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question about headers

  • Thread starter Thread starter ineeda5.0
  • Start date Start date Jan 19, 2010
I

ineeda5.0

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Jan 7, 2010
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Jan 19, 2010
#1
  • Jan 19, 2010
  • #1
Can a header leak cause a loss in power?
 
J

Jmellone7

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Jan 19, 2010
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#2
  • Jan 19, 2010
  • #2
Yeah you will definitely lose performance because your getting more air than your MAF is allowing so your computers will be confused with all of the air. If you do have a header leak, you will definitely notice sound difference too. Check to see if all the screws are tight, its possible that there are bolts missing as well. Goodluck!
 
F

FastStang91LX

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Jan 17, 2010
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Minnesota
Jan 19, 2010
#3
  • Jan 19, 2010
  • #3
Jmellone7 said:
Yeah you will definitely lose performance because your getting more air than your MAF is allowing so your computers will be confused with all of the air.
Click to expand...

I think you are confusing yourself with an intake leak.
 
J

Jmellone7

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Jan 19, 2010
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Jan 19, 2010
#4
  • Jan 19, 2010
  • #4
FastStang91LX said:
I think you are confusing yourself with an intake leak.
Click to expand...

Well I believe it can be a little bit of both, and depending on which side the header is on the EGR valve is connected to one of them so that can cause a little bit of a performance issue as well. But either way yes you will have a performance loss and sound loss. All I was saying is the MAF system controls the air into the engine, and with the header leak possibly let out the air the computer thinks there is when there is really not because of the leak.
 
I

ineeda5.0

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Jan 19, 2010
#5
  • Jan 19, 2010
  • #5
Sry i did not betetr specify, its a header gasket leak and its coming from the right side header, i deff hear the loud ticking and recently noticed a loss in power the past few days, planning to fix ito n friday
 
J

Jmellone7

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Jan 19, 2010
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Jan 19, 2010
#6
  • Jan 19, 2010
  • #6
ineeda5.0 said:
Sry i did not betetr specify, its a header gasket leak and its coming from the right side header, i deff hear the loud ticking and recently noticed a loss in power the past few days, planning to fix ito n friday
Click to expand...
Oh alright yeah you will def hear the sound when you give it some gas, and when its idling. But its an easy fix, and I recommend using red thread seal for the bolts after replacing the gasket. What kind of headers do you have?
 
I

ineeda5.0

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Jan 19, 2010
#7
  • Jan 19, 2010
  • #7
I just bought the car, it has stock headers, i just ordered a pair of bbk shortys plan to put them on as soon as they come in. So the header gasket leak can cause the engine to run poorly?
 
J

Jmellone7

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Jan 19, 2010
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Jan 19, 2010
#8
  • Jan 19, 2010
  • #8
ineeda5.0 said:
I just bought the car, it has stock headers, i just ordered a pair of bbk shortys plan to put them on as soon as they come in. So the header gasket leak can cause the engine to run poorly?
Click to expand...

Yeah for sure any type of air leak or fuel leak will cause your engine to not run to its ability. Okay with the bbk shortys after installing them, you need to tighten the bolts a few times down the road while breaking them in. If you dont bolts may fall out and that may cause wearing of the gasket or warping the header itself.
 
F

FastStang91LX

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Minnesota
Jan 19, 2010
#9
  • Jan 19, 2010
  • #9
Jmellone7 said:
after installing them, you need to tighten the bolts a few times down the road while breaking them in. If you dont bolts may fall out and that may cause wearing of the gasket or warping the header itself.
Click to expand...

or upgrade to locking header bolts
 
J

Jmellone7

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Jan 19, 2010
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Jan 19, 2010
#10
  • Jan 19, 2010
  • #10
FastStang91LX said:
or upgrade to locking header bolts
Click to expand...

Haha you can do that as well im right with you on that one, but just incase you want to just use the header bolts they give you, use the thread sealer
 
I

ineeda5.0

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Jan 7, 2010
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Jan 19, 2010
#11
  • Jan 19, 2010
  • #11
Jmellone7 said:
Yeah for sure any type of air leak or fuel leak will cause your engine to not run to its ability. Okay with the bbk shortys after installing them, you need to tighten the bolts a few times down the road while breaking them in. If you dont bolts may fall out and that may cause wearing of the gasket or warping the header itself.
Click to expand...

So basically drive around the block a few times and then retighten them?
 
J

Jmellone7

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Jan 19, 2010
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Jan 19, 2010
#12
  • Jan 19, 2010
  • #12
ineeda5.0 said:
So basically drive around the block a few times and then retighten them?
Click to expand...

No give it a couple of days to a week then re-tighten them, locking header bolts might be the way to go you do get what you paid for out of them but they are relatively cheap for bolts
 
I

ineeda5.0

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Jan 7, 2010
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Jan 20, 2010
#13
  • Jan 20, 2010
  • #13
Where can I pick them up from so i dont have to order them online
 
J

Jmellone7

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Jan 19, 2010
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Jan 20, 2010
#14
  • Jan 20, 2010
  • #14
ineeda5.0 said:
Where can I pick them up from so i dont have to order them online
Click to expand...

Not many places sell actual header bolts, your probably just going to have to order them off line unless there is some shop near you that sells them. Or you could make them yourself and just get bolt lock washers work just as well and are much cheaper than buying new header bolts...... http://www.boltdepot.com/images/Chrome/chrome-split-lock-washers.jpg
 
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