today i finished my header install,with y-pipe,and new catco cat,tommorow i hit the welder shop,the first time i ran the car with the new setup it was smoking but then i figured out it must be the new copper gaskets burning that i used ,i guess there coated in some way but after 10 minutes it all stopped and seems to be back to normal,the install was a bitch,pass. side didnt fit had to raise the moter up 4 inches, then she went right in,do that side first always to get it out of the way,beacause the driver side slide right in no problem,the y-pipe lined right up,and now all i can say is i hope it wasall worth it,ill know better when my muffler and new cat back get installed in the morning,hooker all the way for third gens,91vert,305 lb9,posi-rear,pro5.0shifter,gutted airboxes,hooker2055's,catco custom 3"cat,handbent 3"catback into flowmaster,

 

You should really see a performance increase with those exhaust upgrades. Smoking headers on inital start up is normal. That is merly grease and grime that gets on them from the production and handeling process.

 

i bet i gained 20-25 horsepower with the mod,great decision on my part,i love the increase in performance for the cost,

 

which flowmaster did you get?

I have a 91 TPI 5 Speed too...

I have a set of JetHot 2055's, magnaflow cat & Flowmaster Super 40... with one out... don't really want my exhaust to be seen...

But all of mine is sitting in the closet right now

Happy with your sound and power?

Rafael

 

Unless the headers were ceramic coated, the smoke was the black shipping paint burning off.

Otherwise, what Shifty said.

 

i think it was from the new copper gaskets i used because the headers them selves were used not new from factory,but still in great shape for 160.00 i payed for them,hooker all the way!

 

I'll stick with grease & grime from handling. Had the same result with a FWD engine I recently replaced that did not have any new parts on the exhaust system. That exhaust heat is enough to smoke most anything that gets on them. And, hands get pretty grimey working on engines.

 

Concerning the 02 sensor...

I've read that the "stock" 1 wire one needs to be replaced when using headers because they don't heat up as fast as the stock iron manifolds...

So a 3 wire "heated" was recomended...

Then I hear that ceramic coated headers "retain heat better"...

So question is... do I need one, or stick with stock??

Raf

 

Typically, shorty-style headers are fine with the single wire sensor. It's long-tube headers, or sensors in the y-pipe, that benefit from being heated.