running open headers

**ls1wallen** · 10-30-2009, 05:59 PM

I ran across a thread saying he has been running open headers for like a year now. I always thought running open headers for long peroids of time hurts your engine?

**Mr. Luos** · 10-30-2009, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by ls1wallen

I always thought running open headers for long peroids of time hurts your engine?

Shouldn't.

It can ruin O2's though.

**luvmyz28** · 10-31-2009, 05:23 AM

I was always told that running around with just headers would hurt a stock or stockish engine as well. people would say it had something to do with lack of backpresure and the extra heat from the exhaust not running back far enough from the engine bay. dont know if any of that is true but I drove mine around for a couple weeks (not a daily driver by the way) and it didnt hurt anything. it was loud as hell though. I dont think I could take it with open headers for long. I would like to have a custom y pipe made with cutouts. so I would like to know as well if there is any truth to any of that.

**Mr. Luos** · 10-31-2009, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by luvmyz28

people would say it had something to do with lack of backpresure and the extra heat from the exhaust not running back far enough from the engine bay.

What they are referring to is pretty simple and NOT a problem with longtubes.
Cold air getting to hot valves when you turn off the motor thus warping the valves. This won't happen with our cars.

**jeffsWS-6** · 10-31-2009, 09:27 AM

i dont think i could take the smell of exhaust inside the car very long running open headers.

**Mr. Luos** · 10-31-2009, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by jeffsWS-6

i dont think i could take the smell of exhaust inside the car very long running open headers.

You should hang out around mine for a while with the dumps open....
If I drive it for a day, my clothes smell like gas.

**Benner** · 10-31-2009, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Luos

You should hang out around mine for a while with the dumps open....
If I drive it for a day, my clothes smell like gas.

That's how my Formula was for a while. My mom couldn't ride in the car at times cause the fumes gave her a headache.

**ls1wallen** · 11-01-2009, 04:43 PM

I was just wondering. I am going to put the headers on but it might be a week or two before i can finsh the whole set up I want. I have a welder whos a friend and he's doing it in his free time for nothing so i am really on his time.

**Mr. Luos** · 11-01-2009, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by ls1wallen

I was just wondering. I am going to put the headers on but it might be a week or two before i can finsh the whole set up I want. I have a welder whos a friend and he's doing it in his free time for nothing so i am really on his time.

You will be fine.

**need4fun2469** · 11-02-2009, 12:58 AM

I run with my cut-out open most of the time.

**Too Fast** · 11-02-2009, 02:24 AM

Originally Posted by Mr. Luos

Shouldn't.

It can ruin O2's though.

It's true what he says. The old bend a valve thing is if you are running around open manifolds with the really shitty log style exhaust manifolds, then it was possible for an exhaust valve to warp, coming into contact with the (relatively) cold air. LT, tho, that won't happen.

And yeah, pretty loud and smells up the inside of the car. You might want to drive around with hearing protection, the noise is so addicting LOL.

**RageAgainstTheMinivan** · 11-02-2009, 03:48 AM

Are you talking about running open headers on the street? That is so f*cking loud, you're going to piss off every car and house around you, not to mention attract all the cops. I drove with open headers 10 miles, from my house to my buddies exhaust shop. I got so many dirty looks! It didnt even sound cool, sounded more like a demo derby car. High comp big blocks have the best open header sound IMO, but still, leave it for the track.

**ls1wallen** · 11-02-2009, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by need4fun2469

I run with my cut-out open most of the time.

i have a cut out, was a cheap way to get loud when i first bought the car but now i want to do it all.

**Frost** · 11-02-2009, 01:40 PM

If you run open headers and don't UNHOOK and remove the front O2s, you can wash the cyls. The PCM will DROWN you in fuel trying to fix what it thinks is a lean condition from the fresh air coming back to the sensor.

**jsremmos** · 11-04-2009, 11:28 AM

Hey that makes alot of since I never even thought about that

I just looked it up and frost is right im glad I havent done this yet... Can this happen with a cut out because i ran one right after my y pipe (sounded like crap i welded it up a week later) I popped my o2 sensor in 3 day (200 miles)

**fieropope** · 11-05-2009, 06:41 PM

ran my car about 400 miles with open headers trust me BAD IDEA holy shit it was loud but it back fired like crazy, got about 4 gallons per mile ,ran like ass,but it got me back and forth until i could afford a pacesetter y, so i guess if you have to you can but you should just buy the y and headers at the same time so your not tempted.

**JHayesLS1** · 11-06-2009, 12:33 PM

Open headers is the shit. I wish I would of done it longer lol

**Spaz** · 11-06-2009, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Frost

If you run open headers and don't UNHOOK and remove the front O2s, you can wash the cyls. The PCM will DROWN you in fuel trying to fix what it thinks is a lean condition from the fresh air coming back to the sensor.

and if you stop at a traffic light your eyes will water to the point where you can no longer see...

**ssgtwalsh** · 11-06-2009, 03:04 PM

just run and x pipe with no cats or muffs. this will still keep it loud and all the exhaust smell gets spit at the guy in the rear view after you blow his doors off.

**blackbirdbrain89** · 11-09-2009, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by jsremmos

Hey that makes alot of since I never even thought about that

I just looked it up and frost is right im glad I havent done this yet... Can this happen with a cut out because i ran one right after my y pipe (sounded like crap i welded it up a week later) I popped my o2 sensor in 3 day (200 miles)

the air should not kill the o2's over fueling will in time. its more likely that the paint on the inside of the headers will clog ur o2's its happens with pace setters all the time. i clogged them up for 2000 mi after my headers and gave me one hell of a time tuning. add fuel... no response switched them out for the rears and went way rich took fuel out and went back to where i needs to be