ok to drive after headers
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 10
From: Maryland
Worst case scenario, 02 sensors could burn out and the car will just run like complete crap on the way there. But, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't do any damage for the short drive that you will be doing, just going to be extremely loud, you will also notice that the car will heat up quicker.
If you have it, it would be best to at the very least slip on some pipes for extensions. This will keep the O2 sampling from being "contaminated" and give an accurate reading. The whole problem is that your O2's are going to be reading "outside" air because their proximity to the end of the headers.
I drove 45 minutes on open headers getting my car home from a shop. I was half deaf and felt like I just slept with a concert subwoofer when I got home, but nothing happened to the car. I wouldn't think anything would happen to the o2's for that short of a ride, you'll probably just throw some codes and an SES light. A lot of us delete rear o2's altogether, so a short drive with them open shouldn't hurt anything.
I just did this. I've done it before with pacesetters on a 383 with just the headers, and my car lurched/jerked like no one's business! This time, I put the first leg of the y-pipe on each collector... Smooth ride.
Install at least the first leg of a y-pipe to allow the o2 sensors to function properly. And wear ear plugs!
Install at least the first leg of a y-pipe to allow the o2 sensors to function properly. And wear ear plugs!
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 66
Likes: 2
From: athens, ga
I have the flowmaster merge, getting pipes from headers to merge, have cutout and corsa can't wait to hear it. Is a mail order tune needed after header install. I also removed air and egr. Not sure if I want to pay just to get ses light off air=air pump not a/c
I run mine like that untuned, but it runs rich and I'm burnin up gas much faster than before. There's HP left on the table if you don't tune. Plus, I don't like seeing the SES light on all the time.
I'm saving for a street tune from Phil at Tampa Tuning.
