Open headers... Bad idea?

[Chevy350V8]

I have a 93 silverado with a 350. I live in nc so no emissions just safety. My question is can I cut the exhaust after the y pipe but before the cat? Or should I just do straight pipes? I know it will sound like poop but I WANT LOUD!
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[wayfastwhitey]

Its your truck but I would suggest getting the pipes past the cab at a minimum to keep from choking on fumes. The p.o. Of my truck hack sawed the muffler off. Sounds ok at idle but is terrible at speed. The truck I had before that atleast had pipes all the way back with 24”x3” tips at the bumper. Much better than my truck now. Still just as loud but the interior noise was so much better and sounded mean as Hell behind the truck both at idle and at speed. Its worth having the extra pipe. You could always just replace the muffler and cat with straight pieces of pipe, however it is against federal law and should only be done on a *strictly offroad* vehicle
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[TennesseeZ]

Yeah you'll have a lot of "drone" in the cab if you don't get the outlets toward the back of the truck, sounds good for a little while, but trust me it gets old quick. Especially if "she" rides in it much.

Also open exhaust lets cold air get to the exhaust valve, can warp a valve quick.

And the CO issues, u don't wanna play with that stuff, even if it don't kill you it makes you a moron

[wayfastwhitey]

Also open exhaust lets cold air get to the exhaust valve, can warp a valve quick.


Header wrap helps out here but just open manifolds will cost you some torque. However your butt dyno might say otherwise.
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[BigBlocksRule]

Warp a valve? Come on, man...that header or exhaust manifold is hot as hell for a long time after it's shut down, no air is gonna make it all the way from the collector to the open valve and still be even cool. Big and small blocks were used for irrigation and generator engines for years with either exhaust manifolds with one foot pipes or even open headers. Never saw or heard of one having warped valves...
How this will work on your truck depends on the rest of the system.
You'll get tired of it quick. It's cool for a cruise or two but the drone will make you crazy after a while. Make sure the outlets are at least behind the cab so you don't gas yourself.

[bk2life]

Open headers... Bad idea?

depends if your married, dating, 17 years old, or high all the time...lol

[Chevy350V8]

Thanks guys, fixing to turn 18 and in acouple months leaving for Paris island. Cut it off last night and drove it to school, BLAST! Lol!! And my girl thinks it's cool, I like it so I ain't gotta talk to her sometimes!!!!
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[ProStreet68SB]

Originally Posted by wayfastwhitey

Also open exhaust lets cold air get to the exhaust valve, can warp a valve quick.


Header wrap helps out here but just open manifolds will cost you some torque. However your butt dyno might say otherwise.
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That's an old wives tale.

[Johnny Merder]

Also be aware that the exhaust gasses are extremly corrosive to steel. God knows we don't need anything helping these things rust out any faster.

[wayfastwhitey]

Originally Posted by Chevy350V8

Thanks guys, fixing to turn 18 and in acouple months leaving for Paris island. Cut it off last night and drove it to school, BLAST! Lol!! And my girl thinks it's cool, I like it so I ain't gotta talk to her sometimes!!!!
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Where under the truck did you cut it?
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[Chevy350V8]

I have it cut before the y pipe, I bought a turn down and extension and have it blowing out next to the pass door
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[wayfastwhitey]

Can you post pics?
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[Chevy350V8]

pics...

[stocker96]

I'd kick it out farther, like someone mentioned above, those exhaust gasses will eat your rocker panel/doors up. I ran mine back and kicked it out in front of the passenger rear wheel. Or you could flip your manifolds and run your exhaust out the hood.

[bk2life]

Originally Posted by ProStreet68SB

That's an old wives tale.

just like car batteries going bad sitting on cement...

Originally Posted by Chevy350V8

I have it cut before the y pipe, I bought a turn down and extension and have it blowing out next to the pass door

good thing its on the pass door, she'll pass out first..
seriously if the fumes come in the cab you risk passing out...and harm to you or others.

[jrr344]

You are very lucky you arn't dead yet because of the fumes and killed everyone one you have parked or drove by because of the fumes, I would also be careful of driving out in the country because you could kill animals, also confined spaces like two lane roads will have you starving for air because of your exhaust.

But seriously I have run my 2 door tahoe like that since 02 but mine comes out about a foot behind the passenger door I do occasionally smell exhaust if the window is down and the wind is blowing right but I am still alive amazingly but maybe I am just lucky.

[Chevy350V8]

Alright i will kick it back a good 3 feet

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Anybody know how that would sound on a 4.3? or maybe even just open manifolds

[ProStreet68SB]

Originally Posted by 98GMCSierraGuy

Anybody know how that would sound on a 4.3? or maybe even just open manifolds

Incredibly horrible.

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Oh...ok

[jrr344]

The best way to tell the shortest you can run your exhaust without worry of burning a valve is to spray paint a line on your exhaust pipe and run it to operating temp and the point to where the paint is still there and not melted off is a safe length to run. I also have a 1998 chevy with straight pipes to the back I like it alot better not near the cab noise.