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Eta?

27351 Views 164 Replies 29 Participants Last post by  doublexl
i dont know if im as curious as others, but to put it bluntly.... where the [email protected]#$ are my headers?

the "they should be ready in 3 weeks" was up almost 3 weeks ago. i'd like to get them on my car before it [email protected]#$ing snows this year.

SIKKY!?
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we spot the error before sikky call me ...

as soon as you open the ecu box you can truly see the pin # 5 is ok and not #4

you cannot miss a white wire with black lign:D

i will also go on the dynopack this time... hope the hp will reappear:eek:

eric
Oh ok I haven't gotten mine yet. Still leaves me stumped about your power.
The old saying "If it aint broke, don't fix it" keeps resonating in my head after reading all these recent posts. There are no leaks or warpage and the SIKKY headers have been performing flawlessly for both Jaslapp and I. I believe Jaslapp has thousands of miles on his headers and I have around 1500. SIKKY designed the headers the way they are for a reason and it's worked. So basically to those calling SIKKY out for making a a sub-par quality headers you have three choices.

1. Modify the SIKKY headers and pray they don't eventually leak or warp.
2. Stick with the directions and trust that the SIKKY headers are fine as is.
3. Wait for an alternative product that Elite will be offering.

Best of luck to you doublexl with modifying these perfectly good headers. I'll be watching to see how this turns out.
I agree Cayman if it ain't broke don't fix it. I have over 5000 miles close to 6000 no problems. NO leaks no warpage nothin. Your mechanics did not make the headers nor have they probably done anything like that before. Sikky makes parts for cars. I think they know what they are doing. It took us nearly a year to do this and many many prototypes until Sikky was happy with the design. As far as Elite goes you still haven't produced anything so I'd shut my mouth until I had something to actually back my talk up with. Just my two cents.
I agree Cayman if it ain't broke don't fix it. I have over 5000 miles close to 6000 no problems. NO leaks no warpage nothin. Your mechanics did not make the headers nor have they probably done anything like that before. Sikky makes parts for cars. I think they know what they are doing. It took us nearly a year to do this and many many prototypes until Sikky was happy with the design. As far as Elite goes you still haven't produced anything so I'd shut my mouth until I had something to actually back my talk up with. Just my two cents.
And there again with your diarrhea of the mouth. The reality is they have produced a product you just are out of the loop on it. And anyone that is in the business of making parts for cars weather the is-f or other cars can chime in with an expert opinion.
Nice quality! You guys will crap when our productions come out! Stainless and tightly welded!
LOL so tactless.


Anyhow, what is the rough approximate time it takes to install these headers by a shop?
And there again with your diarrhea of the mouth. The reality is they have produced a product you just are out of the loop on it. And anyone that is in the business of making parts for cars weather the is-f or other cars can chime in with an expert opinion.
well splat this can all be handle by elite WHEN and IF they receive my headers for back to back testing.....then we can see who runs their mouth :eek:
well splat this can all be handle by elite WHEN and IF they receive my headers for back to back testing.....then we can see who runs their mouth :eek:
exactly but for someone to say they cant speak on this issue is just ignorant in my opinion.
Ya know, all anyone wants is a performance piece. No one really cares who, what, where, how, or why, just is it ready and are the gains acceptable for the price point. I'd really like to get back to this discussion and not who builds the better piece and shut your mouth and so on and so on. Its starting to sound like the Club Lexus forum. Anyway, glad to see the gains and I will be pleased to see what Elite produces. We are fortunate we have two quality vendors who are TRYING to produce a product we can use.
Ya know, all anyone wants is a performance piece. No one really cares who, what, where, how, or why, just is it ready and are the gains acceptable for the price point. I'd really like to get back to this discussion and not who builds the better piece and shut your mouth and so on and so on. Its starting to sound like the Club Lexus forum. Anyway, glad to see the gains and I will be pleased to see what Elite produces. We are fortunate we have two quality vendors who are TRYING to produce a product we can use.
Well said and I agree with the Club Lexus statement.
Ya know, all anyone wants is a performance piece. No one really cares who, what, where, how, or why, just is it ready and are the gains acceptable for the price point. I'd really like to get back to this discussion and not who builds the better piece and shut your mouth and so on and so on. Its starting to sound like the Club Lexus forum. Anyway, glad to see the gains and I will be pleased to see what Elite produces. We are fortunate we have two quality vendors who are TRYING to produce a product we can use.
Yes, the pissing matches back and forth are getting a little ridiculous.
check the to get all the info.
As far as Elite goes you still haven't produced anything so I'd shut my mouth until I had something to actually back my talk up with. Just my two cents.
I love ya buddy but I gotta say you really need to do your homework! I have MANY MANY products out there just most of them are custom peaces. As for the F, we have done the ported intake Manifold which gains 13-17whp. We also have many in the works, but I would like to see consistent gains and a perfect product before they are released! COUGH COUGH Supercharger COUGH COUGH
^^^+1...and we can settle this whole thing by sikky sending my headers to Andy at elite so we can install elites headers and dyno them and then sikky's headers and dyno them, all in the same day this way there are no variables....but then again that is IF i ever get my headers.....
well i have my new gaskets. and i took a few picture to illustrate the entire point of my quality issues.

