Driving with open headers

[gmc4cw]

if you are cool about it and don't punch the throttle leaving every light you should be fine. I drove my blazer with open exhaust about 50 miles to get pipe made. I had the factory Y pipe, but it was still loud.

I ran my woods truck with just headers when I first put the motor in. It sounded great, for a few days. A good exhaust system sounds better.

 

[87BrnRsd]

Running with open headers wont harm the engine. Ive been running mine that way since about april of last year. No problems yet. I simply cant afford to take it to an exhaust shop and have it done nicely. I asked this question on here a while back and everyone pretty much agreed that it wont cause any harm. Someone stated that the myth about it letting cold air inside your motor when the exhaust valves opens is bogus. I dunno.....hasnt seem to have any affect on mine so far.

I have been lucky and have not gotten any noise tickets. I just let off the gas when I pass cops. I will say though, it is a TON of fun pulling up beside ricer fart rockets at red lights when they have their windows down and revving it up to about 5K. Scares the crap out of them.
-Harrison

 

[jtrux]

You guys are great, i'm totally doing it now, can't wait.

 

[76zimmer]

running open headers will not ruin your valves or pistons....How you going to suck air into the exhaust? You got a real big heat sink there. And getting cold air into an engine, through the intake system is what racers try to do.

If you got even shorties on it, it'll be fine, just lay off the loud pedal when you get into town, or see a cop.

 

[skyyk5]

I drove mine to the muffler shop 15 miles away 5:00 in the morn. with open headers. It's cool at night, the girl (then) was following me. Kept calling the cell to tell me there was flames under the truck. Very cool looking , unless your tank leaks. (like my other K5's did with open headers)

 

[Blue85]

I went about 10 miles through town to the exhaust shop. You would think that taking it really easy would keep the noise down, but anything above an idle gives you away as having no exhaust. I pulled up to the shop, blipped it to about 3500 a couple of times then went inside and said "Can you take a look at my exhaust - I think I might have a leak."

My biggest fear was not getting a noise violation ticket, but that the cop would inspect the vehicle and write a ticket requiring "returning it to factory configuration".

 

[AZ79K5Project]

I'm a cop. And I've run open headers on several rigs to the exhaust shop to get fitted. Not a big deal. Technically, it's a non-moving vehicle code violation, but not something most cops (unless they're traffic guys) will pursue.
d

"hand the cop a new ass for taking his time up in court on a BS charge. by the Judge," Not going to happen. Having it dismissed, very likely.

 

[burbanbeast]

running open headers will not ruin your valves or pistons....How you going to suck air into the exhaust? You got a real big heat sink there. And getting cold air into an engine, through the intake system is what racers try to do.

If you got even shorties on it, it'll be fine, just lay off the loud pedal when you get into town, or see a cop.

i think a guy up higher said just run it without the headers and thats what he was talkin about. because indeed if you do run without headers cold air will suck up into the heads and that is very very bad. but otherwise you are correct getting more cold air into the intake is what alot of people strive to do. just through the intake not the exhaust lol

 

[benchseat4speed]

Should I get the tow?

Hell no, save your tow miles and drive it uncapped. Kevin

 

[454k30]

drove mine from divide to a muffler shop in colorado springs, over 30 miles! You cant really appreciate until you hear it uncapped at 5000rpm on a busy public street!

 

[Chevy305]

I was thinking of putting in headers and doing the whole exhaust cut out thing so I coult uncap anytime i want.

 

[76zimmer]

i think a guy up higher said just run it without the headers and thats what he was talkin about. because indeed if you do run without headers cold air will suck up into the heads and that is very very bad. but otherwise you are correct getting more cold air into the intake is what alot of people strive to do. just through the intake not the exhaust lol

OK, I see it now.....and like how could you do that?

 

[76zimmer]

I don't see that it would hurt anything except the local Barney Fife's ears.

 

[berserker]

drove my 400 sbc with open longtubes for like a month daily driving it was sweet youll be fine...=) plus if u do get a ticket it will be exessive noise then all u have to do is go to the police station that the ticket came from and show them your new exhaust they'll have u start it and rev it a couple times then they'll sign the ticket and your good...

 

[87BrnRsd]

i think a guy up higher said just run it without the headers and thats what he was talkin about. because indeed if you do run without headers cold air will suck up into the heads and that is very very bad. but otherwise you are correct getting more cold air into the intake is what alot of people strive to do. just through the intake not the exhaust lol

I had to double check. I couldnt believe someone actually advised to run it as loud as he can....without headers. Suggesting no headers or manifolds is just plain stupid.



Oh yeah...Driving at night puts a nice flame show out for people behind you if you are sporting open headers.
-Harrison