Strange rpm jump

[ZCam95]

Hey guys, just put headers on my roommates 02 v6 firebird. She also has slp cold air induction. Ever since the headers have been put on, sometimes when she accelerates hard in 3rd and 4th gear the rpms will shoot up to 5k then come back down and accelerate normally. It feels like shes spinning the tires but the tires arent spinnin out. It feels and sounds like the trans pops out of gear but according to where the shifter is, it shows it's in gear? It didn't do this befor the headers. Could this be a trans issue? Or maybe needs a pcm tune? Any input would be great!

[Conflict]

did you get the car tuned after the headers were installed?. It is pretty much required to make the car run right

[35th-ANV-SS]

did you get the car tuned after the headers were installed?. It is pretty much required to make the car run right

Are you sure about that?

I don't know about V6's, but there are plenty of people on this forum that have had LTs installed on their LS1's WITHOUT a tune and have been fine. I don't think it's required, but it is recommended to get the most HP/TQ from the change.

Sounds like the transmission is slipping to me. This happened right after the LTs were installed? Is the car an auto? Any codes?

[Conflict]

I know someone with a 4.6 mustang who had to have it tuned to run right, I don't know anybody that has put headers on the 3.8

also were the gaskets installed properly?, maybe some type of leak

[basballny2]

a tune is not required, however, to get the proper performance out of the car you need a tune. its only doing it in 3rd and 4th?

[Y2KPewterSS]

did you get the car tuned after the headers were installed?. It is pretty much required to make the car run right

A tune is not required after a header install. Your car will run rich, but will run fine. You will get optimal performance with a tune, but again, a tune is NOT necessary after a header install.

[Conflict]

A tune is not required after a header install. Your car will run rich, but will run fine. You will get optimal performance with a tune, but again, a tune is NOT necessary after a header install.

I figured you had to, everyone I've met has always tuned afterwords

[ZCam95]

yeah its only doing it in 3rd and 4th. My guess is trans, it's a 5spd and shes a little rough on the clutch in my opinion, I am going to look into getting a tune just to see if it makes a difference otherwise I will assume it is trans related. She says it's been slipping oiut of 2nd alot lately so it may be time to just break down and replace the clutch. Yeah I checked gaskets and they are fine, checked where the headers meet the y-pipe for leaks and where the y-pipe meets the cat.... nothin to be found. Thanks for all the input, if you think of anything else....lemme know

[ZCam95]

P.S. anyone recommend anyone in particular for a tune?

[Conflict]

The Frost Tune is good for the LS1 F-bodys, but I am not sure on their 3.8 work

[0rion]

sounds to me like she might be due for a clutch but that's a guess

[Smittro]

sounds to me like she might be due for a clutch but that's a guess

This.... and/or the headers maybe boiling the slave fluid..

[ZCam95]

having clutch replaced today/tomorrow.....will see what happens....

[GTP231]

This.... and/or the headers maybe boiling the slave fluid..

Nah clutch is saying FML. If the fluid was boiling she'd be having issues shifting and or pedal sticking to the floor.

[Smittro]

Nah clutch is saying FML. If the fluid was boiling she'd be having issues shifting and or pedal sticking to the floor.

I gotcha.