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Performance Exhaust SystemsDetailed discussions regarding performance headers, single, dual, street and off-hard racing exhaust systems for your vehicle.
This is a discussion thread titled "Installed the Thorley headers today...", within the Performance Exhaust Systems forum, part of the Technical & Vehicle Assistance Forums category.
wow..... This was a nail biter for me. I have my headers set to install in the morning. As I was reading this thread, I'm thinking "the heck with this, I'm going e-bay with mine" but, now that it is not running because of the vacuum leak, I am back on course.
Did you reuse your gaskets? I ordered new gaskets for all 4 ends for just under a hundred bucks! I rather not have to go back in there for a leak because I was to cheap to spend another hundred bucks.
Thanks for the taking the time to post your experience, and I can't wait to hear how the DT perform.
PM me your number and I will give you some more information on the install and someone that can also better explain it too. There are some important tricks such as the bent 14mm wrench to get around the smog bar and tightening from the inside out. And also making sure that your ECU is properly reset.
Hmmm...so is that at the header or at the flange where the header meets the H pipe?
The leak from the cat back to the H pipe is not the problem then?
When I said header flange, what I should have said was head flange. Where the cylinder head meets the header. Anything downstream of the o2's will only have a real effect on sound.
It typically takes Toyotas 100-200 solid driving miles to get used to new mods. Be sure to vary your RPMs and loads to get all the different driving conditions so that your ECU can accurately adjust.
Also worth mentioning: Something I learned while tuning Ford engines, but should apply to any closed loop, long term fuel trim.
You want to cover all different engine speeds and loads, but that is useless if it is too sporadic. You want to make sure that you drive with a very steady foot and maintain these certain rpms and loads for at least 10 seconds or so. If you briefly pass by a certain engine condition it wont be able to gather any usable data. It needs to stabilize, and gather some good data from the 02's in order to make a note of it and make a correction. The more methodical you are about gathering good data during different conditions, the faster the ECU will learn and the better the new tune will be.
Greg,
Just wanted to say that even though I don’t know much about how to install my own headers (never did it myself), I just feel for you on this install… I know it is frustrating, but I hope you get the two bolts fixed. I can’t speak for everyone, but I know that – myself included – many of us really appreciate you taking the time to write down your experience despite the problems. So, hang in there and let us know when the other bolts are on and how the headers perform! Hoping everything turns out better for you today!
I took pics and will post them soon; I have a long write up that I will host once I get it in order in my mind...not sure if I would tackle this one again..a lot would depend on what a shop would charge.
I will definitely agree here. As I was reading your PM as well it sounds like the flange of the headers is not completely mated to the and causing the crappy idle. Did you use the bent wrench to get to the bolts around the smog bar? And did you tighten from the inside cylinder bolts outward? There are a few tips that I also wanted to go over with you. I tried your number and no answer and the other was a wrong number. Give me a call when you can and well get you sorted!!
I was able to access all the other nuts other than the one per header, middle top that I could not get my had/fingers on to get started...a bent wrench would not have helped as I could not get the nut in there..I wanted to tighten in the correct sequence but due to missing the middle top nut I did not...
wow..... This was a nail biter for me. I have my headers set to install in the morning. As I was reading this thread, I'm thinking "the heck with this, I'm going e-bay with mine" but, now that it is not running because of the vacuum leak, I am back on course.
Did you reuse your gaskets? I ordered new gaskets for all 4 ends for just under a hundred bucks! I rather not have to go back in there for a leak because I was to cheap to spend another hundred bucks.
Thanks for the taking the time to post your experience, and I can't wait to hear how the DT perform.
I am not a mechanic nor an expert my any means and learn by trial and error; I can't see a shop doing it a whole lot different than what I did; not sure if being on a lift would help...I used the stock gaskets as they are the multi layer thin metal ones that should last a while; there are not gaskets between the header flange and the H pipe and there are metal O ring gaskets in between the H pipe and the cat back..since I hvae 2400 miles on the truck I assume the gaskets are fine and did not buy new ones.
PM me your number and I will give you some more information on the install and someone that can also better explain it too. There are some important tricks such as the bent 14mm wrench to get around the smog bar and tightening from the inside out. And also making sure that your ECU is properly reset.
I did not see where the bent 14mm wrench would help; the issues I had was with the 12mm nuts that go onto the stud/header..14mm bolts were the ones connecting the H pipe to the cat back, the header to the H pipe and the motor mount to the motor...
The truck is at Big Al's so hopefully they can at least get my mistakes fixed...I asked them to look at the headers and see if they based on their experience can get the last 2 nuts on the studs..due to the exhaust leaks I can't say any SOTP gains yet...
I did not see where the bent 14mm wrench would help; the issues I had was with the 12mm nuts that go onto the stud/header..14mm bolts were the ones connecting the H pipe to the cat back, the header to the H pipe and the motor mount to the motor...
Well keep us updated. Is there any reason why you are trusting Big Als over a speed shop. Im not sure what part of VA Beach you are in but I know there is a reputable shop down by the state line that does good work (I lived around Va Beach for about 20 years before joining the military).
since I hvae 2400 miles on the truck I assume the gaskets are fine and did not buy new ones.
OH-oh... exhaust gaskets ALWAYS.. need to be replaced, once they are installed in a system. they'll mold and form to fill any inperfections to the mating surfaces of the exhaust system, if you reuse them, it is hard to make them get a good seal, and lots of times you'll get a leak. I would not take the chance and be forced to do the work all over again just to replace gaskets.
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07 Tundra DC SR5 5.7L
20" Carved Wheels
TRD Package
TRD Cold Air Intake
TRD Sway Bar
Re: Installed the Thorley headers today...
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