Open Headers - Exhaust - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

ajbutowicz · 05-03-2005, 03:21 AM

Is it going to be like, earthshaking loud? I have to run them for about a week while i wait for the rest of the exhaust to get here.... What i mean is, if i'm stuck in traffic, will I be rattling windows? If anyone has some sound clips, i'd appreciate it.

Also, will i still see the "signifigant" gains over the stock manifolds that everyone talks about even though they will be open at the collector? I will be running hooker shorties. Would a custom Y pipe increase the gains even though itll still be open?

I have a LO3 TBI.

05-03-2005, 07:32 AM

ground shaking window breaker

Ramair21 · 05-03-2005, 07:48 AM

when i started my car with only headers, OHHHH MAN!!!!! SOunded like..... JUST LOUD BRO... Those headers make the biggest difference to our cars. Have fun.

406TPI · 05-03-2005, 09:07 AM

Shorties on a stock low compresion motor will sound terrible. It won't sound like a race car if that's what you were hoping for.

ajbutowicz · 05-03-2005, 11:46 AM

What i'm hoping for is it to run... The borla exhaust doesn't get here for another 2 weeks but the headers get here today so i'm hoping I can stand it.

406TPI · 05-03-2005, 11:53 AM

Why not just wait 'til the whole system arrives and do it all at once? I don't think you are gonna like the way it sounds unless your neck is red.

ajbutowicz · 05-03-2005, 12:32 PM

Meh, i just want to get them on, I can garage the car for a bit while i work on it.... no interior except a front seat right now anyway...

So yes/no to some/any/alot of performance gains?

Clemson327 · 05-03-2005, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 406TPI
Why not just wait 'til the whole system arrives and do it all at once? I don't think you are gonna like the way it sounds unless your neck is red.

Isn't that a requirement for owning a third gen?

91RS5speed · 05-03-2005, 01:19 PM

It will be very loud people will be able to hear your car blocks away. Driving in traffic will be very anoying to you and other drivers. You wont want to drive the car for very long like that.

It does sound cool though I think everyone should take a spin around the block after they put headers on just for fun

edit yes you will get good gains 20-30hp easy over stock

305q_ta86 · 05-03-2005, 01:24 PM

http://www.geocities.com/fbodyfanatic68/Movie.zip

Download that. It's a movie I made of my exhaust cutout. When you see the door open, that's open exhaust. I revved it both closed and open, just for comparison.

ajbutowicz · 05-03-2005, 01:35 PM

Thats going to be.... exciting, haha

Does it make a difference if they open after a y pipe or after the collector? Mine will be open right after the collector... Assuming i can get the GM locking tabs off the manifold bolts... check my other post, i need help.

Clemson327 · 05-03-2005, 01:54 PM

One thing I will add is that if you run open shorties you will lose A LOT of low end grunt. I tried this on my truck one time just for the heck of it and it was nuts how much I lost on the lowend. It will also be loud as hell. I'm running open longtubes on my 406 until I can bring it up to school to have the exhaust system installed and you can't have a conversation in the car if the windows are down.

five7kid · 05-03-2005, 02:10 PM

I'll second the "wait until you have everything" motion. Open shorties at the collectors on an LO3 is going to run horrible. Besides, exhaust fumes in the passenger compartment is not a cool situation.

Use the time to clean up the headers - prepare the O2 bung, clean up weld slag, sand blast and paint with high-temp exhaust paint (assuming these aren't ceramic coated headers). When all the parts are in hand, put it all on.

ajbutowicz · 05-03-2005, 02:24 PM

Guess i'll wait then.

406TPI · 05-03-2005, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 91RS5speed

edit yes you will get good gains 20-30hp easy over stock

Don't forget, this is not a fire breathing high revving small block were talking about here...it's a stock L03....with open headers this thing will be doggy as hell. Just because some motor makes a lot of noise doesn't mean it's making alot of power.

