OBX Headers and exhaust

[SteveCanyon]

Quick question for those of you running the OBX headers. Do you get any raw gas smell when running them? Thinking of installing their headers and exhaust but curious if I will need to put some cats in if there is any exhaust smell with them. Looked through the other OBX threads and could not find any mention of this.

[mike100]

You will get that raw hydrocarbon smell if you run without catalysts. Even the small mini-cats help a ton. I used LS7 ones because they are pretty compact 3" units that came off of a 505hp 7 liter engine.

I have Watson headers and they are possibly longer than OBX headers...point I'm trying to make is the catalysts were pretty far from the engine, but you could sit behind the car to install a license plate with the engine running and not feel any the worse for it.

[SteveCanyon]

Thanks, I figured that was the case. I know on my mustang I ended up throwing in a set of magnaflow high flow cats and that removed my issue there. Still hoping to get the feedback from someone running the entire OBX header and full exhaust.

[efnfast]

I run the OBX headers, ceramic coated, no cats, OBX exhaust. The odor is never a problem for me, I'm always in front of it. But I know it stinks behind me. My daughter in the car behind me, up the on ramp, WOT, daughter told me I stunk up the whole highway.

[mike100]

... Still hoping to get the feedback from someone running the entire OBX header and full exhaust.

The brand doesn't really matter- if you're catless, it is gonna smell like 1972 out on the roadway;)

[Anniv88]

No cats on my 90. No bad smell either.:-D

[SteveCanyon]

I run the OBX headers, ceramic coated, no cats, OBX exhaust. The odor is never a problem for me, I'm always in front of it. But I know it stinks behind me. My daughter in the car behind me, up the on ramp, WOT, daughter told me I stunk up the whole highway.

How do you like the exhaust?

[Karl]

I believe it's in the tune. My car smells fine.

[FU]

I believe it's in the tune. .

You are correct.

My car smells fine.

Mine too :cheers:

[efnfast]

How do you like the exhaust?
I like it.
Made in China.
The header needs to be dimpled to clear the steering column. I jacked my engine a little to clear.
Marc did my program.
You'll need to extend the O2 sensor wire on the passengers side.
Paul Workman fabed up some dipstick relocation brackets. Not rocket science, but sure is nice to have in hand.
I bought the locking header bolts (stage 8) the locking clips didn't fit in the grove, making them a waste of $75. They still bolted on, just couldn't use the locks.
SBC has 6? bolts per side, ours have 16 per side. Don't freak if you can't get them all in. The jury is still out if they left the factory with all 32.
I love the sound.
Steve

[SteveCanyon]

I like it.
Made in China.
The header needs to be dimpled to clear the steering column. I jacked my engine a little to clear.
Marc did my program.
You'll need to extend the O2 sensor wire on the passengers side.
Paul Workman fabed up some dipstick relocation brackets. Not rocket science, but sure is nice to have in hand.
I bought the locking header bolts (stage 8) the locking clips didn't fit in the grove, making them a waste of $75. They still bolted on, just couldn't use the locks.
SBC has 6? bolts per side, ours have 16 per side. Don't freak if you can't get them all in. The jury is still out if they left the factory with all 32.
I love the sound.
Steve

Did you buy aftermarket clamps or us the included ones? How log of an O2 extension is needed?

[efnfast]

I used the included clamps.
I think the extension was about a foot. My exhaust shop fabed one. If I had known, I'd have had one in hand with plugs on both ends instead of cutting and spicing.

[Vette73]

Just put the whole system on my 91 a few weeks ago along with a chip from Marc..Also did the intske temp relocation wire.....I used wrap on the headers and I was getting a smell in the car for about a week but seems to be going away ...

I don't have the cats on my car...You will like the sound a lot...Nice mellow tone at idle and a nice throaty sound when you get on it..The added power of course was a plus...

[SteveCanyon]

Is the ebay store racingpartsdepot the only place to get the OBX exhaust?

[Karl]

I ordered directly from them and not Ebay. It saved me some money.

[Karl]

I was using the ATM yesterday and had a chance to get a good smell of my car running in a somewhat enclosed area and the smell of gas is ever so slightly there....barely noticeable.

[RussMcB]

I believe it's in the tune. My car smells fine.

I was using the ATM yesterday and had a chance to get a good smell of my car running in a somewhat enclosed area and the smell of gas is ever so slightly there....barely noticeable.That's encouraging. I've been looking forward to adding headers, and saving money by not buying cats. Here in Georgia (ATL suburbs) my '91 ZR-1 is old enough now to never need emissions testing again.

Karl, tell us briefly about your tune (who did it, etc.)

Thank you.

[Karl]

Pete did the tune. So far so good. I do not have any specifics on the tune, sorry.

[Billy Mild]

Does anyone sell an o2 extension?

[mike100]

Does anyone sell an o2 extension?

I think stainless works has one with their header kit, but you may need to contact them for individually sold items (they will do it on request).

If you search the topic here, I provided all the part numbers from Napa or Summit on how to build your own. The problem is the early 90's was a transition period from single wire oxygen sensors to 4 wire heated o2's so we got the oddball 3-wire ones unfortunately.

[SteveCanyon]

I ordered directly from them and not Ebay. It saved me some money.

How did you order it direct? I tried emailing them with no response and they do not have a phone number.

[Paul Workman]

I run the OBX headers, ceramic coated, no cats, OBX exhaust. The odor is never a problem for me, I'm always in front of it. But I know it stinks behind me. My daughter in the car behind me, up the on ramp, WOT, daughter told me I stunk up the whole highway.

Yeah...WE noticed that too. Good thing you were at the back of the pack last ear. OH! You weren't driving last year??? Hmmmm.... I guess cats aren't gonna help ya. :p .......................JK! ;)

[Mystic ZR-1]

Paul
Why do ya think we had the windows open?
Steve took his boots off... :)
D

[Gunny]

.... build your own....

If you're even slightly handy with basic tools & wires, locate the proper connectors and build your own. Took me about 5 minutes. I think it might be possible to somehow re-route the original harness on the right side of the engine so that you don't need the extension but looks like too much work & not worth it ... much easier to build the extension.