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EMPI stainless header - any good?

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2017 11:34 am
by MinamiKotaro
Kinda too late because I already ordered it, but I figured I'd ask, anyway. My old header is rusting out, high temp paint does nothing, so I figured I'd step up to stainless.

It's this one:

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp ... C13%2D3760

Re: EMPI stainless header - any good?

Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 12:10 pm
by MinamiKotaro
No replies, so I guess I'll find out on my own. It went on easily enough. Rubs on the oil filter, though (filter pump). I can either use a smaller filter (Purolator 14476/14477 size, commonly used on Toyotas, will work) or break out the old, remote-mount kit. I'll get some pictures once it quits raining and I feel like going back out to the shop.

Re: EMPI stainless header - any good?

Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 4:18 pm
by MinamiKotaro
Image

Nice, thick flanges.

Image

Rubs the oil filter. :cry: I didn't want to heat and bend the pipe, so I just got a smaller filter.

Image

Looks good.

Re: EMPI stainless header - any good?

Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 9:18 pm
by FJCamper
Hi MinamiKotaro,

I noticed in your photo you seem to be using an adjustable oil pressure sensor of the type that cuts off electric fuel pumps if the pressure drops to a given psi.

If so, what do you have your "kill psi" set for, and how happy are you with the system?

I ask because so many VW engines, when really hot, will have idle oil pressure drop below 5 psi, turning on the oil warning light.

Thanks,

FJC

Re: EMPI stainless header - any good?

Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2017 5:16 pm
by ainokea
Stainless headers are way better than the normal black painted ones. Longer lasting with minimum amount of maintenance like the black painted.

Re: EMPI stainless header - any good?

Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2017 5:45 pm
by MinamiKotaro
FJCamper wrote: Thu Mar 02, 2017 9:18 pmI noticed in your photo you seem to be using an adjustable oil pressure sensor of the type that cuts off electric fuel pumps if the pressure drops to a given psi.

Alas, it is not so. That's just my oil temperature sensor.

Re: EMPI stainless header - any good?

Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2017 5:20 pm
by turbowd57rag
That actually looks pretty nice !! I like the thick flanges

Re: EMPI stainless header - any good?

Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 3:19 pm
by ps2375
ainokea wrote: Fri Mar 03, 2017 5:16 pm Stainless headers are way better than the normal black painted ones. Longer lasting with minimum amount of maintenance like the black painted.
Depends on what "paint" you use. I used Cerakote ceramic paint on mine, and none came off, no discoloring and I can wipe the burnt oil drips off. It wasn't cheap, but I was able to apply it myself and it is an air-cure ceramic, seems to be as durable as a ceramic powder coat. And it also seems to protect against corrosion, which is the main reason I applied it.

To the OP, I had to remote mount my oil-filter since my new header wanted to add heat to the filter. I used -8 hose and there were no ill effects that I discern.

Re: EMPI stainless header - any good?

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2017 1:37 pm
by gringoloco2000
I have a stainless EMPI clone of the A1 sidewinder and it looks similarly beefy. No issues so far. Must be a different supplier than much of their products that are more or less crap.

Re: EMPI stainless header - any good?

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2017 1:48 pm
by Ol'fogasaurus
How far away from the header is the oil filter. From the pix it looks close or touching. If it is not that close ignore the res of the post.

If so to either then there should be either a shield covering the area close to the filter is or a good air gap so as not to transmit heat into the oil from the exhaust.