picture 1 is the gasket placed over the header of the unmodified sikky flange. my finger is holding the gasket in a "centered" location on the header. although center on the flange does not make it center for all the holes. when pressed flat, the areas circled in red have a very slim area of contact on the "raised-surface-that-is-there-for-a-reason". this area of contact is approximately 1/16" in size. that is about as thick as a toothpick. and factually the whole left half of the left header tube has a very, very thin area of contact as well.



picture 2 is the gasket still held in a "centered" location on the flange. the area circled in red, actually contacts the lip of the weld when pressed flat, so this means no seal on the "raised-surface-that-is-there-for-a-reason" in this location.



picture 3 is an example of the extreme. if the header gasket shifts during install for some reason, or is not lined up 100% perfectly. the area in red has no seal what-so-ever. and a very large gap is present when the gasket is pressed flat. also note the holes in the raised weld in this picture. very shady...



some might argue that the gaskets will conform to the surface they are sealing. well, maybe a little, but not that much. after all, these gaskets are 4 layers of very thin METAL. they will only get so tight, and the areas with gaps will probably not be sealed because they areas that are sealed cannot get any tighter.

anyhoo, this perfectly demonstrates why a flat face would be a much better option at this juncture. nothing anyone says is going to alter my feelings. i hope this is a step towards better quality parts from the manufacturer.

on a side note. the ports look to be much smaller then the gasket holes, which would lead me to believe they are smaller then the exhaust ports on the engine block. which would then lead me to believe that there is excess restriction upon entering the headers. which means these can be improved. end quote.
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well i have my new gaskets. and i took a few picture to illustrate the entire point of my quality issues.

picture 1 is the gasket placed over the header of the unmodified sikky flange. my finger is holding the gasket in a "centered" location on the header. although center on the flange does not make it center for all the holes. when pressed flat, the areas circled in red have a very slim area of contact on the "raised-surface-that-is-there-for-a-reason". this area of contact is approximately 1/16" in size. that is about as thick as a toothpick. and factually the whole left half of the left header tube has a very, very thin area of contact as well.



picture 2 is the gasket still held in a "centered" location on the flange. the area circled in red, actually contacts the lip of the weld when pressed flat, so this means no seal on the "raised-surface-that-is-there-for-a-reason" in this location.



picture 3 is an example of the extreme. if the header gasket shifts during install for some reason, or is not lined up 100% perfectly. the area in red has no seal what-so-ever. and a very large gap is present when the gasket is pressed flat. also note the holes in the raised weld in this picture. very shady...



