Hi all,

So; I wound up getting some SS AutoChrome Headers and I just put them on my car, and I was planning on doing the exhaust (already have the muffler, resonator etc planned out).

But goddamn, I turned it on and it's freaking LOUD. I was under the impression that headers wouldn't make such a difference in volume. So, I think I might have a exhaust leak somewhere but my dad looked at it and he doesn't know. It's like to the point where the floor is vibrating my feet when I'm accelerating normally; and I haven't even put my new exhaust on it.

If this is normal because if it is then I'm going to have to go back to the stocks or get some better headers because I'm thinking I might get pulled over for this, not to mention I think it sounds like shit.

I heard about the stuff that smokes white so you can find any leaks, but I don't know. I might go by exhaust pros (the place I was going to get my exhaust done) and ask the mechanic I talked to before if he could take a look at it and tell me if it's normal.

Any similar experiences would be great.

 

There's got to be a leak somewhere. No headers are that loud installed correctly. The leak might not even be near the headers or enigine. The install can mis-align other components and there's probably some rust somewhere too. You need to check from the header all the way back. I had a leak by my cat and it was loud like you're saying. Oh, don't burn yourself. Shit is hot!
good luck

 

when you installed your headers.. did you bolt it on correctly (kinda like changing a tire)...screwing down every other bolt?
if you did that you shouldnt have a leak... and did you remember to put the gaskets on???

 

are you sure you put your oxygen sensor back in lol

 

hahahaa... extra exhaust port for a mini muffler!

 

That would def cause an exhaust leak, but would trigger his CEL. Toxik, did you loosen the cat at all to get the headers to connect up? Everyone on here i've talked to said that they had to loosen the cat, cuz the bolts wouldn't line up, my guess is they're not sealed. Did you put the gaskets on right? And tighten the bolts and ensure that the headers are sealing on the cat?

 

i had the same problem.. rev your engine and have someone look under the hood and see if there is air being pressured out, and be careful cuz thats some hot ass air, second, all the bolts should be tight and there should be absolutely no gap, third, when the car is on the lift you should see this big long wide black metal piece that connects from under your bumper and runs along i think to the cat.. have not seen the bottom of my car for a while so i forget, but if it helps the metal thing is right next to the tranny.. when you start your car the headers will touch this metal thing at a certain point and will rattle and get real loud as you drive and make you sound like an 86 probe.. they cut into half this metal piece and now there is minimum noise

 

I had a buddy of mine help me out because he's got air tools and stuff. I was only there up to the point where we pulled out the stock headers but then I had to go to work so I gave him a few bucks to finish it up.

I worked all night tonight though and convinced my dad to run my car over to his place, he left me a note saying the braided part (flex pipe?) was rubbing on the cross-member and told me he cut out a little piece and then wound up having to use a rubber mallet to get it apart. My dad says it sounds fine now, I won't be able to take it out until tomorrow so I'll see.

But I'll run through all the bolts and make sure it's on the cat and everything right, hopefully I can have it to the point where I'm happy and I can get my exhaust done.

And yes, the o2 sensor is plugged in.

Thanks for all the help guys.

 

your dad said in a sentence what i tried to explain in a paragraph it is such a relief to have the cl sound normal tho