Increased valvetrain noise after installing headers?
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,189
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From: Glendale, CA
Increased valvetrain noise after installing headers? Is this a possibility? I keep hearing ticking sounds, but not like an exhaust leak, more rapid than an exhaust leak.
The exhasut setup is as is in my profile.
The exhasut setup is as is in my profile.
TECH Resident
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 857
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From: Orlando
Re: Increased valvetrain noise after installing headers? You may be hearing the exhaust pulses hitting the bottom of the pipes. I can hear mine, too. Sounds like an exhaust leak but it's not. Obviously, make sure all the connections are tight and there are no leaks. You can look under the car near the Y-pipe and look for soot markings on the undercarriage for signs of exhaust discoloration.
Re: Increased valvetrain noise after installing headers? Do you still have the A.I.R. system hooked to the headers? If you do there's your culprit. The check valves flutter bad with the extra flow of aftermarket headers.
Re: Increased valvetrain noise after installing headers? Ditto on what theblur said. When I had my 98 WS6 with Grotts, it did the same thing. What I did was install a sort of restrictor plate. I took some 1/8" aluminum plate and cut it to the same size as the AIR tube gaskets, drilled it for the bolt holes and made a 1/4" hole in the center for the gasses to pass through. This got rid of my tic. Or you can just pull the AIR system and use the plates to block off the header tube by not drilling the 1/4" hole.
Re: Increased valvetrain noise after installing headers? on alot of cars, you can put headers on them, and they will make a ticking noise, like Jabroni said. it is common in older cars, but im not sure about the newer ones.
Re: Increased valvetrain noise after installing headers? I can hear all the little noises from my valvetrain....opening an closing.....then again...I get paid to hear things... 
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TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 364
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From: Princeton, IN
Re: Increased valvetrain noise after installing headers? Normal, because of the thin tubs of the headers, stock manifolds are much thicker.
at 200deg's hold the motor at about 3k for min or so and the headers will glow red.
at 200deg's hold the motor at about 3k for min or so and the headers will glow red.
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