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Long Tube Header Questions?

tomp

Well-Known Member
Messages
256
Location
Dallas
Which gaskets are they charging you $31.16 for? The kit comes with all the gaskets and you definitely want to use the ones that come with the kit as they are the best header gaskets on the market.

What are the header bolts for? Again, new ones come with the kit

Only $23 for eight spark plugs? Are these the same as the factory Platinum 100K mile plugs? My suggestion is to only use exact factory plugs. I have been doing this far too long and have learned many lessons over the years, to always use exact same as factory plugs. Something tells me for that price, they are not the factory spec plugs but I could be wrong....

Typically, a dyno tune is a good idea when installing long tube headers. However, a quick call to Dynatech will tell you that these are bolt-in headers and will work great with OEM PCM. The kit comes with all the necessary cables to make this a bolt-in job. Usually with Long tubes, you will want to add delay in the AFR metering because the O2 sensor is further back on the exhaust manifold, but Dynatech is convinced their kit does not require custom tuning. However, a custom tune will benefit even a stock vehicle. I guess we can consider the tune "over and above" what is required for this install, but will certainly add positive improvements;)

I have a custom tune for my headers and I have ran the vehicle with and without it. Honestly, I cant tell the difference. The only difference in both maps is one is for the LTs and the other is not. If you already have a handheld tuner, you might not see much improvement.

Also, I hope their dyno is made for full-time-4WD vehicles - most are NOT.
 

Big2dabank

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,220
Location
Central Florida
Tomp,

Good points, I am verifying the plugs, gaskets, and bolts with them and they will revise the quote accordingly. Also verified that their dyno is only two wheel drive, but they can take it to another shop that has a true 4 wheel dyno for an extra charge. Apparently the good customer discount they quoted me was to reduce because they were not doing a full dyno tune, it is just a performance tune based on a map that they have on record for a previous H2 they did. I'm gonna think about the tune a little more and will most likely hold off on that.
 

tomp

Well-Known Member
Messages
256
Location
Dallas
I'd skip the dyno tune if they are charging $500 for it and it's not a custom tune for your H2. Better off with just buying a Predator Diablo handheld for less money and more flexibility
 

Big2dabank

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,220
Location
Central Florida
Install turned out great, well other than the fact that two of the exhaust manifold bolt heads were sheared off. Headers look and sound great with the Flowmaster exhaust. Only problem is something weird is happening with the PCM, the timing is off and the truck is a little slugish. The shop hooked their HP Tuner up to run some diagnostics and make some tweaks but for some reason my PCM is blocking them out. Its like its locked out or something. I din;t have time to deal with it and will need to bring the truck back in two weeks after I return from my sons surgery in St. Louis. Here are a few quick pics, I'll put a more detailed report up once we figure whats up with the PCM.

photo 2.JPG
photo 3.JPG
photo 1.jpg
 

MaxPF

AGNTSA
Messages
1,394
Location
The dark side of the globe
If a shop (not the dealer, but a tuner shop), a mail order outfit like PCMforless, or a hand-held programmer has tuned the PCM, it will be locked. The only way to unlock it is for the person who locked it to do so, restore the original tune (in the case of a handheld), or to open the case, desolder the serial flash memory, and solder a replacement in. Or get another PCM.
 

tomp

Well-Known Member
Messages
256
Location
Dallas
That is very strange. I didnt have any PCM issues. I ran the headers with OEM tune, Diable Sport Predator Tune and then a custom tune from Diablo and never once did I have an issue.
 

Big2dabank

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,220
Location
Central Florida
The truck did have a tune from superchips, but the it was retored to the OEM tune and the tuner was sold to Zach. I assume Zach had no issues with tuning his truck because if the tune was still somehow locked to my truck it would have not allowed him to tune his. The shop is looking into a fix and thinks it will be pretty simple once they figure out why the truck has them locked out.

I filled up with BP 93 octane last night and the truck was noticably better today. But I'm sure its just the higher octane helping the timing a little.
 

tomp

Well-Known Member
Messages
256
Location
Dallas
If it's pinging your hearing and high octane helps, then you could be having a lean AFR condition. This can be considered normal after installing LT headers due to increased exhaust flow. However, the O2 sensor and ECM should quickly calibrate to correct the condition from occuring. Are you sure there is not an exhaust gasket or other leak? If so, the ECM can't compensate for that much of a delta in AFR and problem needs to be remediated. Best method to check for leaks is to let engine completely cool down, start it up and listen very carefully. You have to act quickly as the leak can get masked once things heat up and metal starts expanding.
 

autumn walker

Well-Known Member
Messages
707
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Any updates on this? I noticed a big chunk of heat shield fall of my factory manifold tonight... things are looking a little rusty under there. Got me thinking about this mod for myself.
 

Big2dabank

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,220
Location
Central Florida
I'm all done and man she is running like a dream. Both of my knock sensors failed so that was complicating my life, got them replaced and the shop did a tune on her and man she is running good. The throttle response is very snappy and the bump in horespower is very noticable. The sound of the truck is very high performance, its hard to explain but its a distinct sound that you cannot get from just a catback exhaust. She has a nice rumble at idle and when you put some foot in the throttle, it definately attracts attention. Cab noise with the headers is only slightly louder than the stock manifolds and is hardly noticable. Engine temps are the same, but you can feel the heat a little more around the headers so they definately emmit a little more heat than the manifolds did.
 

tomp

Well-Known Member
Messages
256
Location
Dallas
Excellent news - there is much more power over shorty headers and throughout the entire RPM range and throttle position:)....Best performance mod I have done to my H2!
 
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