cacric

Bet I got the same setup....got mine from Cannon which has everything made to there spec by SW. I didn't get the RTV from them but I know about using it.

I worked on West Coast modifides (Stock Cars) back in the 70s-80s and RTV was all we used.

My buddy bought the same system as mine and he went and bought the OEM gaskets along with some ARP header bolts.

SW by far has the best record for LT header ease of install which makes it more feasible to use the RTV. Typically, LTs on an f-150 is a PITA so putting RTV on a different set of LTs is not going to work so well...by the time you get them into position, the RTV is going to be smeared all over the place.

I put a lot of faith in RTV as the gasket IF you can keep from messing it up during the install.

Corylax18

Yes, my kit is very similar. All the pictures I have are too big though and I dont know how to shrink the file size. If I get that figured out I will pst some pictures of it. The RTV got a little bit smeared in one place, but nothing crazy. I can see a few places around the flange were the extra material squeezed out, but there arent any areas where its "spraying" out and I cant see any sooty or dark areas were there may be fumes coming out. I havent had a vehicle with this type of exhaust on it before and I am just not sure if they are completly sealed.

Can you really here the engine "breathe" in the mid rpm range?


And the removal of the old stuff was the really hard part, getting the new LT's in place was relatively simple once the old manifolds were out. What year did you say yours were for?

cacric

There for my 03 HD

Corylax18

Oh alright, do you like them? I am thinking about taking mine to an exhaust shop to have them check over the install real quick, just so I am 100% comdfortable with it. I have been driving it for the last few days and havent noticed any issues. I probably shouldnt have done it myself in the first place, but you live and you learn. I messed with/pulled alot of the stuff around the engine and Trans and I just want to ease my mind.

I will give everyone an update once I get another set of eyes/ears on it.

Corylax18

WEll, I tripped a code driving to lunch today, so something is definately not right. I dont have an OBD-II scanner, but the shop I did them at does, so I am gunna plug it in tonite and get it checked out. I started hearing a kind of rattling noise under accelleration every now and then. Lets hope it makes it the 30 miles from work to the garage!!!

cacric

Did you check the heat shields while you were under there and did you turn off the back cats in your tune?

cacric

also, did you keep your EGR? If not, did you turn that off in the tune also.

Corylax18

I checked the codes at the shop last night and they were: Pretty much the ECM isnt adjusting for the aditional diameter in the tubing. Part of the problem I have is NO TUNE. I dont have a Tuner yet, I have been waiting to get all the hard Mods done and then get an SCT custom tuned by MPT or maybe Jon Lund. I wanted to get a new Throttle body, New PLugs and New Coil Packs Before I get the tuner, but it looks like i might need to switch that order around a bit.

Corylax18

Sorry I forgot to put the codes in the last post. They were P0420 Cat Bank 1 efficiency below threshold, P0430 Cat Bank 2 efficiency below threshold, P2096 Lean Mix detected post Cat Trim system. Have any of you guys run into this problem? cacric Did you get a tune when you installed yours?

cacric

when you get the real mod bug, a tuner should be top of your list. I started with a predator then went with the xcal. I have lifetime tunes....meaning anytime I upgrade something they will change my tune for free. Mind you, I have the mod bug big time. But the place I go sells the tuner and the lifetime tunes for just over the cost of the tuner....and they do mail tunes. On an email tune I ran a 12.18 in my 03 HD in pushing 90 degree weather.