Open Headers Hurt??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

culp7 · 03-09-2010, 08:48 PM

I read somewhere that if you run your motor w/ open headers or no mufflers that the lack of backpressure can force to much cold air into the motor and somehow hurt the rings or something??? or hurt somepart of the engine causing a premature need to rebuild it?

Sooo.... would it hurt anything at all to hack the muffler off at the rear axle (where it currently sits) and run a strait pipe on my 250??

Thanks, Bryant

Sinister · 03-09-2010, 08:49 PM

When I was planning a header swap I asked the same question. The general consensus was it's O.K. to run open headers.

culp7 · 03-09-2010, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinister

When I was planning a header swap I asked the same question. The general consensus was it's O.K. to run open headers.

you think it would hurt the engine at all??

Sinister · 03-09-2010, 08:56 PM

Board members said it wouldn't hurt a thing.

72chevyk10 · 03-09-2010, 09:15 PM

imo i dont think it hurts anything. ive been runing glass packs (basicly straight pipes) for over a year and no problems. just run long enough pipes to get the exhaust away from the engine and you should be fine

**John Fabris** · 03-09-2010, 09:19 PM

yea, the thinking is that running just headers or just exhaust manifolds is that when you shut off engine, it is possible that cold air could travel up the exhaust and possibly warp the exhaust valves.

QKENUF4U · 03-09-2010, 09:21 PM

wont hurt a thing other than your ears....

hayhauler71 · 03-09-2010, 09:31 PM

I was so dam poor in high school that after I installed my headers [long tube] I had to drive it every day to school and then to work for eight months and only got warned once by the police and many other times by my neighbors.

Longhorn Man · 03-09-2010, 09:51 PM

it's total BS.
like the last few times this came up, I drove an 81 citation in highschool for 6 to 8 months with only an exhaust manifold through an ohio winter... no problems other than carbon monoxide intake and ringing ears.

zzzjojozzz · 03-09-2010, 10:07 PM

keeping your exaust gas tempetures down is a good thing for prolonging engine life with no back pressure you have nothing to hold the heat in whice is good in my opinion. but if you run extreme egts and the motor cools down to fast it can cause warp to the valves (not likely) most valves are made out of higher quality metal like titanium. my diesels go from 1300 to 300 in 5 seconds one thing i notice about gas engines is you will want your pipes to exit behind the cab and another thing is you do not get throttle responce with no back pressure we like to put something half way across the inside of the pipe and weld them in a few places still gives you the sound you want and the negitive pressure the engine needs to burn the air/fuel sitting in the intake

**Stocker** · 03-09-2010, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

I drove an 81 citation in highschool for 6 to 8 months with only an exhaust manifold... no problems other than carbon monoxide intake and ringing ears.

*cough* WHAT?

chevydog66 · 03-09-2010, 10:30 PM

Drag racers run open headers all the time.

GASoline71 · 03-09-2010, 10:46 PM

I have run open headers in drag cars for years... no problemo mang...

Gary

Leviticus · 03-10-2010, 12:10 AM

I put new headers on my 67 Camaro when I was 16, man I thought I was cool running them disconnected for a week or so

Warning though, it is LOUD, like other have said.

Tkmadone · 03-10-2010, 12:41 AM

Fighter aircraft in both world wars flew with stubby stacks often less than 6 inches. It's a myth that it is detrimental.

Jacfourteen · 03-10-2010, 01:36 AM

Open headers are fine, I ran mine a little while with just longtubes. I've heard that if you run an engine without headers/manifolds then you can warp valves.

Jeffs70 · 03-10-2010, 07:52 AM

If it was the case of having it harm your motor and anything else then they wouldn't make Cutouts and People wouldn't install them..well I guess some would but It has never been proven to be a cause of ruining a motor or exhaust valves, Those parts said to be ruined by a burst of cool air is BS IMO. those parts are already way hot and no short burst of cool air is ever going to cool those parts down that fast to harm them, It would have to take many years for this to happen. The only reason this has ever been brought up as an excuse is to make everyone run Mufflers to quiet them down. All because of complaning people that have nothing better to worry about then their ears haha.

