Headers are installed!!
Thread Starter
|
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 10
Headers are installed!!
i finished putting my headers on this weekend. I ordered the BBK shorties when I did the intake tube, air filter and true dual exhaust. When I went to install them I saw I already had 2 broken manifold bolts so I figured I would wait tell I was fully ready to deal with all 12 bolts broke if that was to happen. Luckily for me that didn’t! I ended up having 2 more bolts break on me so I had to deal with 4 broken bolts. A few 6 hours later I had all bolts removed and ready to put on the new goodies.
The BBK headers fit right in place like they were supposed to. With some ARP bolts installed I made sure I will not have to deal with any more broken bolts when I do my Heads, Intake and cam swap this winter.
As for performance I wouldn’t say there’s any more power but for driving it made a big difference. With the 37’s and factory gearing it would downshift for what seemed like the smallest of hills with the cruise set at 65. I’ve put about 80 miles on the rig since I finished and it almost never downshifts with the cruise set.
The BBK headers fit right in place like they were supposed to. With some ARP bolts installed I made sure I will not have to deal with any more broken bolts when I do my Heads, Intake and cam swap this winter.
As for performance I wouldn’t say there’s any more power but for driving it made a big difference. With the 37’s and factory gearing it would downshift for what seemed like the smallest of hills with the cruise set at 65. I’ve put about 80 miles on the rig since I finished and it almost never downshifts with the cruise set.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,320
From: SC
LoJac-
Depending on the kit you dont have to redo the entire exhaust. The OBX kit that I went with included everything up to the factory joint just after the cats. Mine came with high flow cats but I think the LT kits from BBK come with y pipes to delete the cats (not legal in many states). Really was not all that hard to install, just takes time. Start spraying the threads of the O2 sensors and bolts every day for a few days before hand....
I ultimately did also end up getting a cat-back kit too and replacing the rest too.
Depending on the kit you dont have to redo the entire exhaust. The OBX kit that I went with included everything up to the factory joint just after the cats. Mine came with high flow cats but I think the LT kits from BBK come with y pipes to delete the cats (not legal in many states). Really was not all that hard to install, just takes time. Start spraying the threads of the O2 sensors and bolts every day for a few days before hand....
I ultimately did also end up getting a cat-back kit too and replacing the rest too.
LoJac-
Depending on the kit you dont have to redo the entire exhaust. The OBX kit that I went with included everything up to the factory joint just after the cats. Mine came with high flow cats but I think the LT kits from BBK come with y pipes to delete the cats (not legal in many states). Really was not all that hard to install, just takes time. Start spraying the threads of the O2 sensors and bolts every day for a few days before hand....
I ultimately did also end up getting a cat-back kit too and replacing the rest too.
Depending on the kit you dont have to redo the entire exhaust. The OBX kit that I went with included everything up to the factory joint just after the cats. Mine came with high flow cats but I think the LT kits from BBK come with y pipes to delete the cats (not legal in many states). Really was not all that hard to install, just takes time. Start spraying the threads of the O2 sensors and bolts every day for a few days before hand....
I ultimately did also end up getting a cat-back kit too and replacing the rest too.
I have looked at OBX LTs for years, they are highly recommended in the vette community. I had no idea the LTs bolt to the stock exhaust......damn lol
How are their cats for emissions? I just had my yearly test done and one reading was 0 and the other was 9 out of 400 with factory cats.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,320
From: SC
I doubt the cats are probably doing much of anything to be honest. I posted a thread when I got mine which has some pictures. I also replaced the two downstream O2 sensors while I was at it since it was over 110k miles on it. I occasionally am getting a check engine light for P0420 which means the upstream and downsteam O2 sensor readings are too close. In other words the high flow cats are pretty much doing nothing which is also a common thing you will find on headers with high flow cats installs.
I think if you are in a state that checks emissions you might want to go with a brand that will include better quality cats. The big advantage to the ones coming with the OBX kit is zero welding, nothing custom needed, just bolt it all on and go. I'm not sure on other brands or if you could get the OBX and then some other brand of cats that would be an exact fit. In all honesty - while I'm happy with the OBX headers, on the drivers side OBX does an upward hump on one pipe to keep the flows even and that upward hump makes it hard to not have a spark plug wire hitting the header.
If I do it again (and I am tempted to) I'll be looking at a brand that does not have the one pipe going up like that and I'll probably also go with ceramic coated to reduce heat. We do not have vehicle inspections here so I'm not worried about the emissions. I'm just going to disable the O2 sensors in my tune.
For anyone in a state with inspections I'd suggest finding a brand that states they are good for California.
I think if you are in a state that checks emissions you might want to go with a brand that will include better quality cats. The big advantage to the ones coming with the OBX kit is zero welding, nothing custom needed, just bolt it all on and go. I'm not sure on other brands or if you could get the OBX and then some other brand of cats that would be an exact fit. In all honesty - while I'm happy with the OBX headers, on the drivers side OBX does an upward hump on one pipe to keep the flows even and that upward hump makes it hard to not have a spark plug wire hitting the header.
If I do it again (and I am tempted to) I'll be looking at a brand that does not have the one pipe going up like that and I'll probably also go with ceramic coated to reduce heat. We do not have vehicle inspections here so I'm not worried about the emissions. I'm just going to disable the O2 sensors in my tune.
For anyone in a state with inspections I'd suggest finding a brand that states they are good for California.
Ugh you are so damn lucky you don't have vehicle inspections. Usually we can renew here in AZ for 2 years but this time around it didn't give me the option. It's so annoying to wait at an emissions testing facility forever every year.
I may just do shorty headers to retain the factory cats. Too much BS here in AZ if they aren't working.
I may just do shorty headers to retain the factory cats. Too much BS here in AZ if they aren't working.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,320
From: SC
No inspections has its drawbacks too..... There are some total pieces of sh*t on the roads here sometimes that are truly a flat out danger to both the person operating it as well as anyone else. lol That being said, I'd still much rather not have inspections. I think it is fine to let police sort out the ones that are just dangerous, unsafe, obnoxious (running open headers), missing lights, bald tires, etc.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 781
No inspections has its drawbacks too..... There are some total pieces of sh*t on the roads here sometimes that are truly a flat out danger to both the person operating it as well as anyone else. lol That being said, I'd still much rather not have inspections. I think it is fine to let police sort out the ones that are just dangerous, unsafe, obnoxious (running open headers), missing lights, bald tires, etc.