Headers, Vert funky smell? Comments please
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: FLA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Headers, Vert funky smell? Comments please
My eyebrow raised upon hearing about smell/fumes with headers on a vert.
I drive 98% time top down.
I drive 98% time top down.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,659
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From: Las Vegas Location: Earth
I have a vert with American Racing headers and fast cats. I have had a weird smell since I had them installed. At first I thought it was the newness of the headers and some oil from the mfg. process; but the smell just won't go away. Took it back to A&A Corvette in Oxnard where the headers were installed a couple of times. They put it up on the lift and couldn't find anything wrong with the installation work. The heat generated by the headers do not appear to be burning anything either. BTW, the smell reminds me of gun powder or firecrackers. I'm with you and wish I knew what was causing this. Hopefully someone will have helpful knowledge.
Last edited by ricatthebeach; Nov 26, 2006 at 11:37 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 9
From: Jacksonville FL
I can tell you exactly what it causing the smell. First off, if you have not had a tune, get one. Your car is running super rich with LT headers and a high flow cat-back. The smell you are smelling are all the hydrocarbons that the high flow cats are not burning off. Once you get the car leaned out, you will still have a slight smell of exhaust (firecrackers or gunpowder), but it won't be nearly as bad. You do however get used to it after a tune. Your passengers may not, but you'll be fine. It's just the nature of headers. Great power, stinky smell.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,659
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Location: Earth
Originally Posted by DrivnXcitment
I can tell you exactly what it causing the smell. First off, if you have not had a tune, get one. Your car is running super rich with LT headers and a high flow cat-back. The smell you are smelling are all the hydrocarbons that the high flow cats are not burning off. Once you get the car leaned out, you will still have a slight smell of exhaust (firecrackers or gunpowder), but it won't be nearly as bad. You do however get used to it after a tune. Your passengers may not, but you'll be fine. It's just the nature of headers. Great power, stinky smell.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 9
From: Jacksonville FL
Originally Posted by ricatthebeach
I did have a tune by Charlie @ A&A the day I had the headers and exhaust put on. I did tell Charlie not to squeeze every last drop of power out of the engine, so the motor is running a little rich, but it was tuned. Maybe that is it.
A&A is a great place! When I was stationed in Pt Mugu I used them to tune my 99 T/A and dyno my C6. Great guys, but I digress. The smell will always be there if you have headers and high flow cats. It will be better than without a tune, but that's just the nature of the beast.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 730
Likes: 0
From: Winter Springs FL
I had a smell at first too. It was my O2 sensor wire harness plug cooking on my headers. 
It survived as long as I don't need to unplug it anytime soon. The two parts of the plug are now one. Oh well. 
It survived as long as I don't need to unplug it anytime soon. The two parts of the plug are now one. Oh well.
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