OBX catted Headers(2007 Tahoe 5.3 4x4), initial review

SnakeEyeSS · October 31, 2012

I have them on the truck, now, they seem to be excellent parts!

I took them to an old muffler shop that I have dealt with before and they do good work. Upon seeing them(T 304 stainless steel and shiny), the guys at the shop immediately circled around too get a look at them saying they were very nice high quality parts. Install by the shop with a lift took around 2.5 hours, and total cost, including plugs for 2 of the 6 O2 sensor holes, was under $200. (OBX put 6 on there to give you options on where you want them, you can see in the pic where the back ones are on mine, and they DO NOT set off the CEL light.)

It adds a slight rasp coming from the engine bay, not noticeable if you have the radio on, it also turns up the volume a bit and deepens the idle. at WOT everyone will know you mean business, and at crusing speed on the highway I get a slight increase in "burble" over just having the Flowmaster cat back(which has zero drone). They also look great under the hood and under the truck. They come with everything necessary for install, and as I said the only extras were were to plug the 2 extra O2 sensor holes.

Power increase is noticeable, and I'm sure they hadd the 20~ RWHP like the other brands that cost twice as much.

I bought the 1 3/4" parts, as they fit fine with zero clearance issues that I can see. The shop did not have one complaint, but recommended I tighten the manifold bolts after 30 days(I hear this is common for aftermarket headers)

The cost, shipped, from racingpartdepot.com (and OBX authorized dealer) was $740. the shipping from RPD was fast also.

Excuse the engine bay, I didn't re-detail it before I took the pics after the install

scz71864 · October 31, 2012

nice post. im going to do a set of LPP headers in the spring. Did you do a retune?

6Sixathome · October 31, 2012

That's good stuff Sir! Were the cats part of the price?, also the flange thickness looks like it may be 3/8" to 1/2". That seems like we'll built stuff. Oh ya, sounds great too

SnakeEyeSS · October 31, 2012

Yeah, obx has either fake cats(resonators) or real cats like I have. The one with resonators instead will cost around $590-$600 shipped.

They are only made in two sizes 1 3/4, and I'm nit sure they even make the 1 7/8 " anymore( there was a guy on performancetrucks apparently that didn't see measureable flow restrictions from 1 3/4 headers on his 500 rwhp truck after a swap

Forgot to mention, lifetime warranty against defects for road AND racing use.

scz71864 · October 31, 2012

did you retune?

SnakeEyeSS · November 1, 2012

did you retune?

Not yet. I will.

SnakeEyeSS · November 3, 2012

Almost forget, did NOT need O2 wire extensions either.

This may be important to many:

My wife is NOT a car person by any measure, she is the typical "I like that cause its pretty" type.(she thinks I'm nuts when it come to liking autos)

That said, she does like the sound(as much as someone who doesn't care can.......... Which means she doesn't dislike it. )

SnakeEyeSS · June 23, 2013

Ok, just an update. Had to tightened up the y pipe after a month as instructed. Might need to do it again. The connecting brace isnt perfect, one of those U shaped brackets would probably work better.

When my wife is driving, other muscle cars amd trucks are attracted like bees to honey. The idle rumble sounds great. A silverado pulled up next to her and revved. She revved back. The silverado stuck it in reverse and backed off the line.

LOL