some might argue that the gaskets will conform to the surface they are sealing. well, maybe a little, but not that much. after all, these gaskets are 4 layers of very thin METAL. they will only get so tight, and the areas with gaps will probably not be sealed because they areas that are sealed cannot get any tighter.

anyhoo, this perfectly demonstrates why a flat face would be a much better option at this juncture. nothing anyone says is going to alter my feelings. i hope this is a step towards better quality parts from the manufacturer.

on a side note. the ports look to be much smaller then the gasket holes, which would lead me to believe they are smaller then the exhaust ports on the engine block. which would then lead me to believe that there is excess restriction upon entering the headers. which means these can be improved. end quote.
So it seems you have one side still unmodified and one side that you've changed. Why not install them as they are now and see which one, if any leaks?

It seems as though you are trying to save face by providing images and more follow-up to the flack you've been receiving thus far. Why not go ahead and do a full inspection by installing the unmodified Sikky section on the one half and your custom piece on the other and see if either, one, or both leak so we can all know which is truly better. I don't see you being able to convince anyone your way is better unless you can actually PROVE on a functioning car and after putting some miles on it that your way doesn't leak and SIKKY's does or does not...

I'm not saying you have anything to prove. It's your car and your money that you spent on this modification. You can do what you want with it. However, it does seem that you care about your reputation. I'm speaking as someone in the crowd watching this thread, I don't feel like anyone is going to respect your work until you can back up your claims with actual road testing, rather than picture taking and untested claims...
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I love ya buddy but I gotta say you really need to do your homework! I have MANY MANY products out there just most of them are custom peaces. As for the F, we have done the ported intake Manifold which gains 13-17whp. We also have many in the works, but I would like to see consistent gains and a perfect product before they are released! COUGH COUGH Supercharger COUGH COUGH
I wasn't talking about any of the other products you make. I was talking about your so called headers.
So it seems you have one side still unmodified and one side that you've changed. Why not install them as they are now and see which one, if any leaks?

It seems as though you are trying to save face by providing images and more follow-up to the flack you've been receiving thus far. Why not go ahead and do a full inspection by installing the unmodified Sikky section on the one half and your custom piece on the other and see if either, one, or both leak so we can all know which is truly better. I don't see you being able to convince anyone your way is better unless you can actually PROVE on a functioning car and after putting some miles on it that your way doesn't leak and SIKKY's does or does not...

I'm not saying you have anything to prove. It's your car and your money that you spent on this modification. You can do what you want with it. However, it does seem that you care about your reputation. I'm speaking as someone in the crowd watching this thread, I don't feel like anyone is going to respect your work until you can back up your claims with actual road testing, rather than picture taking and untested claims...
1. the pictures speak for themselves. gaskets that do not have any surface to seal up to will leak.
2. all this modification costs me is time, because i do it myself.
3. i have been waiting all week to get these gaskets to fit them to the flange to prove my theory, that is why i have not touched it yet.
4. installing one of each would be a complete waste of time, i know mine will not leak, because the gasket actually makes contact around the entire surface, not on the edges of welds and 1/16" on the flat surface.
5. quite frankly, anyone that looks at these pictures and still thinks that everything is acceptable, is an ignorant moron, who should proceed to return all aftermarket parts for their car, because they do not care about quality workmanship. joe z makes quality parts, not a single problem with his intake or exhaust. k&n makes a well built intake. from what i've seen. everything that elite has made, or puts out (rods, pistons, oil cooler kits, p&p intake manifolds) is all of exceptional quality.
6. i do not care whether i have a reputation or not. whatever it may be, these will be fitted to my car, and my car alone. i will not modify any other sets because it takes too damn long and i will not do it again unless a hefty sum is sent my way. i know mine wont leak.
7. the point of showing people this? to open their eyes. so easy is it for a manufacturer to say "that's how its supposed to be" "do not mess with it". there is a lot of play in these bolts, which means there will be alot of different positions that the headers could have once installed. getting them, and the gaskets perfectly aligned for install without leaks would be a very daunting task.
8. sure they have been installed without leaks the sikky way. but someone has had leaks. myself, along with half a dozen mechanics and a few parts guys at TOYOTA, as well as a handful of friends and fellow car people, do not feel comfortable saying installing them the sikky way would be the best route to go.
9. once installed, i will give you the bad news. not following another sikky recommendation(directly at me), i will be installing myself. its a lot more satisfying, and i have been needing an excuse to get a lift. this way i can do it properly.
10. "."
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Nice heads up

