ProJecTX

Hello All,

I installed my ZZPerformance dp & header yesterday. I re-used the manifold gasket, there seemed to be a small leak coming from the header to dp connection when I first started the car. Tightened that up and the leek seemed to go away. I drove around for about ~30- minutes everything seemed good (no CEL). On my way home i stopped at Inn N out while in the drive through I hear this POP and my exhaust sounds like SHIET! my pops & I are guessing it blew the manifold gasket and need to get a new one?

Whatcha all think? anyone have the dealer part number for the gasket?


thx again css.net!
-Brad

EDIT:

For anyone interested here's the video....
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/8...390118aee0.htm

proZak

I made sure and ordered that gasket when I did my header install, their was no way in hell I was going to reuse a gasket that had almost 30k on it. I dont have the part number but it was like $13.50 and they had to order it took about 3 days to arrive, hope they have one in stock for you

Onyxd04Redline

Wait the exhaust pops? That's just air getting into the system

ProJecTX

It only "poped" once while in the drive through after that it sound like a fart with no cat. when you let of the gas or come to a stop it does that pop pop pop which is a shietload louder.

proZak
I should have done that, my gasket has about 48K on it.

Onyxd04Redline

It's a 4cyl.. The exhaust isnt going to sound great

07 SS/SC

Are you saying it pops when you are sitting still or when you come to a stop? My car pops like crazy when I am slowing down, its normal.

tkaugh29

when your slowing down its backfiring....no biggie.....but tahts a pretty usual sound. does it sound/feel like you have an exhaust leak, its prolly just the gasket.

ProJecTX

It basically sounds like the car is running with an exhaust, loud and raspy as hell. When i'm driving it i don't like going over 3k rpm because of how it sounds. i don't even dare hit boost. It didn't sound like this the first 30 minutes, there was a big change after that "pop" which i'm assuming was the gasket.

I have a video w/sound of it but i can't find my camera cable. I have one @ work so i can post it tomorrow.

Anyone know if the dealer normally stocks the manifold gasket?

tkaugh29

i dont see why they wouldnt stock gaskets.....

ssmokin

does it sound like its coming from behind your stereo?

ItalianJoe1

iTrader: (10)

listen to it under the car, may have blown out the gasket connecting the DP to the cat-back. It will make the car sound like ass, it happens to me all the time (3" DP and 2.25" GMPP cat-back don't mesh well). If you can clearly hear the exhaust coming from under the car, look around that flange for black soot, a sign of the leak. If there's nothing there, check the back of the engine when its cooled down, wipe it with a rag and see if you get soot on it.

As far as the gasket is concerned, its a spring-steel gasket, 100% re-usable, and virtually blowout proof if properly torqued. You did not get the manifold to seal right on the first try, so you may have pinched it when you retightend only some of the bolts, damaging it beyond re-use limits. They are cheap, I bought a spare to use for port-matching the exhaust manifold, and it was around the $13 quoted earlier. I also have a brand new aftermarket one somewhere if you continue to have problems with the factory one.

I know its a lot of work, but if you still have issues pull the header and check the flange for straightness.

ProJecTX

ssmokin, yes it does.

ItalianJoe1, very good suggestions and since the dp/header gasket was leaking in the beginning I'm starting to think that may be the cause. would the dealer have those gaskets too? i recall it being different then the stock one. any idea where i can get one locally to be on the safe side. (CA, 92620)

thx
-Brad

ssmokin

it sounds like you have a leak from the header to downpipe. did you use the bolts that ZZP supplied you with? ZZP claims that they now supply upgraded bolts because their old ones would snap causing a leak. I got those upgraded bolts and Snapped Both of them. If this did happen, chances are that you will need a new gasket, and i could only get them from ZZP. if this isnt the problem, and it is a gasket, get one from ZZP and go get some new bolts from home depot and change the bolts when you change the gasket. youll thank me later.

ProJecTX

Yes i used the ZZP bolts, Your theory sound right. I ordered replacement gaskets from ZZP but they won't be here till Wednesday. I'm a bolt newb, do you the number for the bolt I need?


Also, is it safe to drive the car this way? Since i won't be able to fix this till Wednesday but need to drive to work.

thx
-Brad

ProJecTX

For anyone interested here's the video....


http://videos.streetfire.net/video/8...390118aee0.htm

Thx
-Brad

ptrblkz24

Man that sounds like ****.It sounds like either the bolt on the dp broke,or maybe the flex pipe broke?

Onyxd04Redline

I'm guessing it's leaking at the Y pipe or the catback connection.

ProJecTX

Damn dude, you hit the issue right on. One of the bolts that ZZP supplied snapped and caused half of the gasket to blow out. We replaced all the bolts with some mack daddies they had around the shop. Everything is working good so far. I'll post a new video when time permits.


NOTE TO ANYONE INSTALLING THE ZZP DP / HEADER

BUY BIGGER/STRONGER BOLTS FOR THE HEADER TO DP CONNECTION. IT WILL SAVE YOU A LOT OF TROUBLE IN THE FUTURE!!!

RedEcotecSS

that's an easy one. same thing happened to my ZZP set up. the bolt between your header and DP has broken. replace both of them.