Open Headers C5
10-29-2018, 12:47 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Open Headers C5
I have been thinking of running open headers on my 98 C5. Besides the noise and cops I guess.. any other issues I should look at coming upon? Also tools needed to do the work? Thanks!
10-30-2018, 09:04 AM
#3
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Why do you think that? Idk how I would asphyxiate either, but alright. Lmao.. I don't understand why you're against that. Either you're an old bastard or you don't like loud, scary noises. Anyway I will let the forum know how well it turns out (:
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10-30-2018, 10:30 AM
#5
Melting Slicks
The cabin is not hermetically sealed, exhaust gases would enter the cabin and give you a serious headache at the very least. Open headers is not a great idea, you want the exits to atleast be beyond the front seats of the car. If you're dead set on doing it I would recommend running a catless X pipe with turndowns attached to the ends.
11-01-2018, 10:33 PM
#7
Race Director
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
I like loud but open header is ridiculous and the drone is unbearable... I had to drive my car for about a week with turndowns after my x-pipe while I was waiting to have my exhaust modified, it sounded good at idle but anything above idle was excruciating and didn't sound good at all
11-04-2018, 11:09 PM
#8
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I started mine up with open headers once to see what it sounded like, but wouldn't recommend driving around like that. Put turn downs at the end of X-Pipe for running at the drag strip as dynoed showed gains over TI exhaust (in fact I bolted up a stock catback and lost .3/5mph in the 1/4) and on the drive there I put my helmet on because head was hurting from the resonance, put ear plugs in for the return trip and ears were ringing when I got home. Cruising sucked, but sounds great at idle and WOT though...
Last edited by PRE-Z06; 11-04-2018 at 11:11 PM.
11-08-2018, 09:30 PM
#9
Everyone who has ever ran open headers says it's terrible.
Besides noise and pollution - which will be bad enough to **** you off, let alone everyone around you - you're also going to confuse the **** out of your car's electronics, and you may well melt stuff near the header collector.
Besides noise and pollution - which will be bad enough to **** you off, let alone everyone around you - you're also going to confuse the **** out of your car's electronics, and you may well melt stuff near the header collector.
11-09-2018, 07:43 PM
#11
11-14-2018, 02:39 AM
#12
Instructor
Dont do it the drone is unbearable I had to drive my car to muffler shop 3 miles away worst experience of my life. Plus car kept searching for idle had to stay on gas at all times. Had the worst headache of my life after
12-28-2018, 01:32 PM
#13
Intermediate
Thread Starter
I haven't done it yet. I hear videos on open headers all the time. I do enjoy the Loud Visceral carnage that V8s produce. Never had the opportunity to hear them in person though. I'll look Into the Off-road Xpipe turn downs with no restrictions for an alternative since people say there might be issues with smells and what not. My current setup is CAI, Magnaflow performance exhaust system; No mufflers, No Resonators straight to the tips. Sounds good and loud, but i'd just like a little more loud. I'll try and grab a video of it and post it. Has some crackles and pops, especially when you take your foot off the gas it likes to burble/ pop like rolling thunder. Still have the 2 sets of cats on the car, can't wait to toss em. Thanks for the feedback also lol.
12-28-2018, 06:01 PM
#14
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I haven't done it yet. I hear videos on open headers all the time. I do enjoy the Loud Visceral carnage that V8s produce. Never had the opportunity to hear them in person though. I'll look Into the Off-road Xpipe turn downs with no restrictions for an alternative since people say there might be issues with smells and what not. My current setup is CAI, Magnaflow performance exhaust system; No mufflers, No Resonators straight to the tips. Sounds good and loud, but i'd just like a little more loud. I'll try and grab a video of it and post it. Has some crackles and pops, especially when you take your foot off the gas it likes to burble/ pop like rolling thunder. Still have the 2 sets of cats on the car, can't wait to toss em. Thanks for the feedback also lol.
01-01-2019, 10:55 PM
#15
Le Mans Master
it'll also get a lot hotter inside considering the collectors dump right under your legs. i reckon the majority of the carbon monoxide would be coming in right around the shifter.
and the drone/ringing would be due to the sound bouncing right off the road up into your butt.
and the drone/ringing would be due to the sound bouncing right off the road up into your butt.
01-04-2019, 09:18 PM
#17
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03-29-2019, 09:15 AM
#18
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Yeah I’m going to remove the cats with and off-road setup. And get a good cam maybe like a BTR Stage 3 or something similar. Then a good tune.
07-11-2019, 08:57 PM
#19
Melting Slicks
If you want loud, go catless with a bullet style exhaust, like the B&B Bullets. It'll still sound good, not the raw nastiness of an open header setup. I fired that up once in my garage after doing a clutch swap, just to see what it was like. Couldn't turn the car off fast enough. It wasn't a good sound, just a bunch of loud noise.
Here is my car wide open with LG Pro Longtubes, no cats, B&B Bullets. You can still hear it over a 1/4mi away when I'm off the gas completely and it's winding down.
Here is my car wide open with LG Pro Longtubes, no cats, B&B Bullets. You can still hear it over a 1/4mi away when I'm off the gas completely and it's winding down.
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07-12-2019, 06:06 PM
#20
I run open headers. It actually sounds like a semi idle but when you’re on the gas it sounds pretty loud. The drone isn’t that bad. If you’ve been in the military it’s less of a drone then being in a Stryker or something like that. You can still have a conversation in the car but you’re definitely talking louder