open headers

i have questions 'bout open headers. one how do you go about this ? and two watz the good and bad thing 'bout it

good things well you'll go deaf so the bad part of your ears ringing and bleeding won't bug you. Open headers is for a race car only. I blew my exhaust while ago 3days of open header really gave me headache. You don't wanta do this.

Open header - disconnect the exhaust from the header. There are no good things about it on a stock daily driven car. Reduces power, ANNOYING, fumes rise in the car, car may not run right, loud - its just not good unless its a full out race engine, and even then many classes require exhaust of some sort besides a header(s) only.

Bahhhhhhhh-wwhhhaaaaaannnnaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I took my exhaust off and drove around with an open header and good god it was beyond loud... It sounds like an old rusted car you see on the road or something, like complete ass.

I took my exhaust off and drove around with an open header and good god it was beyond loud... It sounds like an old rusted car you see on the road or something, like complete ass.
you like it

I took my exhaust off and drove around with an open header and good god it was beyond loud... It sounds like an old rusted car you see on the road or something, like complete ass.

:iceslolan they do sound like shit. When I first got my camaro(5.0L) I removed the Y-pipe & drove with "open exhaust manifolds" :loser: That sounded like shit, also.

ive heard its not good for the car, and besides that your head will explode from the noise. i decided to take mine of cuz i was bored as i started the car and ideling at 700rpm i thought i was reving the 1.5 liter engine to like 10,000 rpm. had a lil fun with it in the driveway for a few min, "tryin to piss the neighbors off" then i put it all back on.

We used to do that @ BMW :naughty: . Those 12 cylinders sound fucking awesome w/ no exhaust. The service manager used to get so pissed :iceslolan

when I was changing the exhaust on my dad's Miata the other day I figured what the heck... start it up with just the header... it had a racing beat header on it and didnt sound half bad as long as you didn't rev it over like 2k... when I put the stock cast manifold back on (going to run it in C stock autocross this spring, no aftermarket headers allowed) it sounded so terrible it wasnt even funny, plus either way it was so loud I couldn't stand to hear it run for more than a few seconds.

another problem, a lot of newer cars have a second o2 sensor behind the cat, if you take all that off and run open header (there is only 1 on a 4 cyl btw) it will run like total crap, with a cel on most likely

I was annoyed by how loud my exhaust was and it was a full exhaust all the way to the rear... I had to have a quieter muffler put on it!! I don't really get why people want to wake the dead with their exhaust. and that goes for v8's just as much as anything else!!

When i had my h23 swapped with an h22, the header was a different length and i had an 8 inch gap between my header and exhaust. I thought it sounded like shyt and i wanted to kill myself bekuz it was sooo damn loud. My boy that did my swap said when you run open headers like we've all played around with...for an extended period of time at any RPM above 2k, youre very likely to bent the valves. I wanted to shoot myself before i even got to the muffler shop the day i picked it up. Just my thoughts! :smokin:

I did a search on open headers through google, and amazingly this was the first entry I got--exactly what I was looking for. Although, your reactions to open headers weren't what I expected. Now that I think about it, I question whether the following link is using open headers at all. I was shopping for an exhaust package for my new mustang, and found links to wave sounds of some typical setups.
http://www.mustangspeed.com/mustang_exhaust_sounds.htm
Under the 3.8L v6 model, click 'Stock 95 w/ Open Headers'.
That sounds pretty good to me. Probably not what the rest of you were hearing when you had open headers on your cars.

Open Headers is stupid...all your going to do is burn up the exhaust valves and then what? well you have a trashed up engine along with how many blown head gaskets and a huge loss of power. Not a good idea man. Don't do it.

how are you going to burn exhaust valves? or bend valves for that matter... I want someone to attempt to explain this to me, if anyone can... I cant wait to shoot down these stories

Shoot down the stories? who the hell you think you are? Mr. Engine Technical Instructor.... :grinno: :iceslolan

I also don't think I believe that sound clip of a 95 V6 with open headers...

[QUOTE=Miataracer]
another problem, a lot of newer cars have a second o2 sensor behind the cat, if you take all that off and run open header (there is only 1 on a 4 cyl btw) it will run like total crap, with a cel on most likelyQUOTE]

Run like crap or should i make it sound worse by saying "Total Crap"? :bs: Man, you act like you know anything about exhaust...all you know is is what you messed with with your lil miata that runs no better than my go-kart...Lets get things straight...if you want to challenge me on exhaust questions then try me...if you want to make yourself sound useful and important, then be an exhaust sales man!

