Alright good news. After a painfully annoying LT header install and then an even more painful oil pan smashing misshap, I finally started her up tonight with open headers. Good oil pressure, no leaks, no CEL on the dash, no problems. However, after about 20sec when the headers got hot, they started smoking. Is this normal? The headers were used and they probably have my greasy fingerprints all over them but i wanted to make sure this was normal. Anybody elses LT's smoke after they installed them?

Also, when i was putting my steering shaft in, i noticed that the wheel got bound up in sertain spots. i went to check, and there is a little piece of thin and somewhat flexible metal on one of the knuckles of the shaft that is hitting on my headers as the kunckle turns. It appears to be pointless but im not sure. Anyone know what im talking about? Or how to correct this? I will get a picture tommorow if no one knows what im talking about

Finally, am i doing my car any harm by driving with open headers for a day or two? Thanks guys

 

it is compleetly normal for the headders to smoke. it should go away soon. the oice of meatal your are refering to is part of the rag joint. if i am thinking of it right it is there as a backup if the rag joint fails it will give you some controll of the car. i would nor mess with it. would be safer to dent the headder a little. imo it will not hurt the car to run open headders for a little while. i know there are some differing opinions about it though.

 

The smoke is most likely from your greasy hands and possibly coating on the headers if you had them coated. Perfectly normal.
If I'm not mistakin' the metal is heat shielding for your brake lines. Take a prybar and bend the shielding back a bit to clear.
You'll be fine to drive w/ open headers.

 

The smoke is normal.