1. the pictures speak for themselves. gaskets that do not have any surface to seal up to will leak.
2. all this modification costs me is time, because i do it myself.
3. i have been waiting all week to get these gaskets to fit them to the flange to prove my theory, that is why i have not touched it yet.
4. installing one of each would be a complete waste of time, i know mine will not leak, because the gasket actually makes contact around the entire surface, not on the edges of welds and 1/16" on the flat surface.
5. quite frankly, anyone that looks at these pictures and still thinks that everything is acceptable, is an ignorant moron, who should proceed to return all aftermarket parts for their car, because they do not care about quality workmanship. joe z makes quality parts, not a single problem with his intake or exhaust. k&n makes a well built intake. from what i've seen. everything that elite has made, or puts out (rods, pistons, oil cooler kits, p&p intake manifolds) is all of exceptional quality.
6. i do not care whether i have a reputation or not. whatever it may be, these will be fitted to my car, and my car alone. i will not modify any other sets because it takes too damn long and i will not do it again unless a hefty sum is sent my way. i know mine wont leak.
7. the point of showing people this? to open their eyes. so easy is it for a manufacturer to say "that's how its supposed to be" "do not mess with it". there is a lot of play in these bolts, which means there will be alot of different positions that the headers could have once installed. getting them, and the gaskets perfectly aligned for install without leaks would be a very daunting task.
8. sure they have been installed without leaks the sikky way. but someone has had leaks. myself, along with half a dozen mechanics and a few parts guys at TOYOTA, as well as a handful of friends and fellow car people, do not feel comfortable saying installing them the sikky way would be the best route to go.
9. once installed, i will give you the bad news. not following another sikky recommendation(directly at me), i will be installing myself. its a lot more satisfying, and i have been needing an excuse to get a lift. this way i can do it properly.
10. "."

I am still undecided on the headers but I appreciate the pics.

I think your point that there is very little room for error regarding gasket positioning is valid. Bottom line- you need to have it done at a place that is very skillful and/or has done it before.

I can imagine a first time install being a royal PITA with the second and third becoming much easier. Still trying to find a place in the SF bay area. Maybe I'll wait so I'm not the guinea pig.
I'm curious here...I can see the point everyone's making in regards to leaving the headers as is to form a seal that's at each opening versus forcing a seal across the entire surface, but when I look at a lot of other headers I see a smooth surface all the way across. Below is the shot of Porsche 911 stock headers on the left and aftermarket ones on the right. Stock has perfectly smooth mating surface and I don't hear of owners complaining about leaks. The aftermarket ones have individual mating surfaces. Maybe that's what needs to be done for the ISF?



And let's just assume that yes, it's better to have non-smooth ones, the openings to the tubing seems pretty crappy anyhow. Shouldn't they still be nicely rounded out regardless of the mating surface?
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I wasn't talking about any of the other products you make. I was talking about your so called headers.

........... You even have a post in the thread........ http://www.lexusfforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3038

The only reason we haven't released them is because I wanted to make sure ours make at least the same gains as Sikky.. As a company I could care less if we come out with the product first or if its cheaper. We will make the HIGHEST quality peace we can, with the best gains possible. when Sikky claimed 50whp... I was VERY skeptical.. So I want to know if I need to improve my design to make similar gains, but I think we can all see that the 50whp gain was a difference from snow mode to sport mode like I originally thought.
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