-otherwise...keep your "i'm so mighty" comments to yourself...Rice boy..

(there is only 1 on a 4 cyl btw)

I had 2 on my Neon; it was a pain because I had to replace both 02 sensors at $40 each

bend valves for that matter
Who said anything about bending valves?

its because you have no back pressure on the motor, thats why you have problems with all that crap burning up. At least thats what I've heard from some rice boys.

I was bored so I pulled the the exhaust off behind the cat on my civic and went hauling ass around my place for about 15 min. it wasn't that annoyingly loud, I acctully thought it sounded good, except when you would get it wound up really high it would sound like a 2-stroke. hehe I eventully put the system back on because i was worryed about wrecking something. But open headers... I can't even believe how loud and annoying that would be.

Thank you very much JakeDrummer. What you have heard is right. If you ask 98% of people thats what they tell you and its been a proven fact. It shouldn't take some brainy dude to figure that out.

If I had known 'open headers' just meant taking off the exhaust off from the headers back, I wouldn't have asked. I had never heard the term before and thought it may be some form of a bolt on.

don't worry about it man, its just not really worth doing. Its more of a waist of time and you are just better off removing the mufflers if you want loud. Open headers is bad especially if they are not equal length.

To black 97mustang, you misquoted me. When I said there is one on a 4 cylinder I meant one header, not one O2 sensor. And yes, I am aware that horizontally opposed engines have two headers.... just in case anyone wants to turn into a smart ass

To pawn, you talk like you are a fool, so I will consider you as such. Do not try to speak as if you know about me and what I have and have not done. When you quoted me, did you even understand what I was talking about? It sure didn't sound like it. Let me clear this up for you. On a car that has two O2 sensors, one will be somewhere on the manifold/header, and one will be behind the cat. Both are needed for the computer to function correctly. If the second O2 sensor is not where it belongs (which it obviously wouldn't be if you were running an open header) then you will not only get a CEL, but the engine will end up getting incorrect amounts of fuel because the computer will be trying to compensate for the false reading of the second O2 sensor. So yes, it would run like crap, and if you want to throw 'total' in front of what I said then go ahead and do so. The point here is that the engine will not run correctly. Are you going to say this isn't true? And as far as your cute little Miata comment, I could honestly care less what you think about the cars, you probably have never driven one. And just for clarification in case you have not seen the picture in my sig, I now drive a Honda Civic. Also, when you thanked JakeDrummer and said 98% of people say something, that does not make it a proven fact.

To JakeDrummer, the whole theory of engines needing backpressure is a myth, in fact there is a sticky on the Honda forums around here somewhere I will go find that and link to it soon enough.

By the way pawn, you asked who said anything about bending valves... read the post by 'ShoofIsLudin'

Link to topic of 'backpressure' its right at the top of the Let's get Technical page in case you didn't notice. Read it.

Here you go... Backpressure (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=13199)

Signed, the "i'm so mighty" Rice Boy, who can't keep his comments to himself... :disappoin

Man, you act like you know anything about exhaust...all you know is is what you messed with with your lil miata that runs no better than my go-kart...Lets get things straight...if you want to challenge me on exhaust questions then try me...\..


challenge on, smart ass :loser:

I got the first question?

Please describe the function of muffler bearings or header fluid.:icon16:

d@mnit!!! I forgot to add those into my post! :banghead: :rofl:

you are saying that the second O2 sensor is always after the converter? Thats BS, I have see many of the newere models have the second sensor before it...No, you car will not run like crap if you remove that one. And when i said 98% of people, i ment it as if you asked that many the answer they would give is burn the exhaust valve. I didn't say 98% makes it a proven fact. All you know is what someone has told you and you have to post it to make you sound smart, i know ppl like you. Keep your crap up and i'll have you Own3d boy! Especially when it comes to exhaust.

To black 97mustang, you misquoted me. When I said there is one on a 4 cylinder I meant one header, not one O2 sensor.

Whoops, sorry about that man, it was late and I was tired, didn't read it carefully enough.

I got the first question?

