Running open headers?

[ShiftTheDrift]

Not that I have, but what harm can come, if any, during a race to run open headers? If I recall my reading, the 5.0 depends on back pressure to produce the best horsepower? I see a lot of pro-street cars running with open headers, what is the overall advantage of doing this?

 

[swingline]

Our cars will fall on their face if you try to run with open headers. The motor needs that back pressure to function properly.

 

[nomuffler]

I think they'll burn valves to, I couldn't imagine how o why but I've hear that without proper exhaust .0s will burn valves easy

 

[DCOBRA97]

Back in my day the long tube headers were usually run open at the track. Of course we are talking about another 100 or so cubic inches and a couple of points higher on the compression ratio. With the shorties that the Mustangs come with you do run the chance of burning a valve.......................now with the long tubes I would think that you would be ok. We did have to bump the timing and rejet the carbs when running the oepn headers.

 

[ShiftTheDrift]

hmm.. interesting..

DCOBRA97, with respect to older cars, was this more for sound or is there an overall performance advantage running open headers?

 

[StangJonGT]

With the proper engine combo, open headers can be an advantage. However, in stock form the car needs an exhaust to maintain a useful powerband. Open headers would destroy this.


Jon

 

[VIPERn94Five-0]

in anything near stock trim (i would even venture to say that a HCI car would be included) i bet you would see a decrease in power (especially low end) by running open headers...LT's probably wont cause any damage, but with shorties you will probably burn valves...but if you have a stock or minor bolt on car the car will feel like a DOG with open headers....


Anthony