This is how it goes.
Every car is different.
Headers work.
Headers don't work.
Like already stated, every car is different.
I couldn't run knock free without them.
My buddy ran a 3.4" knock free with a u-bend deleted and the cat hollowed out. Stock PCM...stock everything.
So get a way to scan it...whatever keeps you mostly knock free, will work. 2-3* isn't the end of the world, especially on larger pullies.