Hey guys,
I'm learning how to weld while I'm at college and I've been dreaming about fabbing up a sweet low-mount unequal length header that's shifted forward a bit for downpipe flow (and that sweet exhaust note). I took a look under the hood and it's pretty tight between the steering shaft, firewall and coolant tube. Does anyone move the coolant pipe on the front/right of the block to get extra room for the turbo? I'm about to go practice TIG but I can take a pic of what I mean in a bit.

 

Begi makes a piece that faces inlet to the water pump forward instead of backwards. I will try to snap a picture of it a bit later today. Should be pretty easy to copy.

 

Yeah the begi coolant neck goes out between the power steering pump/ ac compressor and block.. Then it goes down close to the sway bar where it uses metal tube because of the tight fit.

Pics when I get home.

 

Weld the hole. Flip it around and tap the other end for turbo coolant return.

there are a few more pictures in my build thread.

Put a T in the lower rad hose and send the heater outlet back to it.

If you can weld its free.

 

Thanks guys. I couldn't find the front tube on Begi's site, only that slick reroute spacer for the rear. I wonder what he does with the heater core return.

I can't really tell where your heater return hose is in your pic either, aidandj. It's pretty busy down there.

Here's a shot down the side of the engine, really shows how cramped it is in there


Turns out aliens landed in the shop while I was there

 

Do some more searching. I have a lot of pictures of it in my build thread. Curly did it too.

Here is a video of how I ran mine.

[Url]
**** the mobile site

 

Thanks, found it.
Here's my header design if you were wondering. I'll see if I can draw it in CAD

 

Looks unnecessarily complicated. I prefer the short runner low-mounts. Good spool, good flow.

 

Aidandj's pics. Tell me why I should do this beyond removing the heater core return line, which I don't see as totally necessary unless there's no heater core in use.

 

I did it to fit my turbo. And just make things easier down there.

@hi_im_sean did a much ballerer version.

 

You still have a heater core? If so, where does the return dump back into the system?

 

Look at my video again. It goes into a T in the lower rad hose.

 

OK thanks. Will look at it for a first time haha

Edit: Obv after watching, thanks!

 

I have begi neck and it reroutes the water from the heater core into the upper radiator hose.

I am unsure but have been told it's a semi effective reroute option especially with stock vvt head gasket.

 

Neck is hard to see.

 

^dont do that.

 

Why? It's the way the car came with 1.6 from begi.
Seems to work fine and my research on here seemed to indicate it was fine.

 

Another option.

 

It ***** with the car warming up. There is a reason the coolant that bypasses the thermostat goes straight to the motor.

 

OK thanks. In texas where it rarely gets below freezing when I drive the car it is not a problem but I appreciate the feedback.