1bad406rs · 05-03-2005, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Clemson327
One thing I will add is that if you run open shorties you will lose A LOT of low end grunt. I tried this on my truck one time just for the heck of it and it was nuts how much I lost on the lowend. It will also be loud as hell. I'm running open longtubes on my 406 until I can bring it up to school to have the exhaust system installed and you can't have a conversation in the car if the windows are down.

i dont know know what your exact setup is but w/ my 406 with open long tubes @ the collector even at idle it doesnt matter if the windows are up down whatever...if your within 15 ft of my car you can hear anything, let alone have a conversation with someone

Clemson327 · 05-04-2005, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1bad406rs
i dont know know what your exact setup is but w/ my 406 with open long tubes @ the collector even at idle it doesnt matter if the windows are up down whatever...if your within 15 ft of my car you can hear anything, let alone have a conversation with someone

I guess I'm just getting used to it after 6 months then haha. My mom doesn't like me to let it idle in the garage though b/c it shakes the whole house and rattles the dishes REALLY bad.

fbody83 · 05-04-2005, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 406TPI
Don't forget, this is not a fire breathing high revving small block were talking about here...it's a stock L03....with open headers this thing will be doggy as hell. Just because some motor makes a lot of noise doesn't mean it's making alot of power.

I agree, unless you have a pretty stout cam and a decent CR then its not going to be very loud or sound very good.

Now, THIS is loud

The video actually doesn't do it any justice. Inside I feel it in my chest.

EvilCartman · 05-04-2005, 02:08 AM

If you want to hear a loud exhaust, go to a top fuel race. Nothing on the planet comes close to the sound or feeling of one of those taking off. If your standing somewhat close to the starting line, your vision blurs when they take off

Here's a video of my car running open y-pipe (close enough to open headers). I was shifting at 7,000 rpm and the burnout was around 5,000 rpm in 2nd.

91RS5speed · 05-04-2005, 08:17 PM

I still have the lo3 heads and cam in mine it will be loud. Only thing thats different on mine is a tpi setup but that wont change his gains to much.

Im just going with what i got outa mine when i put headers on. here is a dyno graph of before and after.

ajbutowicz · 05-05-2005, 12:28 AM

Are those numbers with open headers? or does hooking it back up to a aftermarket exhaust really add back the torque like the earlier posts say?

305q_ta86 · 05-05-2005, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 91RS5speed
I still have the lo3 heads and cam in mine it will be loud. Only thing thats different on mine is a tpi setup but that wont change his gains to much.

Im just going with what i got outa mine when i put headers on. here is a dyno graph of before and after.

That graph looks like there's something wrong. Isnt the HP and TQ supposed to cancel out at 5250 RPM?

Clemson327 · 05-05-2005, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 305q_ta86
That graph looks like there's something wrong. Isnt the HP and TQ supposed to cancel out at 5250 RPM?

Yes, they are. The increments on the graph arent the same for horsepower and torque though. At 4400 rpms, the engine is producing 180 lb-ft of torque and 150 hp so it is still correct. The numbers are just different on both sides so it looks a little misleading.

f50nut · 05-05-2005, 03:49 AM

i have a video of my car with just open collectors, but it's pretty big so if you want me to send it to you pm me your email address or something. i also have clips with the open y-pipe if you'd like to hear that too. you wont want to run open collectors for 2 weeks anyway, you'll burn your exhaust valves.

91RS5speed · 05-05-2005, 04:18 PM

thats a stock exhaust manafolds and everything compaired to. slp headers y pipe and open cutout after the ypipe.

DuronClocker · 05-05-2005, 04:37 PM

I just got my SLP 1 3/4" headers installed on my car today, and its disgustingly loud, and the car feels different to drive. Hard to compare to before since my exhaust isn't hooked up just yet. I'm taking it into the exhaust shop tomorrow to have a piece of pipe welded in to join my SLP Y-pipe to my cat. Its definitely not something I'd want to drive around with very long.

ajbutowicz · 05-06-2005, 12:47 AM

I got my headers in today, finally... Just gave it a run around the block.... NO torque at all... will hooking it up to the new full exhaust solve this so i can see the gains im supposed to see?

HorseflyDF · 05-08-2005, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ajbutowicz
Thats going to be.... exciting, haha Does it make a difference if they open after a y pipe or after the collector? Mine will be open right after the collector... Assuming i can get the GM locking tabs off the manifold bolts... check my other post, i need help.

It sounded better to me open.