1. Welcome to Jeeps.net!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Jeep discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Jeep owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Anyone running open headers?

Discussion in 'Wrangler JK (2007-2017)' started by HardHat420, Dec 20, 2017.

  1. Dec 20, 2017 at 12:05 PM
    #1
    HardHat420

    HardHat420 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2017
    Member:
    #1282
    Messages:
    240
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    14 jku sport
    I want to install a valve after the y pipe and relocate the cats after the valve so that when I open the valve ill have open headers to open up when racing or climbing up steep dunes.

    Some concerns off the top of my head are

    1. Will I lose power due to lack of back pressure?

    2. I don't mind the check engine light, but will the fuel:air be affected?

    Thanks.

    20171220_115025_1513795840996.jpg
     
  2. Dec 20, 2017 at 12:10 PM
    #2
    GR1ND3R

    GR1ND3R Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2017
    Member:
    #1987
    Messages:
    9
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jason
    Vehicle:
    1981 CJ7
    I'm no expert, but your pic looks like its from a newer Jeep, probably with computerized mixture control. Opening the headers and removing the back-pressure, as well as eliminating readings from the sensor in the catalytic converter will almost definitely throw your mix off. You may be able to make some adjustments or change a chip or something ...
     
    JKBob 25 and HardHat420[OP] like this.
  3. Dec 20, 2017 at 12:32 PM
    #3
    Prerunner1982

    Prerunner1982 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2017
    Member:
    #1745
    Messages:
    1,356
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jon
    Vehicle:
    93 XJ 2 door
    It will sound louder and give the impression of being more powerful but any gain will be negligible as you are still flowing the same amount of air in.
    Your after cat Oxygen sensors are for emissions so though you will get a light it shouldn't effect the air:fuel, the O2 sensors before the cats do that.
    I would say it's not worth the effort. Get a nice exhaust system instead.
     
    JKBob 25 and HardHat420[OP] like this.
  4. Dec 20, 2017 at 12:37 PM
    #4
    HardHat420

    HardHat420 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2017
    Member:
    #1282
    Messages:
    240
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    14 jku sport
    Do you think adding a cold air intake will make the gains more than negligible?

    I have a mustang gt with hollowed cats and cold air intake and it is a lot faster than stock.

    Kinda hoping for the same with my jk.
     
  5. Dec 20, 2017 at 1:08 PM
    #5
    Prerunner1982

    Prerunner1982 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2017
    Member:
    #1745
    Messages:
    1,356
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jon
    Vehicle:
    93 XJ 2 door
    Then give it a shot, it's your time and money.
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  6. Dec 20, 2017 at 1:10 PM
    #6
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine Moderator

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2016
    Member:
    #2
    Messages:
    4,068
    Gender:
    Male
    New vehicles are hard to get significant gains from simple exhaust and intake swaps. You might get a few more hp, but nothing really worth the amount of money....in my opiniin
     
    JKBob 25 and HardHat420[OP] like this.
  7. Dec 20, 2017 at 1:12 PM
    #7
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2016
    Member:
    #317
    Messages:
    2,018
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Peter
    Houston
    Vehicle:
    1979 Jeep CJ7, 258, TH350, NP208
    Howell fuel injection, header, HEI distributor, TH350, NP208, SOA lift with YJ springs in the front & GW springs in the Rear. AMC20 with G2 1 piece chromos trussed, Dana 30 with G2 chromos and 760x ujoints and MM Stainless Hubs, Geared 4.56. Tom Woods shafts, Metal cloaks, Caged, 37" Toyo MTs.
    Open headers you will lose lots of torque especially low end. You will likely gain higher RPM HP, but I believe you will feel like you have lost power due to the loss of low end torque... your O2 sensors will go haywire. I feel that Stock is the best unless you are going to do some computer programming changing the power curves and adding cam, larger injectors, supercharger etc. Any minor changes in my vehicles made after 2007 I have felt little if no gain and I did not feel it worth the cost. (not counting diesels).
     
  8. Dec 20, 2017 at 1:58 PM
    #8
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2016
    Member:
    #203
    Messages:
    4,831
    DE
    Vehicle:
    Backcountry '16
    Tuffy>AEV>TTO>JW>STech>EVOcage>MagnaFlow>SpiderTrax>RockHard>TF>SpringTail>67design>Bolt>GPCA>Curt>
    CAI intakes are pretty spendy for what little they deliver. Perhaps with a complete CAI + performance exhaust system there may be some HP bump but reviews have stated lots of flash but little to no difference on JKs
     
  9. Dec 20, 2017 at 2:11 PM
    #9
    HardHat420

    HardHat420 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2017
    Member:
    #1282
    Messages:
    240
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    14 jku sport
    This does it.

    Thanks.

    Back to the drawing board. Since getting power from intake/exhaust is probably not feasible I will likely do gears.
     
    OFFGRID[QUOTED] and JKBob 25 like this.
  10. Dec 20, 2017 at 3:26 PM
    #10
    boondoc89

    boondoc89 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2017
    Member:
    #912
    Messages:
    772
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    alex
    Vehicle:
    08 JKU
    3 inch zone lift. Fox 2.0 shocks. 35 inch nitto ridge grapplers. Bushwacker flat fenders. No name steel bumpers front and back for now.
    I'd just go with a RIPPS supercharger and gears if I had the money to blow. Your rig is probably new and young enough to handle to handle the added boost from the super charger. Then top it off with some serious gears and you'll be screaming some 40's down the road with no issues :thumbsup:
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2017
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  11. Dec 20, 2017 at 4:42 PM
    #11
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2016
    Member:
    #203
    Messages:
    4,831
    DE
    Vehicle:
    Backcountry '16
    Tuffy>AEV>TTO>JW>STech>EVOcage>MagnaFlow>SpiderTrax>RockHard>TF>SpringTail>67design>Bolt>GPCA>Curt>
    35s and depending upon what your currently geared, 4.56 or 4.88 would be the best bang-for-the-buck.
     
    HardHat420[OP] and chris4x4 like this.
  12. Dec 20, 2017 at 7:19 PM
    #12
    HardHat420

    HardHat420 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2017
    Member:
    #1282
    Messages:
    240
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    14 jku sport
    And that answers my next question.

    Thanks!
     

Products Discussed in

To Top