Straight headers to the exhaust shop?

[GreenMystChevy]

Again, not exactly truck related but you guys are so knowledgeable and now that I have gotten some great responses to my post about exhaust places, I am wondering the best way to go about it. I can install the headers myself to save money but then I need to get it to an exhaust shop.

If I choose a place nearby and stay off of the freeway, can I run just headers without messing up my engine? What about getting on the freeway?

Also, any little tricks to installing headers? Thanks guys.

[Longhorn Man]

You can run open headers no problem. If you did it all the time, you could run the risk of messin up an exhaust valve...but your just talkin a few miles.
Go ahead and let her rip, just don't forget your ear plugs, and try not to enjoy it too much.
Oh, and watch out for the man...they like writing tickets for this kind behavior.

[jays68yak]

You shouldnt cause your engine any harm, but you would prob get pulled over for being too loud. A lot of the drag cars run straight headers and maybe a small muffler. I have cut outs on my lemans so that it (the exhaust) goes out of the pipe before the muffler. this way I can run straight headers when I go to the track.

[GreenMystChevy]

Thanks guys. I was just worrying about messing up an exhaust valve. I know that drag racers do it but they abuse their engines anyways, but I figured it was prolly alright like you guys say. Just making sure so that I don't come back posting "How to rebuild a 396."

I will have plenty of fun, and of course won't enjoy any of it. May just take the scenic route

[chevy2racr]

Green, what wasn't said is its ok if your running full lenth headers, seems like a given to alot but, you know... 3/4 headers will prolly cause prblems. tips, when tightening start from the center nd move out. do it a few time, rn the engine letit warmup and cool down again and re tighten a few times..

[mikep]

I picked up some $12 glasspacks and welded them directly onto the collectors that came with the headers and drove around like that for a few weeks before I went to the muffler shop to get real exhaust put on. A guy I work with has been driving like that for 2 years since I put the new motor in his truck. He cant get duals since it is a newer truck (82) and no exhaust shop will touch it without the catalytic converter. He likes the roar and lives in a town without cops.

[crazy longhorn]

You might tack weld some turndowns onto the collector adaptors, just to keep the "fireballs" pointed away from any undercoating on the bottom of the body.......

[busterwivell]

Chevy2 is right about the install.....couple of heat cycles and retighten each time and you'll be ok.

[JHickson6]

That's going to be one fun drive! Wait for all of the looks that you get from other people!!!

[chevy2racr]

when I put my headers on my old mufflers were destroyed, thats what happens when the dope smokin old man goes to midas.. I had some turndowns I welded up and put on the end of my full length dynomax headers on my 454. middle of winter, man, drove that to school like that twice and into town to piss around once.. then I splerged and spent $13 each on two 30" glasspacks, dad had some colector extentions that were a bend just to go straight but aobut an inch off of the header line so that got below my tranny X-member, then I clamped the glass packs to taht. and took my old pipes, cut a little past the curve(from the manifolds) so it'd have turn outs and clamed them on to the glass packs, they turn out about a foot in front of the wheels but blow inside the bed sides.. its cool, LOUD, I wanna quiet it down but no money.... its loud enough I had it ideling outside a business the other day, went inside in an interior four walled office(brick building I may add) and could hear it rummbling :-D thats a 454 for ya:-)

[PrimeredThunder]

I wouldn't worry about it, I took my 72 down to get the exhaust done with open headers. I just made my appointment first thing in the morning to avoid traffic, cops etc. and it ran fine. Just made sure to stuff rags in the collectors after I shut the engine down, keeps the cold air from warping a valve or two.
My $0.02
Kenny

[Longhorn Man]

Hmmm, never heard that one...yet it makes so much sence.

[spinning wheels]

Green, you should be fine if you are just driving to the muffler shop. If your truck is real clean, most cops will understand, should you get pulled over. I remember driving my Z28 to the muffler shop, with open headers, in the rain. Talk about fun! It was easy to spin the wheels with 4:10s.