Anyone Installed Pacesetter LTs On Their 2014+?

kzinge1 · April 24, 2015

Just got mine from AutoAnything last night for my 6.2 Sierra. Looking to do the install next weekend. Any tips or tricks to installing them on these trucks? All info I've found on the net has been for GMT900 trucks.

kzinge1 · May 8, 2015

Just installed the Pacesetter LT's on my truck this weekend. Headers themselves were very easy to install. The y-pipe was a completely different story. I didn't think to make sure that the y pipe actually fit the headers before I installed them. You would think that a Pacesetter y-pipe would fit the Pacesetter headers. Well it didn't! I got the headers bolted up and went to slip on the y-pipe. After about an hour of trying to fit it in, dropping the tranny crossmember and trying to force the pipe in, I finally realized the pipe wasn't opened up enough to go over the headers.

Had to wait until Monday to go to the exhaust shop and have them open the pipe up. Two trips to the shop and I finally got the pipe to fit over the headers. I thought I had succeeded until I went to mate it up to the factory exhaust pipe. Ordered these headers for a 6.2 with the 3.5" pipe and the y-pipe is made for the 3" factory exhaust. So I had to drive it to the exhaust shop and have them mate it to my factory exhaust.

Got it back from the shop and it was obvious that it had some bad exhaust leaks. Took it home and tightened everything down good. Still leaking like crazy. The headers are sealed to the head and aren't leaking there, but the slip-fit connections on the headers are leaking bad. Black soot all around the joint. Took the clamps off and cut a notch in the y-pipe slip fit area to where it would crush down more over the header collector. This helped but it still leaks. May end up having a v-band clamp welded on if I can't get them to seal.

Some Pointers:

1) DO NOT use the Pacesetter y-pipe. Have one made at your exhaust shop. Waste of time and money.

2) While the headers are off, weld on some v-band clamps.

3) If you do use the Pacesetter Y you will have to drop the tranny crossmember down a couple inches to get it in place. I just took the 4 bolts out with the crossmember supported by a jack and lowered the tranny and crossmember together to get enough space.

4) If you are contemplating this, make sure your exhaust isn't too loud to begin with. It will get MUCH louder with the headers.

5) I re-used the factory manifold gaskets. They looked brand new and the gaskets that came with the headers didn't look that great.

6) The driver side rear header bolt is a SOB to get started. You need someone to help feed the header up from the bottom to get all the bolts started.

7) Back passenger side spark plug is also fun to get in.

8) Use anti-seize on all header bolts and spark plugs.

9) There is a wiring harness on the P. Side that needs to be zip-tied down.

10) 2nd driver side plug touches the header tube. I used some large zip ties to tie it out of the way.

WendysOrBust · May 8, 2015

Thanks for the info. I keep dabbing into the thought of getting headers on my truck, I think with my current exhaust they wouldn't sound too loud and would definitely free up some horsepower. Did you have to use any anti-foulers on your o2 sensors?

I did see the Pacesetters, I think out of the bunch they are much, much cheaper compared to American Racing, and Kooks, both of which also sell y-pipes (catted and not-catted) that bolt up to the headers. Also, some websites, like American Racing, list the 6.2 and 5.3 as the same part numbers, are they interchangeable?

Post up pictures and videos man. This is Gary03's 5.3 with American Racing Headers coupled with the Corsa Cat-back

Slo281 · May 8, 2015

Thinking of going with thorleys since Blackbear sells them. Hope they don't have this many issues. Good luck man

Slo281 · May 8, 2015

Thanks for the info. I keep dabbing into the thought of getting headers on my truck, I think with my current exhaust they wouldn't sound too loud and would definitely free up some horsepower. Did you have to use any anti-foulers on your o2 sensors?

I did see the Pacesetters, I think out of the bunch they are much, much cheaper compared to American Racing, and Kooks, both of which also sell y-pipes (catted and not-catted) that bolt up to the headers. Also, some websites, like American Racing, list the 6.2 and 5.3 as the same part numbers, are they interchangeable?

Post up pictures and videos man. This is Gary03's 5.3 with American Racing Headers coupled with the Corsa Cat-back

That truck sounds sick man. Makes me wanna do the long tubes even more

bigsapper · May 8, 2015

I know of someone that did Pacesetters but he had a custom ORY done.

I just had Kooks with their catted Y done and the installer said they were the easiest headers his ever done.

Daryl LBZ · May 8, 2015

Thinking of going with thorleys since Blackbear sells them. Hope they don't have this many issues. Good luck man

Just installed DT shorty ceramic coated headers on my 2006. Great quality! I'd imagine that their long tubes would be just as nice.

kzinge1 · May 8, 2015

Thanks for the info. I keep dabbing into the thought of getting headers on my truck, I think with my current exhaust they wouldn't sound too loud and would definitely free up some horsepower. Did you have to use any anti-foulers on your o2 sensors?

I did see the Pacesetters, I think out of the bunch they are much, much cheaper compared to American Racing, and Kooks, both of which also sell y-pipes (catted and not-catted) that bolt up to the headers. Also, some websites, like American Racing, list the 6.2 and 5.3 as the same part numbers, are they interchangeable?

Post up pictures and videos man. This is Gary03's 5.3 with American Racing Headers coupled with the Corsa Cat-back

I have a 22" Magnaflow dumped at the axle. It was pretty quiet before the headers. Now it's MUCH louder. I like it though, when you want it quieter just roll the windows up! These new trucks are so quiet.

No anti-foulers, I have a custom Diablew tune so he will just tune out the rear O2's.

There was no way that I was going to spend $1000+ on headers. Though I wish these headers had flanges instead of the slip fit. I'm not going to spend that much more for flanges though. I think I might have some V-Band clamps welded on.

The 6.2 and 5.3 should be different part numbers, with the 6.2 getting the 3.5" pipe.

kzinge1 · May 8, 2015

I know of someone that did Pacesetters but he had a custom ORY done.

I just had Kooks with their catted Y done and the installer said they were the easiest headers his ever done.

Custom ORY is the way to go, with v-band flanges. The headers themselves fit VERY good, it's just that dang y-pipe that doesn't fit.

kzinge1 · May 8, 2015

Only pic I have right now. Will take a video when I get my leaks fixed.

07Softail · May 9, 2015

I'm saving for the ARH and catted y-pipe...And the reason is this very issue of cheap CHINESE parts not fitting like they should. IMO It's worth the extra coin in getting good parts to start with.

RT

Spurshot · May 9, 2015

This is the stuff that makes me want to keep things stock. I've been thru header problems on about every car I've put them on.

Higgs Boson · May 9, 2015

I just placed an order for Kooks. I've run ARH in the past and helped install kooks for buddies (they are very similar) and the customer service at ARH with my last experience was horrible so they lost my business forever.

I have Texas Speed long tubes on the C7 and will have the kooks on the truck when they come in. I will post pics.

kzinge1 · May 12, 2015

Not the best video, but here it is. Got a tick sound to it that sounds like valve train noise. I'm guessing normal header noise. I think I fixed the leaks. Cut a few slits in each OD pipe and wrapped the joints with header wrap before clamping them.

WendysOrBust · May 12, 2015

Not the best video, but here it is. Got a tick sound to it that sounds like valve train noise. I'm guessing normal header noise. I think I fixed the leaks. Cut a few slits in each OD pipe and wrapped the joints with header wrap before clamping them.

Is the truck running right? It sounds like its running a little rough, especially when you stab the throttle.