Headers

[acasas]

Are headers worth voiding the warranty? I want headers really bad, but worried about the warranty. What are the chances that i will be declined service because of header mods at the dealer? should i void or just settle for CAI and Magnaflow exhaust and blk bear tune?

[Harvey Halabookie]

In my humble opinion, don't void the warranty. I waited til it was up on my previous truck before messing with anything.

 

I don't plan on any other upgrades on the new one until the warranty expires.

[AK FiveO]

I'm running shorty headers (along with a few other bolt-ons) on my 09 Sierra. Fortunately, the truck has not had to go in for warranty work so I'm not sure what the warranty issues will be. I just came over to the GM camp from Ford with this new Sierra. On my fords, I always had headers, cold air intakes, performance exhaust, lift kits, and a few other standard items that I usually ran. Ford never gave me a hassle over any of it during plenty of warranty visits. Hell, they would even ask me if my computer had a performance tune in it so they wouldn't flash over it. But I always re-installed the stock tune before it went to service. Ford sells headers and all kinds of stuff from thier Ford Motorsport catalog. The disclaimer in the front of the catalog says that any any of these Performance Products will not void the manufacturers warranty. EXCEPT ...if you are using the car/truck on a race track. But I don't know that GM has the same "attitude" about performance parts on thier vehicles.

 

For the most part, they have to show that your performace part are a direct contributor to the failure. For example ...if you had headers on your truck when you took it in for a check engine light. The check engine light showed a failure of one of the ignition coils ...the headers will not prevent that ignition coil from being replaced under warranty. But if the check engine light is for an O2 sensor, or catalytic converter ....you might be in for a fight with headers on the truck (unless they are known defective parts from the factory). That was Fords attitude, and I'm hoping that GM has the same common sense when it comes to that stuff.

 

I do know that the local GM dealers here will not honor warranty if they know you tuned the ecm ...proven experience from a couple friends trucks.

 

All that ...probably not much help huh? Sorry Dude.

[grayghost7]

Are headers worth voiding the warranty? I want headers really bad, but worried about the warranty. What are the chances that i will be declined service because of header mods at the dealer? should i void or just settle for CAI and Magnaflow exhaust and blk bear tune?

No.....the tune will do much more for your performance than the headers. The stock manifolds flow very nicely and unless you are going to change the cam, they might not do you much good. I would look into true duals though.

 

I'd skip the CAI if you are looking for more than just sound...performance numbers are very low to non-existant from what I hear.

[AK FiveO]

Any of those bolt-on parts in and of itself are not worth the money. If you only plan on putting a CAI on, save your money. If your only going to put an exhaust system on, save your money ...unless the money is not an issue, and you just want a cool sounding truck.

 

The one exception is tuning the ecm/tcm. If you only want to do one thing to get noticable increase in performance ...do the Tune. Wether you go the Black Bear route, or a handheld like the Diablosport ...it's the biggest bang for your buck. With the tunes (BB or DS), you can go back to stock with no other indicators on the truck of aftermarket goodies ...and no issues with the warranty.

 

If you do the CAI and the Exhaust (including headers), without question ...you need the ecm tuned! You have to have a way to adjust the air/fuel/timing to adjust for the airflow, otherwise the truck will probably run like crap. And as long as you have a tune, the CAI, Exhaust, and headers too will all enhance performance.

[jrrod2004]

Any of those bolt-on parts in and of itself are not worth the money. If you only plan on putting a CAI on, save your money. If your only going to put an exhaust system on, save your money ...unless the money is not an issue, and you just want a cool sounding truck.

 

The one exception is tuning the ecm/tcm. If you only want to do one thing to get noticable increase in performance ...do the Tune. Wether you go the Black Bear route, or a handheld like the Diablosport ...it's the biggest bang for your buck. With the tunes (BB or DS), you can go back to stock with no other indicators on the truck of aftermarket goodies ...and no issues with the warranty.

 

If you do the CAI and the Exhaust (including headers), without question ...you need the ecm tuned! You have to have a way to adjust the air/fuel/timing to adjust for the airflow, otherwise the truck will probably run like crap. And as long as you have a tune, the CAI, Exhaust, and headers too will all enhance performance.

 

+1...ECM is the central component that should be addressed first and repeatedly there after with any other part changes.

[09Jimmy]

Are headers worth voiding the warranty? I want headers really bad, but worried about the warranty. What are the chances that i will be declined service because of header mods at the dealer? should i void or just settle for CAI and Magnaflow exhaust and blk bear tune?

No.....the tune will do much more for your performance than the headers. The stock manifolds flow very nicely and unless you are going to change the cam, they might not do you much good. I would look into true duals though.

 

I'd skip the CAI if you are looking for more than just sound...performance numbers are very low to non-existant from what I hear.

 

 

Better get a hearing aid.

38 ft. lbs of torque from just a Vararam CAI.

http://www.performancetrucks.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=454704

 

I also got significant gains from my GMPP cold air intake. The stock intakes are an octopus that strangles airflow. Make sure you get one that actually draws in cold air from outside.

