Headers/Tune Advice
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
From: Cumming GA
Headers/Tune Advice
So I picked up some used AR headers at a great deal for my Grand Sport. I'm trying to decide if I should go forward with installing them. I know that if I do, I'll also want to do a tune as that really opens the car up. However, I have a few concerns.
1) Will the increased volume be too much? I have the NPP exhaust with a controller, and love the way the car sounds. I'm concerned that if I add headers I won't want to keep it open near as much and will lose out on a big benefit of headers. How much louder will it be? I don't mind a little more volume/tone change, but I certainly want to be able to enjoy driving the car without it being annoying or with any drone.
2) Will the increased heat be too much? The tunnel/console gets pretty warm during the summer months. I've already installed a little insulation and am thinking about installing a tunnel plate, as well, to help.
3) How or will these mods affect my powertrain warranty? I don't think the headers will have much affect, but will the tune essentially negate the warranty?
Any thought/opinions/experience with any of these issues is greatly appreciated.
Brian
1) Will the increased volume be too much? I have the NPP exhaust with a controller, and love the way the car sounds. I'm concerned that if I add headers I won't want to keep it open near as much and will lose out on a big benefit of headers. How much louder will it be? I don't mind a little more volume/tone change, but I certainly want to be able to enjoy driving the car without it being annoying or with any drone.
2) Will the increased heat be too much? The tunnel/console gets pretty warm during the summer months. I've already installed a little insulation and am thinking about installing a tunnel plate, as well, to help.
3) How or will these mods affect my powertrain warranty? I don't think the headers will have much affect, but will the tune essentially negate the warranty?
Any thought/opinions/experience with any of these issues is greatly appreciated.
Brian
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
So I picked up some used AR headers at a great deal for my Grand Sport. I'm trying to decide if I should go forward with installing them. I know that if I do, I'll also want to do a tune as that really opens the car up. However, I have a few concerns.
1) Will the increased volume be too much? I have the NPP exhaust with a controller, and love the way the car sounds. I'm concerned that if I add headers I won't want to keep it open near as much and will lose out on a big benefit of headers. How much louder will it be? I don't mind a little more volume/tone change, but I certainly want to be able to enjoy driving the car without it being annoying or with any drone.
2) Will the increased heat be too much? The tunnel/console gets pretty warm during the summer months. I've already installed a little insulation and am thinking about installing a tunnel plate, as well, to help.
3) How or will these mods affect my powertrain warranty? I don't think the headers will have much affect, but will the tune essentially negate the warranty?
Any thought/opinions/experience with any of these issues is greatly appreciated.
Brian
1) Will the increased volume be too much? I have the NPP exhaust with a controller, and love the way the car sounds. I'm concerned that if I add headers I won't want to keep it open near as much and will lose out on a big benefit of headers. How much louder will it be? I don't mind a little more volume/tone change, but I certainly want to be able to enjoy driving the car without it being annoying or with any drone.
2) Will the increased heat be too much? The tunnel/console gets pretty warm during the summer months. I've already installed a little insulation and am thinking about installing a tunnel plate, as well, to help.
3) How or will these mods affect my powertrain warranty? I don't think the headers will have much affect, but will the tune essentially negate the warranty?
Any thought/opinions/experience with any of these issues is greatly appreciated.
Brian
Number 2 I have no more under the hood heat than I had with my stock exhaust ...people will tell you there is more but really , think about it , cast iron exhaust manifolds and cats stuffed between the engine and firewall stock or stainless pipes with air gaps and cats down in the air stream ....you can believe what you like but I just say come on over to my home and you can see for yourself
Number 3 Depends on what is wrong that you need the Dealer to fix ... I have had my car at Rick Hendricks several times for warranty work. Harmonic balancer , transmission flair , bad injector .... etc . They never gave me an ounce of trouble , Depends on the Dealer and the problem ....
Email me thru the forum if you want to meet up
Dave
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 181
From: Lockport IL
Check out these pics. I got my split collars form McMaster Carr. You need a 5mm inner diameter.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...duel-mode.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...duel-mode.html
Pro
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 514
Likes: 85
Headers
So I picked up some used AR headers at a great deal for my Grand Sport. I'm trying to decide if I should go forward with installing them. I know that if I do, I'll also want to do a tune as that really opens the car up. However, I have a few concerns.
1) Will the increased volume be too much? I have the NPP exhaust with a controller, and love the way the car sounds. I'm concerned that if I add headers I won't want to keep it open near as much and will lose out on a big benefit of headers. How much louder will it be? I don't mind a little more volume/tone change, but I certainly want to be able to enjoy driving the car without it being annoying or with any drone.
2) Will the increased heat be too much? The tunnel/console gets pretty warm during the summer months. I've already installed a little insulation and am thinking about installing a tunnel plate, as well, to help.
3) How or will these mods affect my powertrain warranty? I don't think the headers will have much affect, but will the tune essentially negate the warranty?
Any thought/opinions/experience with any of these issues is greatly appreciated.
Brian
1) Will the increased volume be too much? I have the NPP exhaust with a controller, and love the way the car sounds. I'm concerned that if I add headers I won't want to keep it open near as much and will lose out on a big benefit of headers. How much louder will it be? I don't mind a little more volume/tone change, but I certainly want to be able to enjoy driving the car without it being annoying or with any drone.
