Driving with open headers - any issues?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Regina, SK, CANADA
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Driving with open headers - any issues?
I just installed Edelbrock TES headers on my GTA and now I need the rest of the exhasut system done at my friends muffler shop. I was just going to drive it over with the open headers, but I need to know if there are any gotchas I should be worried about. I know that there is no problems with the long tube headers, but these shorties dump straight down under the motor. I guess my biggest concern is the O2 sensor - will it totally screw up since it is so close to the collector?
Thoughts???
Eric
Thoughts???
Eric
#2
Supreme Member
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: winthrop harbor, il & plymouth, il
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1986 camaro
Engine: 383 sbc
Transmission: th-400
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen 10 bolt/Detroit TrueTrac 4.
i dont know about the sensor but if u drive it long enough and its a little chilly when u shut it off it might warp the valves in the head when i had open headers my dad told me the trick to get around that was to put a rage in the flanges so i did. but since u r just going to the shop it should be fine as long as it isnt 10* outside
#4
Yeah i did the same thing too. I drove mine like that for about 200 miles and now it blows blue smoke. The heads could have just started goin bad but i think the open headers helped it. just my 2 cents
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2001
Location: springfield,IL
Posts: 745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: T/A / Grand Am
Engine: 383 SBC
Transmission: glide
Axle/Gears: 9" ford 5.67
TICKETS! I don't think I'll hurt your engine. I ran my engine for the first 30 minutes during breakin at 2200 rpm . Still running fine.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Silverhill,Al
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 92 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: T-5
I don't think it will hurt your O2 senser. When I built and installed the engine in my old Dart I just bolted a couple short collector extentions to it and then found a couple tin cans the right size and drilled lots of 1/4" holes in them and then used a couple screw clamps to attach them to the extentions and that made it just quiet enough to get to the muffler shop without getting a ticket!!!
Trending Topics
#11
Supreme Member
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Pitman, NJ
Posts: 2,009
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: '89 IROC-Z
Engine: Canfield 195 headed 358ci
Transmission: TH350, Art Carr 9.5"
Axle/Gears: 3.92 Dana 44
I took my car 2 miles up the road to the gas station yesterday with open headers ....Made me reconsider driving it 10 minutes away to my friend's house so we could put exhaust on it
#13
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Someone owes me 10,000 posts
Posts: 7,164
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 99 Formula
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 342
Originally posted by fattie92
just throw the Y pipe on it,, thats waht im gonna do..i hope itll sound good
just throw the Y pipe on it,, thats waht im gonna do..i hope itll sound good
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 677
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Get a couple of friends and put one car ahead of you and one behind.
Head straight for the muffler shop.
Drive only part throttle (the urge to floor it is immeasurable!!!), that keeps some of the noise down.
Have everything else on the car legal (i.e., plates, lights, insurance). That way if a cop pulls you over, explain the situation.
99 of a 100, they will let you go.
Head straight for the muffler shop.
Drive only part throttle (the urge to floor it is immeasurable!!!), that keeps some of the noise down.
Have everything else on the car legal (i.e., plates, lights, insurance). That way if a cop pulls you over, explain the situation.
99 of a 100, they will let you go.
#15
Member
I was in the same boat as you when I put my exhaust on. We finished up around 2AM with the headers, but I needed to have the rest of the exhaust welded up the next day. We took it out for a test drive to make sure there were no problems (yes at 2 AM, I bet the neighbors were HAPPY). Loud as all hell, but it sounded like a stock car. After we got back, i checked the floor pan where the y-pipe exited and it was very hot. I can't imagine all that hot exhaust dumping into the engine compartment, might end up cooking something. My advice, get the y-pipe installed and be very nice to it on the way to the shop.
DG
DG
#16
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Addison. Il
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
how much would a cat calm it down sound level wise?..my cat back is old and sucks,, but i dont need to get pulled over.. but the rice burners seem to get away with it around here.
#17
Supreme Member
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Manassas VA
Posts: 3,197
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
5 Posts
Car: 04 GTO
Engine: LS1
Transmission: M12 T56
Bah, if it's too loud, you're too old! I've driven prolly 2k miles or so w/ open headers / y pipe between 4 of my cars. Unless you have the bad luck to have a cop get behind you or next to you at a stop, you'll be fine. You simply don't touch the gas when you see 'em though, lol.
Especially if you're just driving to an exhaust shop. Given a polite explanation you should be ok. If not it's hopefully just a fix it ticket (just liek inoperable light or something). You'd have to insult the cop's mom to make him give you a real noise violation / disorderly conduct / real citation though IMO.
Especially if you're just driving to an exhaust shop. Given a polite explanation you should be ok. If not it's hopefully just a fix it ticket (just liek inoperable light or something). You'd have to insult the cop's mom to make him give you a real noise violation / disorderly conduct / real citation though IMO.
#18
Supreme Member
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Pitman, NJ
Posts: 2,009
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: '89 IROC-Z
Engine: Canfield 195 headed 358ci
Transmission: TH350, Art Carr 9.5"
Axle/Gears: 3.92 Dana 44
with the y-pipe on my car isnt nearly as loud as with just open headers. I drove around quite a few times with just the y-pipe ...open headers shakes pictures and stuff on the walls of my house at idle
#19
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Regina, SK, CANADA
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Well, I don't have a y-pipe... I bought the headers used (run only on a dyno, never on the street) but without the y-pipe. The shop will have to fabricate a y-pipe, then install the rest of the cat-back (no cat though - don't need it here) - Dynomax, I think is what he ordered for me. I do have some short extensions for the collectors that I suppose I could throw on, but it may be more hassle than it's worth. I really only have about 5 miles or less to go. I don't know - I could get it towed for free (CAA), but I thought it might be kinda fun to drive
My biggest concern is wrecking something. Guess I'll have to think on it some more. Thanks for all the input.
Eric
My biggest concern is wrecking something. Guess I'll have to think on it some more. Thanks for all the input.
Eric
#20
Supreme Member
I have a new Y-Pipe for my engine, But it doesnt match up to my HEaders!!!
Its a hooker Y-pipe, and one side fits the header, but the OTHER side just kinda goes off into no-where. there is no collector on that side! heres the pick of the OLD Y-pipe (Just bent metal) and the NEW Y-pipe that doesnt match up!
Its a hooker Y-pipe, and one side fits the header, but the OTHER side just kinda goes off into no-where. there is no collector on that side! heres the pick of the OLD Y-pipe (Just bent metal) and the NEW Y-pipe that doesnt match up!
#21
It seems it was already said, but if you get pulled over, just be polite and telling them your driving your car to get the exhaust put on. Provided the rest of your is legal (valid plates etc) they'll probably just give you a warning and that's it. No biggie
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post