I have headers and have had my truck in for engine warranty work and the dealer didn't say a word. Depends on the dealer.

[dlstewart01]

Are headers worth voiding the warranty? I want headers really bad, but worried about the warranty. What are the chances that i will be declined service because of header mods at the dealer? should i void or just settle for CAI and Magnaflow exhaust and blk bear tune?

No.....the tune will do much more for your performance than the headers. The stock manifolds flow very nicely and unless you are going to change the cam, they might not do you much good. I would look into true duals though.

 

I'd skip the CAI if you are looking for more than just sound...performance numbers are very low to non-existant from what I hear.

 

 

Better get a hearing aid.

38 ft. lbs of torque from just a Vararam CAI.

http://www.performancetrucks.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=454704

 

I also got significant gains from my GMPP cold air intake. The stock intakes are an octopus that strangles airflow. Make sure you get one that actually draws in cold air from outside.

I have headers and have had my truck in for engine warranty work and the dealer didn't say a word. Depends on the dealer.

 

 

 

 

[grayghost7]

Are headers worth voiding the warranty? I want headers really bad, but worried about the warranty. What are the chances that i will be declined service because of header mods at the dealer? should i void or just settle for CAI and Magnaflow exhaust and blk bear tune?

No.....the tune will do much more for your performance than the headers. The stock manifolds flow very nicely and unless you are going to change the cam, they might not do you much good. I would look into true duals though.

 

I'd skip the CAI if you are looking for more than just sound...performance numbers are very low to non-existant from what I hear.

 

 

Better get a hearing aid.

38 ft. lbs of torque from just a Vararam CAI.

http://www.performancetrucks.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=454704

 

I also got significant gains from my GMPP cold air intake. The stock intakes are an octopus that strangles airflow. Make sure you get one that actually draws in cold air from outside.

I have headers and have had my truck in for engine warranty work and the dealer didn't say a word. Depends on the dealer.

 

 

YMMV I suppose, I refer to friends who have installed them and mechanics I know who have tested the results on a dyno as well as at least 1 thread right here on this forum. Unless you are adding significant hp to your motor, the stock hi-flow airbox [even listed as such on my truck's SPID] is more than adequate.

[dlstewart01]

Heres the dyno post that was made here...

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...241&hl=dyno

[07 CC Sierra]

Heres the dyno post that was made here...

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...241&hl=dyno

 

 

All this shows is that that guy spent way too much money for squat!!! As mentioned in your link above, a custom tune for a fraction of what he spent would have given him better gains. Complete waste!!

 

I'm not sure what your point was???

[dlstewart01]

Heres the dyno post that was made here...

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...241&hl=dyno

 

 

All this shows is that that guy spent way too much money for squat!!! As mentioned in your link above, a custom tune for a fraction of what he spent would have given him better gains. Complete waste!!

 

I'm not sure what your point was???

 

Whos point are you talking about......

[07 CC Sierra]

Heres the dyno post that was made here...

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...241&hl=dyno

 

 

All this shows is that that guy spent way too much money for squat!!! As mentioned in your link above, a custom tune for a fraction of what he spent would have given him better gains. Complete waste!!

 

I'm not sure what your point was???

 

Whos point are you talking about......

 

 

 

I quoted you.

 

I don't see how the link you posted is relevant here.

[dlstewart01]

Heres the dyno post that was made here...

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...241&hl=dyno

 

 

All this shows is that that guy spent way too much money for squat!!! As mentioned in your link above, a custom tune for a fraction of what he spent would have given him better gains. Complete waste!!

 

I'm not sure what your point was???

 

Whos point are you talking about......

 

 

 

I quoted you.

 

I don't see how the link you posted is relevant here.

 

 

 

I posted that in reference to the post above me, he mentioned that post.

 

YMMV I suppose, I refer to friends who have installed them and mechanics I know who have tested the results on a dyno as well as at least 1 thread right here on this forum. Unless you are adding significant hp to your motor, the stock hi-flow airbox [even listed as such on my truck's SPID] is more than adequate.

 

Its not up to you what was relevant.

 

Have a good one.

[07 CC Sierra]

Heres the dyno post that was made here...

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...241&hl=dyno

 

 

All this shows is that that guy spent way too much money for squat!!! As mentioned in your link above, a custom tune for a fraction of what he spent would have given him better gains. Complete waste!!

 

I'm not sure what your point was???

 

Whos point are you talking about......

 

 

 

I quoted you.

 

I don't see how the link you posted is relevant here.

 

 

 

I posted that in reference to the post above me, he mentioned that post.

 

YMMV I suppose, I refer to friends who have installed them and mechanics I know who have tested the results on a dyno as well as at least 1 thread right here on this forum. Unless you are adding significant hp to your motor, the stock hi-flow airbox [even listed as such on my truck's SPID] is more than adequate.

 

Its not up to you what was relevant.

 

Have a good one.

 

 

 

Yea, I see where he referenced the exact post you did!!!!

 

I wasn't sure if you were dogging the Vararam or CAIs in general.