Open Headers
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 1
Open Headers
Hey all,
My name is Johnny, and I am new to the Corvette forum and happy to be apart of the family! I am almost 16 years old and bought a 1981 L82 c3 Corvette as my first car. However, since I live in California, and it hasn't been smogged yet, it has been sitting in my driveway for a few weeks, and I occasionally drive it down the street with my dad. I was messing around and tinkering with the catalytic converter and disconnected it from y pipe coming off the headers, so now I am running open headers. I love the aggressive sound; however, I am afraid that it will ruin my engine. I have heard that open headers mess with the a/f ratio, do I need to tune the carb? It seems to run regularly at idle, but I still have yet to drive it. Is there anything else I should worry about? Should I just bolt the exhaust back on again? I know it's a lot of questions, but I need some sense of direction as I am young and new to working on vettes, have a great day guys!
My name is Johnny, and I am new to the Corvette forum and happy to be apart of the family! I am almost 16 years old and bought a 1981 L82 c3 Corvette as my first car. However, since I live in California, and it hasn't been smogged yet, it has been sitting in my driveway for a few weeks, and I occasionally drive it down the street with my dad. I was messing around and tinkering with the catalytic converter and disconnected it from y pipe coming off the headers, so now I am running open headers. I love the aggressive sound; however, I am afraid that it will ruin my engine. I have heard that open headers mess with the a/f ratio, do I need to tune the carb? It seems to run regularly at idle, but I still have yet to drive it. Is there anything else I should worry about? Should I just bolt the exhaust back on again? I know it's a lot of questions, but I need some sense of direction as I am young and new to working on vettes, have a great day guys!
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,758
Likes: 2,589
How are you going to pass California smog with the cat disconnected?
How are you not going to draw the attention of every cop with no mufflers?
there was no L82 available in 1981.
Check the engine code and you will find you have an L81.
How are you not going to draw the attention of every cop with no mufflers?
there was no L82 available in 1981.
Check the engine code and you will find you have an L81.
Last edited by MelWff; Feb 16, 2020 at 04:55 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
Johnny81- you are not going to ruin the engine with the exhaust disconnected, but the heat from the open exhaust may melt something (wires) under the car if you do not have pipes directing the exhaust away from the car. Plus, you need to have everything connected to get it inspected , so I would suggest you put everything back together.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
Hi Johnny, welcome to the club. Getting an '81 to pass California emmsions will not be easy, and it will prevent you from doing any fun modifications in the future since it will have to pass every two years. . Did you recently buy the car? Ca law says it's the seller's responsibility to make sure the car will pass smog. My advice to you would be to contact the seller and either hold him to it to get it to pass or better yet give you your money back. You'd be much better off in the long run to get a '75 or older car, which is smog exempt.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,192
Likes: 344
From: Allenton Wisconsin
A long long time ago the exhaust on the 6t8 was shot so when the new headers went on the old exhaust was removed. Drove the car to work on Monday [open headers] 25miles. One of my employees then drove the car to the muffler shop 4 miles away and I'm sure he put it through it paces. Nice and quiet on the way home from work. So if your question is to go out and have some fun, well I did, but the noise . Personally I prefer a quiet car with a rumble and a caution to you COPS love giving out tickets for excessive noise so beware. T
16 years old and already a Corvette of your own, congrats.
16 years old and already a Corvette of your own, congrats.
Last edited by terrys6t8roadster; Feb 17, 2020 at 08:53 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 63
Likes: 20
From: UP of Michigan
Congrats on the Vette! I'm around 16 myself and so far, it's been the greatest purchase of my life. Since I'm in the UP of Michigan, I don't have to worry about smog, but I'm sure if you are able to get the exhaust into stock configuration, you shouldn't have any problems with the EPA. I mean, the car had to have passed at one time, right? If you want to try and open up the exhaust for better flow in the future, dual cats should do you some good. Anyway, good luck man. Us young guys gotta keep the hobby going, so keep it up!
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 653
Likes: 454
From: Napa, CA
Hi Johnny, welcome to the C3 board. Best advise is to do an inventory of all the stock emissions equipment to ensure it’s all there and has not been tampered with, including the exhaust system. It has to be complete and operational in order to pass the CA emissions smog test. As others have already stated, if it doesn’t pass smog, it’s just expensive corvette garage art. What part of CA do you live in?
good luck,
Ken
good luck,
Ken
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
yup has to have all the smog on period, as said its the seller responsibility now
Tried to smog a 1 ton I bought few yrs ago the computer sys in Sacramento rejected it...told the seller he had to do it or take the truck back, walked from many purchases lately as sellers try the old you smog it deal. Good way to get stuck
there are mods you can do to pick up power and not worry about smog...learn about those
Gone are the days of paying for it...youll get called into test only stations they dont play around and wont risk jail for 100-200 bucks.
Tried to smog a 1 ton I bought few yrs ago the computer sys in Sacramento rejected it...told the seller he had to do it or take the truck back, walked from many purchases lately as sellers try the old you smog it deal. Good way to get stuck
there are mods you can do to pick up power and not worry about smog...learn about those
Gone are the days of paying for it...youll get called into test only stations they dont play around and wont risk jail for 100-200 bucks.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Hard enough to get these 70-90s cars through as it is, they keep tightening up the sniffer requirements. Sold mine off as they burned clean...but the last time the smog tech warned me next time I wouldnt. No fault of the car but they cant burn cleaner than new. I hate this damn state. If I ever get mobile again Im gone. 1 more trip to LA Ill never set foot there again.
Only place I know outside of NY or NJ where you can make 50k a yr and be flat broke.
Only place I know outside of NY or NJ where you can make 50k a yr and be flat broke.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 279
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Hard enough to get these 70-90s cars through as it is, they keep tightening up the sniffer requirements. Sold mine off as they burned clean...but the last time the smog tech warned me next time I wouldnt. No fault of the car but they cant burn cleaner than new. I hate this damn state. If I ever get mobile again Im gone. 1 more trip to LA Ill never set foot there again.
Only place I know outside of NY or NJ where you can make 50k a yr and be flat broke.
Only place I know outside of NY or NJ where you can make 50k a yr and be flat broke.
OK Rant over, Whew I feel better already!
Last edited by KenSny; Feb 18, 2020 at 04:18 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
Now wait a second, California sucks in a lot of ways, but a pre-'76 car is totally exempt. You can do whatever you want to it. There's no annual safety or equipment inspections, cops would rather hassel the fart cans, and the loud Challengers on their 22's, than these old cars. Just don't buy anything from '76 to '95. (OBDII's pass pretty easy) Plus we got year round convertible weather and on a Sunday morning, some of the best traffic free roads around.