**special-K** · 03-10-2010, 08:30 AM

You`re not running open headers anyway.You`re running a straight pipe off the header(s),so it`s not the same issue even if there was one.You can grab the end of the pipe.Can`t grab the end of the header.Caveman say not same thing,UGH!

Jacfourteen · 03-10-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

Can`t grab the end of the header.

You can but I wouldn't recommend it!

Mayo · 03-10-2010, 05:20 PM

I have thought about running open headers on my 37 when I get it running after hearing my brothers 78 Caprice with open headers but I probably won't because it would be too loud. I will probably run 3 inch exhaust with electric cut outs and some flowmasters that dump in front of the rear tires.

69 longhorn · 03-10-2010, 07:06 PM

The only thing it will hurt, will be your pocket....when John law dont like it

crazyL

03-09-2010, 08:48 PM	#1
culp7 HickTown Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ANDOVER, Kansas Posts: 355	Open Headers Hurt??? I read somewhere that if you run your motor w/ open headers or no mufflers that the lack of backpressure can force to much cold air into the motor and somehow hurt the rings or something??? or hurt somepart of the engine causing a premature need to rebuild it? Sooo.... would it hurt anything at all to hack the muffler off at the rear axle (where it currently sits) and run a strait pipe on my 250?? Thanks, Bryant __________________ 1993 Ford Mustang Vert w/ 2.3 1969 Chevy C/10 w/350 1968 Chevy C-20 w/250 1976 Dodge Aspen W/ 225 2000 Toyota Tundra w/4.7 1987 Dodge Ram D-100 w/360 255/70-15 ___________ (oo)══╬══(oo) ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾

03-09-2010, 08:49 PM	#2
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	Re: Open Headers Hurt??? When I was planning a header swap I asked the same question. The general consensus was it's O.K. to run open headers. __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...

03-09-2010, 08:56 PM	#4
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	Re: Open Headers Hurt??? Board members said it wouldn't hurt a thing. __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...

03-09-2010, 09:19 PM	#6
John Fabris TOTY 2006 Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Magalia CA USA Posts: 2,270	Re: Open Headers Hurt??? yea, the thinking is that running just headers or just exhaust manifolds is that when you shut off engine, it is possible that cold air could travel up the exhaust and possibly warp the exhaust valves. __________________ John Fabris 67 C10 SWB

03-09-2010, 09:21 PM	#7
QKENUF4U Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SUNNY WARM BIKE RIDING COTTONWOOD ARIZONA Posts: 2,097	Re: Open Headers Hurt??? wont hurt a thing other than your ears....

03-09-2010, 09:31 PM	#8
hayhauler71 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: St. Paul MN. Posts: 1,996	Re: Open Headers Hurt??? I was so dam poor in high school that after I installed my headers [long tube] I had to drive it every day to school and then to work for eight months and only got warned once by the police and many other times by my neighbors.

03-09-2010, 09:51 PM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Open Headers Hurt??? it's total BS. like the last few times this came up, I drove an 81 citation in highschool for 6 to 8 months with only an exhaust manifold through an ohio winter... no problems other than carbon monoxide intake and ringing ears.

03-09-2010, 10:07 PM	#10
zzzjojozzz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: wolcott ny Posts: 37	Re: Open Headers Hurt??? keeping your exaust gas tempetures down is a good thing for prolonging engine life with no back pressure you have nothing to hold the heat in whice is good in my opinion. but if you run extreme egts and the motor cools down to fast it can cause warp to the valves (not likely) most valves are made out of higher quality metal like titanium. my diesels go from 1300 to 300 in 5 seconds one thing i notice about gas engines is you will want your pipes to exit behind the cab and another thing is you do not get throttle responce with no back pressure we like to put something half way across the inside of the pipe and weld them in a few places still gives you the sound you want and the negitive pressure the engine needs to burn the air/fuel sitting in the intake

