Is it ok to start an engine with open headers??

juiced_94gt · Aug 4, 2007

I was planning on firing up my 331 today but my bbk catted x-pipe did not line up with my bbk longtubes

Well can i still fire it up and warm it up to do the coolant and stuff?? is that safe or should i wait until i get the x-pipe fixed???

iwashmycar · Aug 4, 2007

i have heard its not really a good thing

Grn92LX · Aug 4, 2007

Why doesn't the X fit? Maybe you just need to wrestle with it and have a friend help.

Fett · Aug 4, 2007

There is no problem with it.....it will just be LOUD.

Deleted member 87397 · Aug 4, 2007

Yeah you can do it no problem. As mentioned above, it will be loud, but it's not going to hurt. Just make sure there's nothing near the collectors that can melt like the speedo cable if you have the thing idling for a while.

juiced_94gt · Aug 4, 2007

Grn92LX said:
Why doesn't the X fit? Maybe you just need to wrestle with it and have a friend help.

When you put it on one collector, the other doesent line up by like 3" it's pretty off and im pretty pissed after dropping almost 400.00 on it

fastranger347 · Aug 4, 2007

wont hurt a darn thing, if someone tells you it will they dont know what they are talkin about

Foxfan88 · Aug 4, 2007

one time around here there was a guy who started up a junk pickup of his and it didnt even have headers on it, just straight out the head. talk about the worst sound imaginable....

Aryan15 · Aug 5, 2007

You can warp exhaust valves when you run with no headers or very short ones, but your long tubes should be fine.

Maryland Stang · Aug 5, 2007

juiced_94gt said:
my bbk catted x-pipe did not line up with my bbk longtubes

BBK has an awful time with exhaust systems. Brian said he was going to try to find out if there was some sort of problem at the assembly plant but never did.

Mr. Rustypwnz · Aug 5, 2007

I drove around for 3 months without an exhaust on my 86 when I put the enine back together, it was loud but hurt nothing, sounded kewl. cops started calling then it was back on lol.

Fett · Aug 5, 2007

It's not uncommon for techs to drop the exhaust and run open manifolds on cars to test if the cats are clogged.

lang williams · Aug 6, 2007

is there any chance you got a 4.6 x pipe by mistake? aren't they wider?

juiced_94gt · Aug 6, 2007

lang williams said:
is there any chance you got a 4.6 x pipe by mistake? aren't they wider?

unless it was tagged wrong, the tag on the x-pipe says it's for a 94-95 5.0L and i have a 94

85_SS_302_Coupe · Aug 6, 2007

I saw a guy start a Cutlass without any manifolds once....it shot fire out the sides of the heads.

Then when i did my first header swap back in the day i just couldn't resist firing it up with open headers.....talk about LOUD. Full lengths are one thing but shorties are so loud it's unbearable.

stangzroastrice · Aug 6, 2007

yeah go ahead and start it up, with my old 89 notch i drove around for 2 months with the stock open shorties because i didn't have the money to get new headers and my new exhaust yet hah. beat the living **** out of it too while the exhaust was off, ran great once the exhaust was back on as well...

Mustang78 · Aug 7, 2007

the only problem i can see in starting a new engine with open headers is the engine noise, any "ticking" will not be heard over the sound of the exhaust..etc..so be careful and hope the engine was built right

~Mark~

thumper460 · Aug 7, 2007

Mustang78.. right on!! there will be all the noise from the header and masking any smaller noises from the rockers.. gaskets.. rods... ect!! So make sure all the small thing are done first!! there are no Issues with running open headers.. ( you will be lean on fuel because of the better flow..) Me?? I dont do it ONLY because I like to hear the small stuff first..lol Have fun!!

Just me.........................................

Thumper

ninety15.0 · Aug 7, 2007

well i dont know if he will be lean b/c he wont even have the o2's in place for the computer to check the AFR. I started my motor up open headers after i built it and it threw a check engine light immediately. It will run fine but rough. I would suggest figuring out the mid pipe situation first.

Is it ok to start an engine with open headers??

juiced_94gt

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iwashmycar

Grn92LX

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Fett

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it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end

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