Headers and top-down drivability

[hawk02]

Seriously considering adding headers to my convertible and would like to hear from other vert owners who have them installed regarding their affect on top-down driving.

Is the sound level an issue with the top down? In other words, do you find yourself having turn the radio volume way up to hear it? Are you having to raise your voice to carry on a conversation with a front seat passenger? What about heat? When stopped at a light I can sometimes feel heat coming from the engine compartment. How much worse is this with headers?

I find top-down driving to be a great pleasure in my car's current state. But I'm also a "torgue junky" and would like a little more low-end zip. Now that my powertrain warranty is gone with a custom tune, headers seem the logical next step in the mod cycle. My biggest concern is that adding headers will ruin the good balance the car has between performance and drivability especially when the top is down.

Thanks in advance for your input.

[bwk1971]

I'll let you know in 2 weeks if no one has replied by then. My Pfadt tri-y's will be delivered today.

[hawk02]

Originally Posted by bwk1971

I'll let you know in 2 weeks if no one has replied by then. My Pfadt tri-y's will be delivered today.

Thanks. If I end up putting headers on, it will be the Tri-Ys.

[bwk1971]

Originally Posted by hawk02

Thanks. If I end up putting headers on, it will be the Tri-Ys.

They just arrived. I'll let you know. I hope to have them installed this weekend. I'll take some video and post.

[hawk02]

Originally Posted by bwk1971

They just arrived. I'll let you know. I hope to have them installed this weekend. I'll take some video and post. Attachment 563056

Those look sweet. If I get them, I will have them ceramic coated black.

I see your going to get a JRE custom tune. Did you order the Tri-Y's from them? I have a custom JRE tune on my ZL1.

[bwk1971]

Originally Posted by hawk02

Those look sweet. If I get them, I will have them ceramic coated black.

I see your going to get a JRE custom tune. Did you order the Tri-Y's from them? I have a custom JRE tune on my ZL1.

Yes, I ordered them from JRE. I'd like to get them ceramic coasted as well but haven't found a reasonable shop here to do it. I should have ordered them already coated but didn't think about it until the order was on its way. By the way, JRE ships FAST!!!!

[hawk02]

Originally Posted by bwk1971

Yes, I ordered them from JRE. I'd like to get them ceramic coasted as well but haven't found a reasonable shop here to do it. I should have ordered them already coated but didn't think about it until the order was on its way. By the way, JRE ships FAST!!!!

Yes they do ship fast. I ordered the SCT scanner from them on a Monday evening and had it my possession on Thursday.

I emailed Ted last week about getting the Tri-Y's coated at the time of order. I told him I noticed an option on his web site to add coating to the Dynatechs but not the Pfadt Tri-Ys. Within 5 min a button appeared on the Tri-Y order page to add ceramic coating to the order. Now that's what I call service!

[bwk1971]

Originally Posted by hawk02

Yes they do ship fast. I ordered the SCT scanner from them on a Monday evening and had it my possession on Thursday.

I emailed Ted last week about getting the Tri-Y's coated at the time of order. I told him I noticed an option on his web site to add coating to the Dynatechs but not the Pfadt Tri-Ys. Within 5 min a button appeared on the Tri-Y order page to add ceramic coating to the order. Now that's what I call service!

Indeed. Wish I'd seen that option but I ordered by phone and totally forgot to ask.

[OVERPAR73]

You guys will LOVE your new headers! Check the end of my build thread and there is a video of the before and after exhaust clip. These headers are loud! I really love to just listen to my engine now. I wish I would of seen the coating option but missed that option because I ordered by phone also. There is a heat issue at red lights, you can really feel the heat coming up from underneath. Any questions just shoot me a PM.

[111wfb]

They sound wonderful, I have headers, pipes and supercharger. It's never sounded better, top up or top down.

[nukemustang]

I love mine! I have Dynatech ceramic coated headers with hi flow cats and the solo Mach XC exhaust. It's "quiet" until you get into the throttle and then you hear the 6.2 come to life. Best of both worlds!

[Bodih]

Originally Posted by nukemustang

I love mine! I have Dynatech ceramic coated headers with hi flow cats and the solo Mach XC exhaust. It's "quiet" until you get into the throttle and then you hear the 6.2 come to life. Best of both worlds!

Good to hear. I'm planning to add the Tri-Y's and H/F Cats to my Solo Mach XC. I've been curious how it will sound with the J-pipes and if I'll need to tune them.

[bwk1971]

I'm going to have to wait a little longer to hear mine, Hawk02 has convinced me to get them ceramic coated. I dropped them off this morning

[hawk02]

Originally Posted by bwk1971

I'm going to have to wait a little longer to hear mine, Hawk02 has convinced me to get them ceramic coated. I dropped them off this morning

I think you'll be glad you had them coated.

I'm reconsidering my plan to add headers right now as a result of this thread.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321977

I emailed Ted Jannetty for his thoughts and he recommended a 10% lower pulley with ATI balancer. He said headers would do very little with my current mods.

bwk1971, I see from your mod list you're planning to swap pulleys. Are you doing it before or after the headers are installed?