2) Will the increased heat be too much? The tunnel/console gets pretty warm during the summer months. I've already installed a little insulation and am thinking about installing a tunnel plate, as well, to help.
3) How or will these mods affect my powertrain warranty? I don't think the headers will have much affect, but will the tune essentially negate the warranty?
Any thought/opinions/experience with any of these issues is greatly appreciated.
Brian
With an NPP it is quiet at street driving and idle. However, when you do get around 3500 RPM at WOT it sounds great. I did add a mild to wild and it is fun. If you leave it open I find the drone at highway speeds is too much for me. This will be even greater if you have an automatic.
Personally I find having a Corsa or Borla axle back sounds much better than the NPP. The GS I have already had the mods done that I noted. I am not going to spend $1K on a new muffler and can live with the NPP.
As noted in many posts. Mufflers/Sound is different for every driver.
Good luck with your upgrade.
JB
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
Dave
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
I have 2011 GS with ARHs , high flow cats and NPP. Adding just the headers should not throw any codes. The PCM should make adjustment to the air/fuel mix. However, why spend the money on them without the benefit of a tune with a CAI to pick up a few ponies.
With an NPP it is quiet at street driving and idle. However, when you do get around 3500 RPM at WOT it sounds great. I did add a mild to wild and it is fun. If you leave it open I find the drone at highway speeds is too much for me. This will be even greater if you have an automatic.
Personally I find having a Corsa or Borla axle back sounds much better than the NPP. The GS I have already had the mods done that I noted. I am not going to spend $1K on a new muffler and can live with the NPP.
As noted in many posts. Mufflers/Sound is different for every driver.
Good luck with your upgrade.
JB
With an NPP it is quiet at street driving and idle. However, when you do get around 3500 RPM at WOT it sounds great. I did add a mild to wild and it is fun. If you leave it open I find the drone at highway speeds is too much for me. This will be even greater if you have an automatic.
Personally I find having a Corsa or Borla axle back sounds much better than the NPP. The GS I have already had the mods done that I noted. I am not going to spend $1K on a new muffler and can live with the NPP.
As noted in many posts. Mufflers/Sound is different for every driver.
Good luck with your upgrade.
JB
You also need a tune as the ECM will not compensate at WIDE OPEN throttle ... your car will be running lean .....
My offer still stands as noise and drone are very subjective, what is acceptable to one person might not be to another .
I wish i had someone who had headers installed at the time so i could hear it , feel if there is any heat issues etc as i was just as worried as you are .
I love the sound now with the NPPS open . Normal driving with them open is fine but trounce down on the go pedal and it sounds like SATAN ...when the wife is in the car i just close them and it is just a bit louder than stock
Dave
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
Check out these pics. I got my split collars form McMaster Carr. You need a 5mm inner diameter.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...duel-mode.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...duel-mode.html
Thanks for posting Kurt !
Dave
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 1,291
Likes: 222
From: Temecula, CA
Unfortunately, I didn't take temps before and after. However, I noticed a significant reduction in tunnel heat when going from stock exhaust to long tubes w/o cats. I had the EE tunnel plate with both setups. The cats generate a lot of heat. Just sharing my experience. This is on an 07Z.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
From: Cumming GA
Number 1 you can come listen to mine if you like
Number 2 I have no more under the hood heat than I had with my stock exhaust ...people will tell you there is more but really , think about it , cast iron exhaust manifolds and cats stuffed between the engine and firewall stock or stainless pipes with air gaps and cats down in the air stream ....you can believe what you like but I just say come on over to my home and you can see for yourself
Number 3 Depends on what is wrong that you need the Dealer to fix ... I have had my car at Rick Hendricks several times for warranty work. Harmonic balancer , transmission flair , bad injector .... etc . They never gave me an ounce of trouble , Depends on the Dealer and the problem ....
Email me thru the forum if you want to meet up
Dave
Number 2 I have no more under the hood heat than I had with my stock exhaust ...people will tell you there is more but really , think about it , cast iron exhaust manifolds and cats stuffed between the engine and firewall stock or stainless pipes with air gaps and cats down in the air stream ....you can believe what you like but I just say come on over to my home and you can see for yourself
Number 3 Depends on what is wrong that you need the Dealer to fix ... I have had my car at Rick Hendricks several times for warranty work. Harmonic balancer , transmission flair , bad injector .... etc . They never gave me an ounce of trouble , Depends on the Dealer and the problem ....
Email me thru the forum if you want to meet up
Dave
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
From: Cumming GA
Check out these pics. I got my split collars form McMaster Carr. You need a 5mm inner diameter.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...duel-mode.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...duel-mode.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
Likes: 1,209
From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
I noticed the same just when taking cats off the factory exhaust. Those things put off a lot of heat..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 816
Likes: 107
Last weekend I finished the install of a set of used ARH's i bought from a member here it does have the high flow cats. I also wrapped the headers and the cat pipe. The car is not much louder at idle and cruising is close however it has a god awful drone around 1,500 rpm so I either drop a gear or close the NPP. With it closed its pretty much like it was but the sound of it when you stand on it is awesome!
I also just had a custom tune done last week by a buddy of mine at Spartan LSX, had him turn off the rear O2's since I didn't plug them up.
Car runs great and feels stringer up top very happy with this mod!
I also just had a custom tune done last week by a buddy of mine at Spartan LSX, had him turn off the rear O2's since I didn't plug them up.
Car runs great and feels stringer up top very happy with this mod!