idea by the end of the week once I hear back from my contact people.

-Doc

by the way, im in. Just let me know how much shipped to 89129!

I want a header, but I the power gains dont justify me to spend 300 bucks on it, I would understand between 50 to 100, but 300 is struts which i need badly

give me a few months and I'll pick one up, money is just kinda tight right now

You will never get anyone to make a decent header for ~100. I think 200-250 is a more reasonable price.

X

Do we know how much HP gain roughly we're gonna get from these headers dr tweak? I'm assuming everything will be bolt on and all the gaskets needed are provided aswell if not using the original one????

From what I heard, the ELP header doesn't sell good because it didn't really get any noticable gain (1-2hp only). And it is 4-1, most ppl want 4-2-1.

I really want to click "Yes", but not "now". Kinda low in $$$ now. $300 is expensive too me. I'll think about it if it $200 shipped. Most ppl including me want to see the dyno result b4 they put in that much money.

Is just the design of teh 1ZZFE engine. See on the older corollas with the exhaust on the fron of the engine it did give you gains since the header was longer and there are more improvements that can be made. The stock header on teh 1ZZ as it is now is very efficient for teh engine because of the location in the back of the engine. There is really not that much that exhaust gases need to travel before it is in the downpipe/exhaust pipes. So to make something more efficient that is already running at 85%-90% efficiency is a tough call. Yeah you can make it chrome and all pretty looking, but does not mean it will perform better.

X

Everything will be provided.

Unfortunetely, laz is correct. The stock manifold is only a few inches long and doesn't give a lot of room for improvement before the exhaust is in the downpipe. The header will give you a little more hp in the high rpm band, and it will look really nice. I'm not going to make any promises until I know.

Chances are I'm going to start building these by hand.

hmm.. this is all very interesting information. I had no idea 7th+8th gen corolla's were as efficient as they are.

You should see the stock XRS manifold!!!

I only have one pic, and it's of the modified header for the '98 swap:



It's a true equal length header.

Is it a stock one already? Looks like someone cut it and wedge and extend the pipes into equal length. Nice.

Edit: stupid me, did see the word "modified" in your first line.

so if the design of the stock header isnt as bad as it is, then should we see any noticible gain whatsoever?

Post from earlier on this page:

hmm....

I had my headers done for 150 up front and waited two days for them to be made. The guy that made them used a slightly wider pipe.he used a diffrent flange that was wider and stronger. the piping is 100% 22/12 grade stainless steel. That was worth it.he even smoothed off the welding even though he did it pretty good. the only thing that i need to do is just get it re-chromed and voila'

I noticed a diffrence and the car had a little rumble to it that sounded cool too.

Where did you have that done?

$150 sounds really good to me! Where did you get it? Any pic?