Thats funny b/c Ion tuned my car and it runs fine with exhaust and fouls the plugs going around the block with open headers. Then again he is the expert

 

It's true that you have a good chance of getting pulled over for it being too loud. But, if that's not an issue you should use 18" extensions from your collectors. I would use 2.5" reducers (cheap at autozone or a muffler shop) and then just get a shop to add 18" of 2.5" pipe to it. It will offer more horsepower than just open headers. Hot Rod did this test about 6 months ago and found that 18" collectors added to headers produces the MAXIMUM amount of power. The 18 inches should also let the O2's work correctly.

 

I have a 3" system all the way around

 

definately don't...

Somehow, I made it halfway across NJ (**** state in terms of emissions) with open headers. Had to drive from Morristown area to Mufflex, in trenton (probably about 75ish miles) with open headers. If you run it with O2's it WILL run like utter ****. And regardless of O2's by the time u get where u need to be it will have been so loud, stinky, and rattled that you will want to shoot yourself and blow up your car. the looks from the truckers was funny though

 

So what would you recommend me do in this situation? The y pipe is about 230 from marylandspeed.com, and I dont' have that. I already have the o2 extensions, and like I said, will be putting those on about a week after installing my headers. I'll also be buying the Breslin locking header bolts. I need a quick solution for me to get a y pipe. Would a custom made one cost a lot more?

 

Is what I dont understand is why you are not hooking up the O2 sensors, I dont care what anyone says thats not what you should do. As far as burning off, I dont know what will be burning off on the inside that would be bad for the O2's its not like the paint the inside of the header? I cant imagine a car running right with the O2's not hooked, I mean they are responsible for your air/fuel how would not having them hooked up help.

 

I would, like I did, spend the $40 at autozone and put the bolt on muffs on. I did it because I was short on cash but I liked it so much that I kept them on.

 

even if you can get a set of turndowns...something to put after the header, cause the O2 is simply too close to the air, as many have posted before.

Yeah, i would keep the O2's in...wouldnt hurt to replace them anyway, after all is said and done, gm parts direct has them for relatively cheap.

 

The inside of the Jet Hots are ceramic coated. The ceramic coating can burn off and foul the o2 sensor if plugged in directly right after installation. I'm getting the rears deleted out of the PCM, but the fronts won't go on till about a week into installing. This is what I was told: "Wait about 2 weeks after you put the headers in to put the new O2's, many people have had the intial coating inside burn off and ruin O2's." I only need one extension right?

I'm not not putting the o2's in there...I was told to WAIT to put the o2's on until the initial coating inside the headers has burned off because I may risk ruining my o2 sensors, and since I'm on a budget I won't be able to afford new ones.

 

That quote says put new O2's not to take them out. I agree leave the old ones in then replace them after a few weeks but to not run them will not be good for your motor. If my Jet Hot coating burned off after a week I would send them back, that is not supposed to happen. I suspect that it doent with Jet hots but may with a cheaper ceramic coating.

 

The coating isn't burning off...you're completely misunderstanding this. Sometimes paint shops "over paint" cars, and the excess paint can come off, it's just like that.

There is usually an over amount of coating that will come off a little bit. There may be loose coatings that can foul the o2 sensors.

I'm just telling you what people have told me...I'm not asking about o2's I'm asking about a solution for y pipes.

 

Where are you going to be doing this? There is a place around here that could probably build a y-pipe for about $100-125.

 

I'll be in Crystal lake. 100-125 would be SO much cheaper Do I REALLY need a Jet Hot coated y pipe? Would you suggest a custom y pipe?

If I could find a way to get the 300 dollars back I'll be able to get the new o2's *burning off the old ones like you said* and getting new ones. But for now I am completely broke after that.

 

You need to read the earlier explanation more clearly... when you have an open collector, the air is mixing with the exhaust IN THE COLLECTOR and making the O2 sensor think its running lean, and the PCM to add huge amounts of fuel that the engine doesn't mean. Has nothing to do with the tune, or who did it.... its simply the air in the collectors screwing up the O2 sensor readings.

The idea that there is something in the cera-metallic coatings that contaminates the O2 sensors is simply a theory at this point. With all the cases of people having failed O2 sensors within a few days of installing coated headers, appears there may be some validity to the theory. We worked on this in "Advanced Tech" but couldn't figure out exactly what could be coming off the coatings.... maybe a "carrier" or solvent that is used to deposit the coating in the inside of the tubes.

 

If you have to run the car open headers just unplug the o2s or leave them out all together and tie up any loose ends on the wiring harness. It will keep the car in open loop and it will run fine.