Please describe the function of muffler bearings or header fluid.:icon16:
ask that question at an auto parts store....

Link to topic of 'backpressure' its right at the top of the Let's get Technical page in case you didn't notice. Read it.

Here you go... Backpressure (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=13199)

Signed, the "i'm so mighty" Rice Boy, who can't keep his comments to himself... :disappoin

like i said, all you can do is read secondary information and go from there. Yeah wanna be rice boy...how about gettind some balls and drive a real car. We don't want anyone that worry about Computer sensors here... :loser: :grinno: You must not know a whole lot if you say it will mess the car all up....you make it sound like you can't drive it anymore. :lol2: :loser: :iceslolan

So man...i say lets get technical then...how about it? you up for the challenge to take on me? or you just going to laugh about it? I say i can help more people out here on AF with an exhaust question than you? You wanna take this challenge then?

Ibl :)

One problem with open headers / short pipes is between shifts you can suck cold air back and backfire, burning your valves. You gotta shift really fast to stop it.

like i said, all you can do is read secondary information and go from there. Yeah wanna be rice boy...how about gettind some balls and drive a real car. We don't want anyone that worry about Computer sensors here... :loser: :grinno: You must not know a whole lot if you say it will mess the car all up....you make it sound like you can't drive it anymore. :lol2: :loser: :iceslolan

So man...i say lets get technical then...how about it? you up for the challenge to take on me? or you just going to laugh about it? I say i can help more people out here on AF with an exhaust question than you? You wanna take this challenge then?


pretty big words coming from (A) a highschooler, who calls me boy? lol (B) who drives a Pontiac (C) posts in the Honda forum (D) claims to like to "help street racers mod their rides" (one of the riciest little boy with a dream comments I have heard in a while) and (E) has already been banned at least once.

stfu, son. in case you didn't notice when you called me boy, I am over 3 years older than you

you wanna talk like you know? go ahead. i don't need little jackasses like you to attempt to tell me off, or whatever it is you are trying to do

you are saying that the second O2 sensor is always after the converter? Thats BS, I have see many of the newere models have the second sensor before it...No, you car will not run like crap if you remove that one. And when i said 98% of people, i ment it as if you asked that many the answer they would give is burn the exhaust valve. I didn't say 98% makes it a proven fact. All you know is what someone has told you and you have to post it to make you sound smart, i know ppl like you. Keep your crap up and i'll have you Own3d boy! Especially when it comes to exhaust.


tell ya what son, prove what you said about the O2 sensors and I will leave you alone (with a stock exhaust, not some wild BS shit that you pull out of your ass)

and then after that go out and take the second O2 sensor out of your exhaust, leave it connected though... and drive your car

what do you consider a real car? which one of yours are you talking about that doesnt have computer sensors? the 98 Grand Prix or the crappy old S10 Blazer?

own this :bananadie stock car driver... lol

tell ya what son, prove what you said about the O2 sensors and I will leave you aloneand then after that go out and take the second O2 sensor out of your exhaust, leave it connected though... and drive your car

I have taken it out. I took the Converter off and replaced my U-bend. I said the hell with drilling a whole and threading it to put that sensor back in. Only thing i have is the check engine light on, which i have taken care of that.

what do you consider a real car? which one of yours are you talking about that doesnt have computer sensors? the 98 Grand Prix or the crappy old S10 Blazer?

own this :bananadie stock car driver... lol

The Blazer now buddy, its got a 350 V8. Screw all the sensors...because it has NONE! Oh yeah, i was talking about the 98 Prix GTP.

most excellent and informative answers!

I have taken it out. I took the Converter off and replaced my U-bend. I said the hell with drilling a whole and threading it to put that sensor back in. Only thing i have is the check engine light on, which i have taken care of that.

the ghetto fab black tape repair? lol

the ghetto fab black tape repair? lol
lol...no, just pipe and clamps. Works just fine. It might be different on some cars, just depends on what that sensor is doing for the computer. So sorry about all of that earlier.

"burning valves" is pure bullshit. I drove my 1.5L around for 3 weeks in 40 degree temperature with only a manifold and the head is fine. The only thing i could see burning is your radiator if you drove around with NO MANIFOLD at all. Anybody can quote all the stupid facts they want, but its real life experience that guides me, and by my experience, no valves get burned/bent/etc. etc. from driving around with an open exhaust.