OBX header install
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 67
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From: Appleton WI
OBX header install
I recently completed a home garage install of OBX stainless 1 7/8 headers with xpipe on my 09 coupe and thought I would provide some feedback since I researched here myself before purchase. I purchased them from Cajun at berlsx.com and despite getting off to a rocky start, he did have a nice price and made good on everything I had an issue with. I would buy from him again. The headers were shipped loose in a big box with minimal protection resulting in some minor dings and flanges that had to be rebent into shape. This is not Cajun@BER's fault but the shippers. The o2 extensions that were shipped were a square connection. I ended up ordering the correct trapezoid ones from Summit Racing and Cajun@BER reimbursed me the expense. I do not have impact tools and only used jackstands. It was a bear, but do able. You will want help! I ended up cutting the passenger side cat pipe to get it out. Install was pretty easy and everything fit without a lot of coercion. I picked up a couple of stainless band clamps, but reused the stock gaskets and bolts. System sounds great with the NPP stock axleback.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,631
ARP header studs with nuts makes installing the headers from the bottom a snap (give you something to hang the gaskets, then headers on when you are installing them from the bottom of the car).
The stock hardware that comes with the full kit, throw them and the new manifold gaskets in the trash. The old manifold gaskets work fine, and as for band and bolts, get quality band and hardware instead.
As for the cats that come with the kits, work fine, but the clamping them in place is less than desirable. Instead, use the clamps that come with the kit to just hold them in place on the X pipe for fitting, do a couple of tack welds to hold the cats in position on the X pipe, then pull the X pipe to do full welds the cats in on the X pipe (read 2 seams that you don't have to worry about leaking down the road).
As for rear O@ sensors, they get deleted in the tune, so when you are picking up hardware to replace the crap import hardware that you are throwing away, make sure to pick up two plug bolts for the rear O2 sensor ports not going to be used to cap them.
The stock hardware that comes with the full kit, throw them and the new manifold gaskets in the trash. The old manifold gaskets work fine, and as for band and bolts, get quality band and hardware instead.
As for the cats that come with the kits, work fine, but the clamping them in place is less than desirable. Instead, use the clamps that come with the kit to just hold them in place on the X pipe for fitting, do a couple of tack welds to hold the cats in position on the X pipe, then pull the X pipe to do full welds the cats in on the X pipe (read 2 seams that you don't have to worry about leaking down the road).
As for rear O@ sensors, they get deleted in the tune, so when you are picking up hardware to replace the crap import hardware that you are throwing away, make sure to pick up two plug bolts for the rear O2 sensor ports not going to be used to cap them.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,631
OBX headers are natural on the corvette (very good clone of a great designed header),
Think of it like other OEM parts on the car that are not made in the USA, but are just installed on the car using USA labor force instead.
Think of it like other OEM parts on the car that are not made in the USA, but are just installed on the car using USA labor force instead.
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