Headers on but now guess what.

MrSparkle · Jan 9th, 2004, 06:13 PM

Ok for those of you that know my issues. I have finally gotten the pacesetter header put on. I love it. Heres the problem. Everything hooked up nicely to the header except for one of the emmission hoses. Its a metal hose and it hooked directly to the old exhaust manifold and didnt quite line up when I had the header installed. So the mechanic cut the metal line and put in a heater hose with clamps on each side to hook it back up. So I get my truck back ,it drives ok for a few miles then it gets kind of loud. The heater hose he used had melted. Shit I wish he had just heated up that metal line and bent it instead of cutting it. Anyways Anyone got any ideas of what I should do at this point. I could just cap it but then my emmisons stuff wont work.
Anyone know of any hose the wont melt?? Help here, thx Don

nissannut · Jan 9th, 2004, 07:49 PM

Thats the EGR pipe.. very hot...

You want that connected. The best way to connect is to loosen BOTH ends. Then connect one side loosely then the other. then tighten, it has some play and is bendable steel.

You need to connect this back up to lower internal temps etc.

I would modify the header to fit as needed.

MrSparkle · Jan 9th, 2004, 09:41 PM

Cant modify the header now cause its on the truck. Im thinking my only cure here is to get another one and make it fit. Hope I can get that thru the dealer. Anyone else have ideas?? Its already been cut.

1997XETruck · Jan 10th, 2004, 01:39 AM

Might try www.car-part.com for a used one... maybe if nothing else you can locate a truck nearby? I doubt the EGR tube is a "searchable" item. If you need new, call Joe at www.everythingnissan.com (1-888-216-5328) and he'll sell it to you wholsale.

I'm not sure that since you'll be bending whatever you buy anyway, that going to a good exhaust shop and having one made might not be a bad idea...

Good luck!

Heath

Will · Jan 10th, 2004, 09:03 AM

I'm not sure what size hose your speaking off but I assume it's about tail pipe size. What about using some of that flexible tail pipe with some muffler mender(not the paste, the shrinkable stuff with heat shield) and then clamp the ends. I hate going back to a dealer or mechanic that's 'messed' with me already.

jadcock · Jan 10th, 2004, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSparkle

Its a metal hose and it hooked directly to the old exhaust manifold and didnt quite line up when I had the header installed. So the mechanic cut the metal line and put in a heater hose with clamps on each side to hook it back up.

There are two metal line connections to the manifold. One of them is the EGR pipe, which was mentioned earlier. It connects up at the top of the header, right near where it bolts to the engine. The other metal pipe is the fresh air supply to the catalytic converter. It connects down towards the bottom, near where the manifold/header bolts to the catalytic converter. Which metal pipe didn't connect back up?

If it's the fresh air supply, you should be able to cap that at the header and not have any adverse affects (unless you live in an area that has a visual emissions control inspection). Otherwise, any competent shop should be able to make a new metal line for you, even if you have to buy the pipe elsewhere. If you have to go this route, suggest you just buy a new one from Nissan (or used from a salvage yard) and have a shop modify it to fit.

Good luck,

MrSparkle · Jan 10th, 2004, 10:21 AM

Thx Jadcock, You answered a few of my questions. It isnt the fresh air one. it is the line closer to where the header mounts to the engine. Gonna try the junkyards today and see if I have any luck. Thx

1997XETruck · Jan 10th, 2004, 11:02 AM

Mine only has one tube... and since your's is a 97 and Jadcock's is a 95, I suspect yours may only have one as well - unless it's a difference between the 4x4 vs. 2wd version.

Heath

super22ll · Jan 11th, 2004, 09:04 PM

On the lighter side, how is the power/performance of the header. Have you seen a great change. I know you said you only got a few miles out of it before the hose melted, but could you tell a differance?

MrSparkle · Jan 12th, 2004, 05:02 PM

Well heres the deal with my headers. I love em. But not sure if im giving an accurate statement of how much these headers have improved my truck. Not knowing when I bought this truck it had a small exhaust manifold crack. By the time I discovered it was almost completly cracked around the Y in the exhaust manifold. Before I knew about it the truck seemed to run pretty good but wasnt a speed demon. After I put on the headers, which fit perfect cept for the EGR line(which is my issue now). I also added a K&N air filter. Now I dont know if the cracked manifold was taking away power from the truck, but with this header and filter my truck seems to me to be like 25% faster. It really runs better, smoother and has some petal when u step on it. Got the truck up to 90MPH on highway. You may think im fibbing a bit, but I really notice the difference. So all in all, I like the headers. Just still working on this EGR line. Costs 55 bucks at the dealer. So I need to order a new one, but im not sure if this kind of metal EGR line can be bent. It needs to bend just enought to reach the header. Cant order this part till thurs, then it is a special order and will take 10 days. Dam....anyways thats the story so far.
Wife keeps reminding me I should have got the stock exhaust manifold and I would be driving now....Oh well, to me the header is a keeper..