hello every1 i just bought some headers 4 my car and i was wondering how easy it 2 install and did i need to buy that test pipe? or will i b ok without it? also how many horsepower will i gain? thanks alot guys

 

Install should be easy. The hardest part is removing and putting the lower left screw back onto the block. It's in a real tight spot making it that much harder to get to, much less turn. Otherwise install is easy. The most you'll need is a breaker bar of some sort to help wrench the bolts loose from where the stock manifold and downpipe meet.

You don't need the testpipe at all to install any header. It removes the 2nd cat which is below the car between the downpipe and the catback piping of the exhaust. You'll be fine without it.

Nobody's dyno'd the header for actual gains but outside of the piggyback ECU, it's gonna be the biggest gaining bolt-on mod you can do.

 

i just installed mine tonight and theres a hissing sound while im accelerating. and it feels slower that it was before installed. what did i do wrong! i have 74k miles and i used the stock gaskets is that the problem? lol

 

sound like you have a nasty exhaust leak. did you use the correct amount of torque to screw it down?

 

Delshay: Sounds like you most definitely have an exhaust leak. Especially with that hissing sound. That would also explain the loss of power.

I would definitely replace those stock gaskets. It's recommended you replace them even when replacing the headers on a brand new car, and that goes double for a car with 74k miles. Go pick up a set of high quality gaskets that fit, reinstall, and you should be ok.

Also, make sure you didn't over-tighten the header bolts... that would be pretty hard to do, but if you over tighten, you can create an exhaust leak that way as well i believe. Good Luck. Keep us updated, I'm curious to see what the problem ends up being.

- Jason

 

you have to accurately torque the bolts back on? That might be a problem for me right now.
I feel the gains though and there is only a little noise from it.

 

yeah Z, i forgot what the specs are tho, boe stated the right amount a while ago, if you cant find it then just give rrm a call.

 

You definately needed to replace the gasket..that goes for any exhaust gaskets as well if you get that far... Save yourself the trouble and double up on installs and replace any gasket when you have the chance...

 

i believe its 40 ft lbs for the header bolts(but don't hold me to it)

 

I called RRM today and this is what they said:

12mm bolts - 12 ft-lbs
14mm bolts - 22 ft-lbs

Gotta go out tomorrow and get a torque wrench and get those bolts to spec

 

so...what exactly should it sound like? i installed mine, i got sri magnaflow catbak and there is a litle faint raspy sound to it, its not loud but you can hear it if you listen real good, you can only hear it if your sitting inside the car when its bein drivin...and another wierd thing i noticed is that when I rev the engine, when it gets to 5500 and up, it makes like a gurgle noise, or it kinda stutters then goes back to normal...I asked a guy and he said it didnt seem like a exhaust leak, i dont smell anything or see any places exhaust might be comming out, but i dunno. i thought id ask you guys since it may be because there is a leak. what do you guys think? should i take it to a shop and have them check for a leak? and if so just to tighten the bolts, i mean that shouldnt cost much for them to do that right? lemme know what u guys think

 

heh, i got it checked out. they said there wasnt a leak so i guess the sound is normal? bleh

 

i think your hearing that little buzzing sound

 

The light buzzing/hissing sounds is normal. It partly due to that fact that you have a lot more air flowing through the header now and not being muffled in a cat.

 

ses light on yet?