Thread: Concerns after installing headers :(

So yeserday i installed a set of sd headers into my 04 comp g. I got them all in and when i started the car i seen smoking so my first thought was they were leaking. Well after i extended and installed my o2 sensors today i went back and retightened all the bolt and i think what i thought was leaking was the oils burning off the headers cus they do have a funky smell aswell. I have yet to install my cat cus it doesnt fit unless i delete my res and push back the flange a bit so im running just the sd downpipe for now. On my way to my Brother in laws house tonight( still an awful smell) i started hearing a whistle type sound when my foot was off the pedal deaccelerating so i listened closer and noticed between 2-2.5k rmps there is a knocking sound that get louder as i rev but stop above 2.5k. Sow when i got there me and him decided to listen under the hood but couldnt hear anything at idle but then we heard a ping as if something like a bolt dropped on the headers so im looking arounda couple mins for a bolt or something and we hear it again. Also something to note when driving the car it seems really rough in my pedal, alot more than befor installing them so idk if thats normal or if something has to be hitting.

So
1) is that smell normal or do i have a leak
2)what could cause a knock at those rmp ranges
3) is that whistling a leak
4) is the pining sound just the headers breaking in and warping
5) is the riough vibration in pedal normal from more power or is something hitting

When and after i installed them i checked everything possible they could be hitting( tran dipstick, ac tube in front i had to bend down, my front o2 i didnt have to modify cus it had about 1/4-1/2 inch of play from the firewall befor hitting, and checked all around headers and crossover)

Any tips ideas would be great, its my first header install and im kind of worried cus its my dd. Thanks

the o2 sensor could be knocking I didnt mod my firewall and can feel it hitting but only in reverse the engine is going to move a little so it could be something just lose rattling around at certain ranges inclines and so fourth

when mines hitting I feel it in the steering wheel seems like if the gas pedal is vibrating its more likely to be from your DP and lower pipe area i would check the clearance there

does it smell like burning plastic?
have you checked your o2 sensor wire and plug wires for heat dmg?

it does smell like burning plastic and it smelled befor i put the sensors back in

all wires are out of the way ran behind and away from headers

Originally Posted by siLversLeigh

going to go on a limb and say you're overreacting

im praying so but that doesnt help my thoughts

Probably your O2 sensor hitting the firewall. Also let the car run and get underneath it and check for exhaust leaks.

Originally Posted by REDCOMPG

Probably your O2 sensor hitting the firewall. Also let the car run and get underneath it and check for exhaust leaks.

ya im push in the firewall a bit just to be certain but i did however check for any air i could feel coming from every connection and couldnt feel anything atleast at idle so ima try sea foaming it and check for leaks then

Front header touching fan shield?

Otherwise if you didnt clean off the headers after install, smoke is going to happen from anything like oils and grease burning off.

And you being catless is going to make its own smell, very strong exhaust smell is always present.

Its possible you have a leak, maybe at the egr or downpipe connection

most answers are things i thought but what about the knocking and the ping, those are my main concerns. What could cause something to knock at 2-2.5k rmps i can hear in car while going 30-45, loose valve? and im hoping someone will tell me that all headers ping like that as if a penny or bolt or something is hitting them hear and there

Originally Posted by Fivefingerdeathpunch

Front header touching fan shield?

Otherwise if you didnt clean off the headers after install, smoke is going to happen from anything like oils and grease burning off.

And you being catless is going to make its own smell, very strong exhaust smell is always present.

Its possible you have a leak, maybe at the egr or downpipe connection

that was another thought the front fan shield i ripped off, i even asked drunkie when installing them and he said it should be fine
i have about 1/4 an inch clearance when car is idle idk when im driving, anyone with 04+ know?

the ping I get too after installation usually while cooling
it could be knocking at higher rpms too and you just can't hear it over engine noise I know first hand how hard it is trying to diagnose noises while driving straight pipes

Originally Posted by Beelzeboul

the ping I get too after installation usually while cooling
it could be knocking at higher rpms too and you just can't hear it over engine noise I know first hand how hard it is trying to diagnose noises while driving straight pipes

ty thats what i wanted to hear but what kind of knocking are you thinking at those rmps? valve or detonation or what

it will create false knock if the o2 sensor is hitting the firewall.

probably fire wall to be honest like I said especially if you can feel it in your foot its probably just echoing from the dp I found the 3inch band clamps on the Dp tend to fit a little loose and wouldn't be surprised if when the car leans back it jostles it up enough to be touching the underbody or Firewall and that as the car evens out it levels off again

Originally Posted by REDCOMPG

it will create false knock if the o2 sensor is hitting the firewall.

i dont meen knock as in kr from gauge i meen i can hear a knocking at those rmps

Originally Posted by REDCOMPG

it will create false knock if the o2 sensor is hitting the firewall.

pretty sure hes talking about a knocking sound and not a False Knock retard reading but true story engine vibrations will give ya some false KR

also on the whistling noise. using a piece of kleenex and going around headers you should be able to see a leak via motion in the paper
if its not coming from there going around your vac lines with some starting fluid (cold Engine) and listening for a kick in the idle will help ya find vac leaks another good tip is if the car idles rough or your LTFTs are stuck at 16.4 you got a vac leak

its almost like a tick tick tick tick tick that speeds up the faster i go from 2-2.5k

like a hammer tapping a piston

i dont think ide hear injectors inside at those speeds and rmps

also it seemed to come back after it warmed up a bit

exhaust leak

Tick tick = exhaust leak. What type of clamps did you use and did you keep the original flex or did you change it?

Originally Posted by Beelzeboul

pretty sure hes talking about a knocking sound and not a False Knock retard reading but true story engine vibrations will give ya some false KR

also on the whistling noise. using a piece of kleenex and going around headers you should be able to see a leak via motion in the paper
if its not coming from there going around your vac lines with some starting fluid (cold Engine) and listening for a kick in the idle will help ya find vac leaks another good tip is if the car idles rough or your LTFTs are stuck at 16.4 you got a vac leak

good idea with the tissue lol didnt think of that