Headers

[DeViL]

Yeah this doesn't belong here but it would never get answered if I put it in the S-10 forum, plus a lot of you guys would know better. I finally got my set of JBA headers this week for the S-10's V6. I only got the left one on today because it IS A PAIN IN THE ASS . So far everything performance wise on this truck has been almost impossible to install.

Anyways thats not the point. The point is the left side is installed but I think there is a problem. One of the pipes from the header is rubbing right up against this rubber piece surrounding my steering shaft. Could this be dangerous? I haven't taken it out for a test drive or anything either. I'm going to post something about this on s10forum.com as well since a lot of them use JBA headers, and I'm going to call JBA themselves and find out what the deal with this is. But still I'd like your input.

Oh yeah btw, straight headers on a 4.3L V6 sounds like a fucking beast omg.

[Volvord 784VC]

Headers are so much fun to install
Your probelm is common, the normal fix is to take a ball peen hammer and carefully hammer a small indent in the primary pipe to provide the clearance you need, this will not effect the performance in any way. I know it sounds crude but many stock headers come complete with a "ding" right from the manufacturer in these critical locations of interference. You should try the headers in my car, custom made and the only way to install them is while the engine is lifted.

[DeViL]

You should try the headers in my car, custom made and the only way to install them is while the engine is lifted

God yes I understand that completely. Basically you have to do the same thing with my truck as well. This would of been so much easier with the engine out. Taking OUT the original header and trying to screw back on the A.I.R pipe was probably the hardest damn parts of this procedure.

Anyways I'm kinda shaky on your idea. These headers are silver coated wouldn't that damage the coating?

[Volvord 784VC]

Yes, if they are ceramic coated there is a chance they will crack or chip the coating. It does make a huge difference the different manufacturers of headers, their design, and how they fit. But on my ceramic coated MAC headers I have placed a small dimple with no damage to the coating

[DeViL]

It's really stupid that I have to go through with doing anything in the first place. How can you make parts for a damn car that aren't safe?

Another thing I don't understand is a lot of people on s10forum.com use these JBA headers and they don't seem to complain about this.

[flylwsi]

keep in mind that an aftermarket manufacturer produces products to spec for a vehicle/vehicles that they have had available to them to prototype products on.

these are most likely new vehicles, fresh bushings, etc.

so, the tolerances are different on your truck depending on the age, the way you drive, etc.

nothings perfect...

it's a mass produced product, and it's going to be a slightly different install on EVERY s-10...

trust, me i've had the same issues with my truck on some stuff, and heard about that type of thing.

for example.
if you drop two trucks, with the same products, they definitely won't sit the same level... close... but not quite

[DeViL]

Yeah I understand everything is going to be a slightly different in each product but it shouldn't be that different that it can be unsafe. I haven't tried it but if this effects my steering capabilities then that means I just wasted 7 1/2 hours and 600 bucks on something I can't even put on.

[DeViL]

Well Volvord I found a way around that without denting the pipe. All I had to do was move that orange rubber piece up a bit and now nothing is touching the header. The brake lines were also damn close so I had to bend those as well. The trouble I would of been in if those burned up....45mph, red light, NO BRAKES

Anyways nothing is touching the header but of course there is always something else to piss me off. So someone tell me is this a normal noise or not. Only from a dead stop, if I stomp it I get a really violent rattling noise that sounds like its coming from above the gas pedal. If I just hit the gas normally it still rattles but its not as loud. Someone on the s-10 forum told me this could possibly be an exhaust leak at the y-pipe collector. Does anyone else have any other ideas to what this could be?

[fatninja19]

off topic, but where did you buy the JBA's at Devil??

[DeViL]

Ordered them through protrucks catalog. You can do it online as well.

[Volvord 784VC]

Congrats, happy to hear you did not have to modify the headers by hammer!

Your rattle could be a couple of things; As was mentioned it could be an exhaust leak at either the collector or the head flang. With headers both of these areas are prone to leaking, when you accelerate hard there is an increase in exhaust flow which will cause any leak to be more noticable.

2) the other cuase could be the headers or your exhaust system is hitting something, the under side of the car, a bracket, steering column, etc. The engine will move quite a bit on the rubber motor mounts, when you accelerate hard the left side of the engine will try to lift up which could cause a part of the exhaust system top contact something. You can simulate this by having someone apply the brake hard, put the trany into drive, and slowly apply the accelerator (commonly called a brake stand) do not do it for very long as it creates a lot of heat in the trany (automatic) and do not stand in front of the car, be safe!!! but you will see the engine move as power is applied. Again you may have to do some adjusting to allow for enough clearance.

Good luck

[fatninja19]

So devil, tell us what the butt dyno reads!

[DeViL]

The bolts on the flanges were a little lose so retightened those but I step on it and it still make that damn noise. The noise makes it sound like its rubbing up against something but the header isn't touching anything. I also notice when I floor it from a dead stop around 3,000 rpms (when the noise gets most violent) that the marker seems to struggle trying to increase in rpms. Then around 4,000 rpm it moves up quickly like normal. Maybe I just have to seal it, it says to do that in the directions but I don't have anything right now to do that with.

Could this noise also be because the headers are lighter then the stock ones?

[DeViL]

I think I'm going to do what you said in #2. Do a brake stand and have someone take a look and see if its hitting anything. I did it tonight and it started making the noise around 1500 rpms but I didn't have any look underneathe the hood.

Like I said before the bolts were loose so when I retightened them that actually eliminating the ticking noise I heard just right above the gas pedal. Now I just gotta see if this vibrating noise is b/c its hitting something or is it just something I'll have to live with.

And fatninja unfortunately I won't be doing any dynos just yet I want to buy a few other goodies before I dyno it. I can tell you this though, the rpms move a LOT quicker then they did before. I'm up to 50 before I even realize it. It also feels like when I press the gas pedal half way I get to this sticking point where if I want to go a lot quicker I gotta put some force into it, kinda cool I didn't really expect all this from headers. I gotta be at least at 200hp by now, who knows I could have more for all I know.

[Volvord 784VC]

Your comments about the headers being noisier because they have thinner is very true, headers have a unique sound because of the tubing resonating the exhaust impulses. This sound is not loud or objectionable, but you can definitly tell a car with headers without lifting the hood.

Let us know what you find and if anything is hitting