Poll: Headers or no Headers
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
In virginia there are hassles with emissions? I know the headers dont change jack as far as actual emissions and they pass smog tests anywhere so do you mean there is a visual inspection they fail? They dont make a car run dirty.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 704
Likes: 1
From: TORONTO
Headers
My dealer installed my American Racing Headers and said if a problem arises that is not related to the headers NOT TO WORRY. I have read it before on here, get to know your friendly tech at your dealership.
HE is your warranty in most cases.
HE is your warranty in most cases.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,561
Likes: 75
From: Maryland
Headers don't impact warranty if you have a reasonable dealer interested in you as a repeat customer. Headers also have no functional impact on emission results; in Maryland cars are tested to a Federal IM240 specification which is an dyno load test.
They also use mirrors to check under your car looking for cats. I have Random Technology bullet cats on 2 different corvettes and both have passed visual and load testing with no problems for the last 7 years. My cars with headers, bullet cats, and dyno tunes are actually cleaner (<CO2) now than when dealer delivered.
I'm not too worried about the visual test either; at least not until they start using a GUI to show the technician what the cats should look like and where they should be located.
As far as reliability, with Jet Hot coating and plug wire shield the headers look nice, stay clean and cool, and have never been a problem. With stock mufflers they sound just a bit loader than stock. With Corsa's they sound nice.
They also use mirrors to check under your car looking for cats. I have Random Technology bullet cats on 2 different corvettes and both have passed visual and load testing with no problems for the last 7 years. My cars with headers, bullet cats, and dyno tunes are actually cleaner (<CO2) now than when dealer delivered.
I'm not too worried about the visual test either; at least not until they start using a GUI to show the technician what the cats should look like and where they should be located.
As far as reliability, with Jet Hot coating and plug wire shield the headers look nice, stay clean and cool, and have never been a problem. With stock mufflers they sound just a bit loader than stock. With Corsa's they sound nice.
