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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 05:36 PM
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Default running open headers

i did a search but couldnt get a stright answer, exactically how loud would it be? is it even tollerable? will everyone stare at me like i'm an idiot as i drive down the street? also, will this effect my engine in any way? it would prolly only be a week at the most, just wondering...

on another note, when i install headers, do i need any gasket sealent of any type? anything i might be forgetting about?
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 05:43 PM
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It will be very loud, but sound good. I put new gaskets in when I did mine but I have heard that the old ones are fine. And everyone will be looking at you but in a good way .
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 05:43 PM
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I've heard you would need to pack the migraine medicine while running them open.
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 05:45 PM
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too loud! but it sounds awesome. when I put my LTs on I turned on the car for about a minute before puting in the ORY. It almost sounds like a car with a crazy cam.
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 05:45 PM
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Originally Posted by LSONE
i did a search but couldnt get a stright answer, exactically how loud would it be? is it even tollerable? will everyone stare at me like i'm an idiot as i drive down the street? also, will this effect my engine in any way? it would prolly only be a week at the most, just wondering...

on another note, when i install headers, do i need any gasket sealent of any type? anything i might be forgetting about?

What kind of headers are you getting? i went w/ QTP and they fit up like butter...just get yourself a set of GM steel gaskets. Also, as for running open headers i heard it is ok but at the same time b/c there is no backpressure i put on a set of cats and left it open from there...i know a ton of guys that have done it before though...as for sound...its AWESOME. WOT sounds kinda bad IMO but at idle and cruising its great...i didnt even get looked by cops that drove by...just slip it into nuetral if you see a cop and then go....its not stupid loud...very tolerable if you obviously like muscle cars...dont fire it up if there are women standing around b/c they will jump. LOL Have fun!
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 05:45 PM
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You wouldn't get too far without the cops kicking your ***.
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 05:47 PM
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I ran my car for about a day with open headers. Honestly, to me it wasnt that loud. It wasnt even close to some other cars ive heard with open headers. The sound actually sounded pretty good. I expected A LOT of rasp and popping but there was virtually none. Its not too bad IMO. You shouldnt have a problem tolerating it.
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 05:49 PM
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lol, thanks for your opinions guys, i got some pacesetters, they look really nice. is there any gasket sealent i should put on or anything? ill probably put them on till later this week, especially if it sounds as good as you make it sound. i just wanna make sure i'm not gettin a noise pollution ticket or anything.
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 05:54 PM
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As long as your stock gaskets are in good shape you wont need any sealent...worste case go to a parts store and get some stock GM steel gaskets...no sealant needed. As for getting pulled over, i dont know how strict cops are down there but here in ct i drove by 3 cops and 4 state troopers in teh 3 days i drove around w/ open headers and not one looked at me. Just dont drive like and idiiot when you see a cop...in a nut shell, cruise by w/out gunning it or excelerating somewhat hard and you'll be fine.
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 09:07 PM
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Its not too loud but be prepared to sound like an old farm truck with no muffler when ever you are in the lower RPMs. Once you get to the higher RPMs it smooths out and sound pretty mean. Never had any problem with local police here, but one did follow me home once and turned around in my drive way, dunno what he wanted, lol.
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Sweet Cheeks
Its not too loud but be prepared to sound like an old farm truck with no muffler when ever you are in the lower RPMs. Once you get to the higher RPMs it smooths out and sound pretty mean. Never had any problem with local police here, but one did follow me home once and turned around in my drive way, dunno what he wanted, lol.
probably just wanted to turn around in your drive way.LMAO
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 10:00 PM
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luvme, are you post whoring some more? Sweet cheeks, have you ever ran open header? Open headers are DAMN F-ing loud. Trust me. Also, I don't think it sounds like an old farm truck, and it sounds more than a little mean in the upper RPM I drove open header for a few WEEKS last year while waiting to get my duals installed. It was but I LOVED it when nobody else was in the car Anything above idle and you can't really even hear the person next to you though.


IF there is a cop behind/following me, I dont even turn into my own neighborhood, let alone my own driveway!

Last edited by blkZ28spt; Aug 2, 2004 at 10:08 PM.
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 10:45 PM
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For me it was crazy loud. I even set off a car alarm when driving down the road. That was kinda funny. The lm+ory+lts are loud too. I was sitting next to my friend t/a and reved it the first day and set his alarm off too.

I wanted to go into a covered parking lot and rev it and see how many cars i could set off . I decided that might not be a good idea.
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 10:48 PM
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I RUN STRAIGHT PIPE ALL THE TIME.......FLP'S-NO CATS- CUT OUT.......
before the H/C it wasent too loud.... but after H/C it is alot louder!!!!!!!!!
WOT is insane! but the idle is the best! sounds ****** awsome!
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 11:04 PM
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You don't need open headers to set off car alarms in a parking garage......I parked in a garage last year at school, and I set at least one off just idling through 95% of the time.
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 11:12 PM
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Originally Posted by blkZ28spt
Sweet cheeks, have you ever ran open header? Open headers are DAMN F-ing loud. Trust me. Also, I don't think it sounds like an old farm truck, and it sounds more than a little mean in the upper RPM

IF there is a cop behind/following me, I dont even turn into my own neighborhood, let alone my own driveway!
Yes, I ran them for about a week until I got tired of smelling like exhaust fumes. No cats, just straight headers, its not too loud, but like I said at lower RPMs it sounds shitty, up in the higher RPMS it smooths out and sounds good but at that point you attract a lot of attention.
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 11:25 PM
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HAHA, i dont know what u guys are talking about When i had open headers on my car when i pulled ANYWHERE people would stare. I ran them for like 3 or 4 days while i got some bolts for my ory pipe. My car would just DRONE when i dragged a gear. But i got SOOOO many complements while i had them. When i passed a cop, i threw it into neutral lol. it is LOUD, but it sounds awsome IMO. Good Luck

Dave
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Old Aug 3, 2004 | 12:58 AM
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Yes it is LOUD. I had cops LOOK at me, stare at me, follow me a couple tiems, etc but they never bothered me. It did attract a LOT attention. It sounds like a racecar. When you rev it high it has a whump whump sound as the revs start to fall back down that is just pure racecar. G*d damn I have GOT to get some cutouts to open header!!!!
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Old Aug 3, 2004 | 11:32 AM
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Ahhaa...open headers were great when i had them. On my 1st start up after installing my LTs it sounded like i had an insane cam in my car. Then it leveled out and was just loud as hell.

I had to end up driving it to a local exhaust shop around 830AM cuz of the ORY didn't fit. I turned off my street and saw a cop turning onto the same street coming the other way. I thought i was immediately had so i start to slow down and pull over. Cop does a u-turn as i pass him and hits his lights. He hauls *** pass me...i'm thinking "thank you god."

Anyways i continue down to the exhaust shop and i just had to go WOT for one time to see what it would sound like. WHOA!!! It's freakin insane!!!
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