Supporting Components for Pfadt Header Installation?
Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 602
Likes: 32
From: Old Bridge, NJ
Any steel header will transfer a little more engine noise (valvetrain noise, etc.) compared to iron manifolds. That's just the difference in the two material properties of iron and steel.
If you're really concerned about keeping it quiet in the cabin, take out the interior and trunk carpeting and line it with Dynamat and sound insulating foam from your local hardware store. I did that and it is very pleasant inside and I have Pfadts, no cats, and Corsa Xtremes.
If you're really concerned about keeping it quiet in the cabin, take out the interior and trunk carpeting and line it with Dynamat and sound insulating foam from your local hardware store. I did that and it is very pleasant inside and I have Pfadts, no cats, and Corsa Xtremes.
Seriously considering these for my GS. I have what might be a stupid question.
For those running these headers, do you notice more engine noise in the cabin? I had headers on my LT4 and while I liked the exhaust sound, they produced significantly louder engine noise in the cabin. I eventually switched back to the stock manifolds due to the noise.
Appreciate your insights.
For those running these headers, do you notice more engine noise in the cabin? I had headers on my LT4 and while I liked the exhaust sound, they produced significantly louder engine noise in the cabin. I eventually switched back to the stock manifolds due to the noise.
Appreciate your insights.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,376
Likes: 1,118
Got my headers today!
But, alas, my joy was short-lived, as when I opened up the boxes, I realized the clamps and header bolts were missing!
:
I've sent an email to Pfadt and I'm hoping that I can somehow get these parts in time to install the headers this weekend. Will update on how that goes...
But, alas, my joy was short-lived, as when I opened up the boxes, I realized the clamps and header bolts were missing!
:I've sent an email to Pfadt and I'm hoping that I can somehow get these parts in time to install the headers this weekend. Will update on how that goes...
Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 602
Likes: 32
From: Old Bridge, NJ
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,376
Likes: 1,118
I'm installing these suckers this weekend for sure! Whoohoo!
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 390
Likes: 1
From: Cincinnati OH
Whew! I'm glad that I posted this on here, although I feel pretty dumb now. I just went into the garage and looked in the boxes again and found the missing parts stuffed under the foam at the bottom of the header box, sort of embedded into the foam. Luckily I hadn't tossed that box as yet like I did with the X-pipe box! Thanks guys, I was convinced that my usual bad luck had prevailed again!
I'm installing these suckers this weekend for sure! Whoohoo!
I'm installing these suckers this weekend for sure! Whoohoo!
Enjoy, you will love em! The install was pretty straight forward as well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,376
Likes: 1,118
Thanks for the great write- up and pics, BTW. I was on the fence about headers, and it was this thread that made me buy these headers. I'm sure they're much more straightforward than the ARH's on my AWD truck, or far worse, the Lemons' custom built, multi-piece ones on my 2000 Camaro with a Big Block. Now, they were fun!!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 420
Likes: 9
From: Bow New Hampshire
Well, I'm 75-percent through the header installation. I've been at it for about 7 hours now and am mostly pleased. But I discovered one supporting component that is definitely required to install Pfadt headers--longer primary O2 extension harnesses. As others have previously mentioned, the extensions included in the kit are way too short. I had to cut back the tape and unwind the factory wiring harness to get enough slack to even remotely reach the new 02 sensor location. Another 12" of extension would be ideal. As it is, I'm not entirely happy with the harness routing I was able to achieve. The harnesses on each side had to go down behind the engine to reach, crossing several sharp, cast edges (I've zip tied and used split loom as best I can...). The connections to the sensor pigtails wind up nearly jammed between the bellhousing and the frame rails to the point where I'm worried about the motor rocking and crushing them. The installation instructions do not address the intended harness routing at all. A routing diagram would be ideal (along with a longer extension).
Fitment of the hard parts has been excellent, at least. With the car about 20" off the ground on jack stands, both headers slid in without drama. All I have left to do is
install the crossover pipe.
Fitment of the hard parts has been excellent, at least. With the car about 20" off the ground on jack stands, both headers slid in without drama. All I have left to do is
install the crossover pipe.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,376
Likes: 1,118
Just completed install of my Tri y's last night except for the connecting the sensor cabling, I have to echo the above comments regarding the primary's being too short. I have an e mail into pfadt regarding this issue. Everything else went together pretty easy, about 4 hrs install time (not including removal time), the passenger side header took a significant effort to get it into position. Other than the cabling issue, fit and finish are excellent!
BTW: Did you have to jack the engine up to get the headers into position?
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 420
Likes: 9
From: Bow New Hampshire
I had hoped they had solved that problem , but I guess not. I refuse to start mickey mousing the install by opening up wiring harnesses to make tnings fit. I did not have to lift the engine, there were some heat protected wires and a hose of some type that had to be pushed out of the way, it was a very tight fit, after that issue things went together pretty smoothly. It did take two of us and having a lift helped greatly.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 420
Likes: 9
From: Bow New Hampshire
Update to my last post, spoke with the support people at PFADT this morning and they are over nighting the proper length cables to me.
These guys are a class act and I will buy other items from them!
These guys are a class act and I will buy other items from them!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: London Ontario
Regarding the passenger side fitment, I arbitrarily lifted the engine a bit and it slid right in with no drama whatsoever. I'm pretty sure I could have stuffed it in without touching the engine mounts, but I wasn't keen on scratching anything if I didn't have to.
I'm glad to see some interest brewing in this thread. It's no small feat for a small company to make the up front investment to develop a fully engineered product like these tri-y headers. Here's hoping they sell like hotcakes and Pfadt continues to expand its power products line for C6 Corvettes!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 420
Likes: 9
From: Bow New Hampshire
Excellent company to work with, for sure! They offered to ship longer extensions to me as well, but I was impatient and found my own solution. I bet you'll end up wishing you had fished those primary O2 extensions into place before you installed the headers...I have fairly large hands and there's no way I could fit them above the collectors after the hard parts were installed.
Regarding the passenger side fitment, I arbitrarily lifted the engine a bit and it slid right in with no drama whatsoever. I'm pretty sure I could have stuffed it in without touching the engine mounts, but I wasn't keen on scratching anything if I didn't have to.
I'm glad to see some interest brewing in this thread. It's no small feat for a small company to make the up front investment to develop a fully engineered product like these tri-y headers. Here's hoping they sell like hotcakes and Pfadt continues to expand its power products line for C6 Corvettes!
Regarding the passenger side fitment, I arbitrarily lifted the engine a bit and it slid right in with no drama whatsoever. I'm pretty sure I could have stuffed it in without touching the engine mounts, but I wasn't keen on scratching anything if I didn't have to.
I'm glad to see some interest brewing in this thread. It's no small feat for a small company to make the up front investment to develop a fully engineered product like these tri-y headers. Here's hoping they sell like hotcakes and Pfadt continues to expand its power products line for C6 Corvettes!
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 508
From: Oshawa, Ontario
I realized that I never followed up post tuning. My tuner (Arun @ Dasilva Motorsports) was able to disable the cat inefficiency CEL while still leaving the rear O2 sensors functional so that I can pass Ontario's new OB2-based emissions testing. Perfect. Because I didn't dyno the car before installing the headers, I can't tell you what the gains were...but I can tell you that I'm now amazed by how smooth the power delivery is. There is no peaked-ness anymore--the car just seems to pull like a freight train right off idle. These headers were well worth the money. Everyone should have a set!