Noisy headers? *Update, big gaping hole! I must be blind. Pictures...

[Craig Artzner]

You heard right. Headers. Not the mufflers. I have alot of unwanted exhaust noise coming from my headers while driving. It's loudest at lower rpms and evens out and gets quieter at cruising speed. But it doesn't sound at all like a leak. It's the kind of sound that I'm sure many people desire their cars to sound like, but not me. I changed my mufflers thinking that would quiet my exhaust down but there was little to no change. I've also changed out the collector gaskets as well while I was under there.

I'm about to just find a set of stock manifolds and be done with it. Unless there is a way to insulate or buffer out the sound that anyone knows of. The headers were Hookers that were put on in 1977 (I have the receipt). I think the exhaust sound is just penetrating and reverberating through the header tubes themselves.

Anyone ever have this kind of noise problem?

 

[Xtremegmc80]

i have stock mainfold on my engine with a dynomax muffler.. sounds good goes loud under acceration.. but will be gettin headers soon and dual exhaust, with same muffler and add one more since my muffler on it isnt even 500 miles yet.. i wouldnt know since i dont have headers.. will find out once its on.. i hope its not noisy too...

 

[Craig Artzner]

i have stock mainfold on my engine with a dynomax muffler.. sounds good goes loud under acceration.. but will be gettin headers soon and dual exhaust, with same muffler and add one more since my muffler on it isnt even 500 miles yet.. i wouldnt know since i dont have headers.. will find out once its on.. i hope its not noisy too...

Are your stock manifolds in good shape?

 

[JEBSR]

You can try this stuff out. If it is noise due to thin wall headers this will help. It will also help keep the heat down under the hood.

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10002_744845_-1_10261

 

[Craig Artzner]

You can try this stuff out. If it is noise due to thin wall headers this will help. It will also help keep the heat down under the hood.

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10002_744845_-1_10261

I may just try that. But I work at Summit so I'll get it there instead if I do.

 

[Xtremegmc80]

Are your stock manifolds in good shape?

yes very very good shape, almost mint. sorry im keepin them!

 

[Randy92782]

i need to get me some of this stuff too. it'd save my plug wires i bet

 

[roadnotca]

Tubes headers are loud, thats why detroit made manifolds from cast iron.

 

[jamber2541]

do keep in mind that if it rains often where you live you will be helping out the rust monster with the header wraps

 

[ryoken]

This is my biggest complaint with cheap headers.. That thinwall "tinny" sound...

The hookers where probably decent new, but I would imagine any header that old has lost some material...

I'd throw the wrap on em and get a couple years out of em and plan on a quality header then... that truck deserves a nice set...

 

[jamber2541]

I agree on good quality set of headers, spend the money right and sell the ones you have

 

[Craig Artzner]

Well the headers are 30 years old. I don't know how well Hooker made them back then.

My truck is pretty much a show truck/mall crawler that hardly ever gets driven in the rain so rusting out will probably not be a factor.

I think I'll wrap 'em and see if that helps.

 

[Xtremegmc80]

if that doesnt work, go to thicker gauge headers.. like thorney i think.. not cheap but works.. im gonna get one of the good one for my truck so they last..

 

[gmc4cw]

I may just try that. But I work at Summit so I'll get it there instead if I do.

yeah but the stuff that Jegs sells is better. You are probably the only person on here that can get away with header wrap. get it wet and it will destroy the headers. 30 years is unheard of out of a header, quit being cheap and put new ones on there. the coated ones are quieter also. get a set that has thick tubes and coated inside and out.

 

[Craig Artzner]

yeah but the stuff that Jegs sells is better.

How do ya figure that? It's the same brand we sell . Thermo-Tec. The part numbers cross right over. All you do is change the first 3 numbers from the Jeg's number to "THE" instead.

If I wrap them and they still sound like crap they will be replaced. Yeah 30 years on the same set. That's because the original owner and his grandson only put about 6,000 miles on the truck between 1977 and now.

 

[Xtremegmc80]

only put about 6,000 miles on the truck between 1977 and now.

and how many miles do u put on the truck now?? not mean to hijack, just curious.

 

[Craig Artzner]

and how many miles do u put on the truck now?? not mean to hijack, just curious.

I definitely drive it more than it's been driven in a long time. I've put about a thousand on it since I bought it in December.

 

[johnnychimpo]

Craig , I think I still have a set of exhaust manifolds from a '73 K10. If you want I'll check & get some pics. Would these be for your K5?

 

[gmc4cw]

How do ya figure that? It's the same brand we sell . Thermo-Tec.

right over your head, come on craig you are usually quick to see the humor in things.

If you buy new ones do not get Dynomax, they do not fit well. at least on my 83, every set I tried the collector flange hit the shackle bolt. I have a set of Heddmans that fit great and have a ball and socket collector. no leaks.

 

[Craig Artzner]

right over your head, come on craig you are usually quick to see the humor in things.

I know, you caught me off guard. The "" should have given it away...