I just got my SLP headers put on with my stock y-pipe. I have a 97 Z28. I drove off and heard a ticking sound like an exhaust leak. I drove it for a day and then took it back to the guy who put them on. He took both headers off and said there was no leak to be found. The noise was coming from the drivers side near the firewall. He said it was the converter resonating with my new headers. Anyone ever heard of this or had a ticking problem with these headers.

 

All I had was an exhaust leak, tightened the bolts up again, and everything is fine now. I have never heard of the converter resonating before. It could be though, I am not an expert on cars. Good luck.

 

No cat, but I've got one he!! of a leak where my pass. side header meets the Y. I don't know if I have an SLP Y or the factory. Prob the factory. Doesn't seem to be a very good union between the Y and the headers. I do have ALOT of vibration under the car, esp. when taking off slowly. Mostly on drivers side - seems almost under my feet. Just think it's the Y or header vibrating/hitting somewhere. I drives me fricken crazy.

 

I am using LT's now, but i remember installing my slp shorties. If its coming from that area, it could be the dr side cat connection. There is a triangle flange, and its possible the gasket may be blown out. Or check the header bolts. Those back ones are always working their way out. Black soot is telltale to leaks. Good luck...

 

I am actually in the middle of changing my pass. side gasket... what I thought was a stripped plug hole turned out to be the damn rear most pass. bolt unthreading itself AGAIN for the third time. The damage was done and it is too late to tighten the bolt and fix it, hence I'm changing the gasket. I had a leak on the middle driver's side "double primary flange" but I fixed that one with a new gasket as well. This better get rid of this friggin exhaust leak I've been having or I will PISSED!

 

I would recommend to all some stage 8 locking bolts. They will only come loose when you want them to. Another great product, next to the craftsman ratcheting combo wrenches and toaster oven.

 

Try using some loc-tite on the threads of the y-pipe bolts. My hooker y-pipe bolt don't come loose on there own anymore!

 

Well glad to hear others have the problem but I just put these on and the ticking began so I couldn't have blown the gasket that quick. Is there supposed to be just one gasket between the headers flange and the y pipe flange?

 

yes, one gasket. When i installed mine, i had the passenger side tightened already. So when trying to connect the driver side flange, there was so much prying and swearing. So i had to loosen everything up, and reinstall. By that time, i most likely ruined the integrity of the gasket. It is just a possibility, i am not standing in front of the car. A tick shouldnt be that elusive. Keep us posted on it...

 

I have always had problems with my back pass side gasket blowing and nut coming lose. I am now putting on new gaskets all around and am putting on lock tight on all the nuts bcuz I tired or retightening the nuts almost monthly.

 

Same problem here. The guy said he has to tighten the bolts back up and possibly put another gasket behind it.

 

how much did install cost?

 

I have the same leak.
Your leak is for sure, at the header/y-pipe flanges. I tried 2 gaskets with some luck. Only leaks when engine is cold. I'm thinking maybe 3 gaskets will do the trick.
My install with new plugs and muffler was $200