03-09-2010, 10:30 PM	#12
chevydog66 GM ONLY BABY!!! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Fort Wayne, IN. Posts: 1,998	Re: Open Headers Hurt??? Drag racers run open headers all the time. __________________ 2 wrongs don't make a right, but 3 lefts do. 66 Chevelle Malibu 406ci, 573hp, 10.99@121mph 96 Chevy Silverado Z71 72 GMC 1500 Super Custom LS 6.0/4L65 on airride http://www.cardomain.com/ride/707879...mc-c-k-pick-up

03-10-2010, 12:10 AM	#14
Leviticus Shake and Bake! Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 609	Re: Open Headers Hurt??? I put new headers on my 67 Camaro when I was 16, man I thought I was cool running them disconnected for a week or so Warning though, it is LOUD, like other have said. __________________ "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." Thomas Jefferson "You are remembered for the rules you break." General Douglas MacArthur "Support Our Troops And The NRA"

03-10-2010, 12:41 AM	#15
Tkmadone Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 193	Re: Open Headers Hurt??? Fighter aircraft in both world wars flew with stubby stacks often less than 6 inches. It's a myth that it is detrimental.

03-10-2010, 01:36 AM	#16
Jacfourteen Big Red - Now its a SWB! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oroville, Ca Posts: 1,624	Re: Open Headers Hurt??? Open headers are fine, I ran mine a little while with just longtubes. I've heard that if you run an engine without headers/manifolds then you can warp valves. __________________ 68 3/4 ton (Project)-350 Small Block, .030 over, 10:1 comp, 3998993 heads, C3BX edelbrock intake, comp cams XE268, Holley 670 SA, long tube headers, dual flow 40's, E-fan, Alum rad, currently under the knife getting shortened and bagged build thread 41 3/4 ton (wife's)-flatbed, fully restored to original 01 Tahoe LT 4WD (my daily driver)-Magnaflow Muffler, Rollin on 22's 02 Ford Mustang Convertable (Wife's Car)-Flowmaster 50, Clear corners, Intake, sittin on 18's

03-10-2010, 07:52 AM	#17
Jeffs70 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Valley Springs, Ca Posts: 857	Re: Open Headers Hurt??? If it was the case of having it harm your motor and anything else then they wouldn't make Cutouts and People wouldn't install them..well I guess some would but It has never been proven to be a cause of ruining a motor or exhaust valves, Those parts said to be ruined by a burst of cool air is BS IMO. those parts are already way hot and no short burst of cool air is ever going to cool those parts down that fast to harm them, It would have to take many years for this to happen. The only reason this has ever been brought up as an excuse is to make everyone run Mufflers to quiet them down. All because of complaning people that have nothing better to worry about then their ears haha.

03-10-2010, 08:30 AM	#18
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,862	Re: Open Headers Hurt??? You`re not running open headers anyway.You`re running a straight pipe off the header(s),so it`s not the same issue even if there was one.You can grab the end of the pipe.Can`t grab the end of the header.Caveman say not same thing,UGH! __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 03-10-2010 at 08:30 AM.

03-10-2010, 05:20 PM	#20
Mayo Cool Truck Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bowie,MD Posts: 1,869	Re: Open Headers Hurt??? I have thought about running open headers on my 37 when I get it running after hearing my brothers 78 Caprice with open headers but I probably won't because it would be too loud. I will probably run 3 inch exhaust with electric cut outs and some flowmasters that dump in front of the rear tires. __________________ 1968 Chevrolet C20 Longhorn "Cool Truck" 1937 Chevrolet Pickup - Project Looking for a patina'd 68 50th Anniversary longbed



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03-10-2010, 07:06 PM	#21
69 longhorn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: rock island,il,usa Posts: 5,382	Re: Open Headers Hurt??? The only thing it will hurt, will be your pocket....when John law dont like it crazyL __________________ http://community.webshots.com/user/hotrodhorn

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