I've had my car finished for about a week now. I installed Jet-Hot LT and GM 1.6 RR. And after my custom y-pipe was in (so after it wasn't open headers and I could hear) There seems to be a lot of clunks and rattling.

Is this normal with Long Tubes? One specific noise is when I first fire her up.. not all the time, but sometimes there is a sort of grinding sound comming from around where the starter motor is. I know I torqued it so it isn't loose... is there any "wrong way" to install the starter?

Other things include slight vibration when braking at low speeds (thinking that might be brake pads.. they are really worn) and when starting up in first gear.. there is slight pedal vibrations and noises when turning (kind of like my wheels are too big and they are rubbing) My clutch is getting pretty worn.. so I think some of it is coming from there...

Let me know what you guys think... thanks!

 

Starter not shimmed right?Primaries hitting the firewall/floorboard?

 

Your Headers may be touching the engine craddle.

Take a look at where your primaries come together and start to make a bend towards the Y pipe.
I had to grind a little on my craddle to make sure that it didn't rub.

 

I know on my car and my friends 97 Z28 we both had to trim a little off of our transmission cross members on the driver side cause the Y-pipe hit on it really bad. There could be some of your problem. And on the passenger side the header could be hitting the k-member right where the rear lower control arm mount is, mine is really close there and hits when I launch at the drag strip.

 

Definetly. I just finished mine too about a week ago. I can't take off now from a start without shuddering unless I release the clutch real slow. Under heavy acceleration, I can feel the vibration. Kinda turns the car into more of a race car feel, which I'm not sure i'm extremely happy about. Car sounds absolutely awesome though. I know one primary is touching the fuel line heat shield on the drivers fender. I'm not too happy about that, but I probably should have beat it with a hammer before I installed it. Otherwise the drivers side y-pipe is probably hitting the frame too. I can't see whats possible to do about it though. I figure it just comes with full length headers..

 

Ok.. thanks guys! At least I'm not the only one.. I'm going to have someone start the car for me while I look in different areas... hopefully I can track down some of the culprits