I've been meaning to equip my IROC with headers for some time now, but it seemed that multiple engine blows and a paint project gone badly wrong were always getting in the way of getting around to it. I finally got around to it sometime 2 weeks ago, when I finally found myself with enough funds (barely) to finance a cheap set of headers that could hopefully be slapped on overnight.

I went with the cheapest option relative to my intended results, which happened to be non-coated headman's and the corrosponding 2.5 inch Y-pipe. The headers have 3 inch collectors, so I was a little pissed when Summit told me that a 2.5 inch Y-pipe was the only one available, as I was hoping to do 3'' all the way back. Sh*t happens. I went along with it, but after frequent blowoffs of the cat from the Y-pipe and an accidental crunching of my intermediate pipe, I went all out and bought a catco cat, and a dynomax catback kit. (2.5 inch) I was pressed for the money, otherwise I would have gone with the aerochamber, which was my first option.

I finished the project today, which makes me happy, as I can now say that I've replaced every inch of my exhaust from head to tailpipe, but the results, on the other hand, have been less than impressive.

To be honest, I'm not really even very sure that there is any noticable horsepower gain to speak of, and I'm extremely bothered by that, as the entire project has cost me about 520 bucks thus far, not to mention a great deal of my time and energy. My original Y-pipe/Intermediate pipe was 2 3/4 inches, which came to my attention as I was yanking the it off and compared it to the one I bought. I can't imagine a very significant horsepower loss when converting from 2 3/4 to 2 1/2, and I'm not really sure that I want to know. The old exhaust was absolute crap. Aside from the fact that stock manifolds just suck really hard, there were a few cracks in the Y-pipe, the indermediate was rusting out, and the muffler was torn. So why is it that I'm not spinning the tires like I used to? I suspect a few other things MAY be at play, such as a bad connection to one of the ignition wires, (The headers made some of the wires a little difficult to afix to the spark plugs) but I only really noticed the bogging after I put on the catback kit.

The whole project has been something of a disappointment, and I'm not sure I would do it over again if I had the chance. I believe in the value of a GOOD exhaust job, and I assumed, at the very least, I would pick up 15 horsepower after all of this, but this is just stupid. I guess dynomax was the real fault here, as I'm told their mufflers are poop, but it should, at the very least, match the performance of that junky thing that I yanked off.

Maybe there are a few things I overlooked or just didn't think about? Maybe someone has a few suggestions, because this car is quicky becoming a big waste.

Oh, and for the virtue of using a smiley...

My exhaust is currently

 

Dont be discouraged..For you accomplished one of the
biggest steps of making our cars better.

Too be honest, Exhaust doesnt influence too
much unless its a redlining, octane eating monster
tuned to the slightest spec.

I noticed after my exhaust mods, the car just ran
cooler, more efficient and obviously the sound is what
really made the cake.

My car has the Hedman kit, but had a 3" Y-pipe
made. Even though not coated, I noticed the car
still runs cooler than stock.

Dont worry, I didnt noticed any real time performance
gain from the headers either, but they do very well
effect the cars overall demeanor.

And living in the desert like myself, I always had a
"heatsoak" starter problem with the stock exhaust..

But, since the installation of the Hedman's.. Ive yet
to be stranded.. thats with un-coated headers, I cant
wait till I coat mine!

Also, If you have had a drastic decrease in power,
Id double check your work, alot of things can easily
be overlooked while doing a header job.

Further down the road, when the car has had some
internal modification, you'll find your headers are very
necessary if you want to go fast.

Just be happy you got some mounted, That alone is
something to brag about to your buddies

 

I appreciate the kind words, TPI. The job was a little tough, but, in retrospect, only because I haven't done it before. If I had to do it all over again, I'd like to think I could do it in a fraction of the time, and with far less effort.

Speaking of doing it all over again...

I really got my LOLs outta this thing today when I was driving around the community college and my cat blew off my Y-pipe after a burnout. The burnout was KING, so I was satisfied at the very least, but not so much when the cops came over to see my poor, pathetic *** stranded on the side of the road with my cat on the ground and my head up my butt.

It was really stupid, and almost a little embarassing when all was said and done, but the good news is that all my exhaust parts are still under warranty, which means I'm taking all that junk (it's bent up pretty good) right back to where I got it and at this point, I'm just gunna do it right. 3'' all the way if I can, and hopefully that aerochamber that I was hoping for initially.

I'll post how it all goes.

 

I am running Hooker 2055HKR it came with a 3" y pipe and then I have a 3" pipe all the way back to my dynomax 3" in dual 2 1/2" outs...I am pushing a true 500hp with NOS at the crank and it flows great. I would not blame the dynomax for your performance loss I would be looking at other thins such as your ignition as you stated your plug wires did not fit right. There is a huge difference between a 2 1/2" pipe and a 3" pipe though but your setup should out flow the stock system by far...I would take the Y pipe of and have an exhaust custom fab it into a 3" and run 3" all the way back ...unless you are making big power just about any muffler will work for you as long as it has 3" in and dual 2 1/2" outs or a single 3" out but that kinda looks fugly in my opinion!

 

I couldn't agree more. These cars look like butt with single exuast, and even though most of our cars aren't TRUE dual, the dual output just looks meaner. In short, it's just unbecomming of a sports car to have only one tailpipe.


I'm pretty set on the 3'' deal now, I hope it doesn't cost me more than an extra 100 bucks after my refunds from the other parts. I'm not sure if I'll stay with the dynomax, however. I made a point of reading the thread about catbacks, but the prices seem to have changed a great deal since its posting, so my decision is likely going to boil down to what I can afford. I'm toward the aerochamber for a number of reasons, (mainly because it detatches at the curve, so it would seem that it's easier to install) but if Summit is gunna make me dish out a whole 300 bucks, I may just have to go with that dynojunk.

I'll try to get the damned thing off tomorrow. Hopefully it all goes over well.