Well Sat. afternoon I got a delivery of a box of "headery" goodness. :)
My ARH 1 3/4 " headers and exhaust system had arrived. I had thought about waiting to install them until I could get my Camaro out of the garage but the rear is all tore apart. Sun afternoon I found myself with some time on my hands, so I decided to give it a try in the driveway (so all my neighboors could really think I was nuts for taking apart a new car). I put the front up on ramps and jacked up the rear and put it on jackstands. The directions were complete and easy to follow. Everything came apart pretty easily for getting the old stuff out. I am retaining the stock mufflers. I did this alone, but it would be helpful to have a second person if possible. The headers went in easily even with the car as low as it was just being on ramps. The rest of the system went together pretty easy. The fit and finish are excellent. If you have access to a lift it would be helpful and make things go faster, but not necessary. It took me about 6 hours to complete. If my air ratchet was not busted I may have been able to cut an hour off that time.

The only two issues I have right now is that I have a small leak at each collector slip joint and I am getting a little bit of rubbing on the cross brace. I have talked to Nick at ARH he thinks I may not have the x-pipe bottomed out on the headers and he gave me some tips to adjusting the system height. It was dark and late when I finished up last night so I did not get a chance to try too much adjusting. I will try and adjust it tonight if it stops raining.

The car has more of a growl on start up but once it settles down to idle it may be a touch louder than stock. For normal driving it is quiet with slight bit of increaed exhaust noise coming from the floor but I need to wait until I get my leak fixed to make a final determination. There was no drone at cruise and the AFM seems to be slightly more noticable but not by much. Hitting the gas definitely gets you a louder than stock exhaust note and the forward thrust increase is most noticable. The butt dyno can really tell the difference. This is my first mod for the car and if I have time I will try to get to the dyno before I get my other mods. So do I get the distinction of being the first G8 owner to install longtube headers in their driveway on jackstands? :laugh:

Neil
'08 MGM G8 GT

Your a better man then me. My motto now is: no lifty, no worky! LOL. I did so many back in the day on the ground that I guess I am too old now. On a lift yesterday, I swapped 2 exhaust systems in less then an hour. I guess I am spoiled. Looking at it, I think I can pull trans, install converter and ARH in 4 hours. I will post the outcome. Good Job! Charlie

A lift would be nice and some day I will have one (when I have a garage I can put one in). One thing that took some time was the manifold bolts. They had some type of thread locker on them which made them impossible to remove by hand even after broken free. Thus the comment about the broken air rachet. I don't think I am all that younger than you Charlie. ;)

Neil, Glad you got your stuff... It was a pleasure dealing with you.. and Keep us posted on how it does after a tune... :)

sounds like a good product

Nice, have any pics for us yet?

i want those so bad. They seem awsome. Probably can't get 'em though.

wow, im a little surprised by lack of noise. i would have though it would be a bit louder at idle and driving around you would hear some V8. im not sure if you have an exhaust or not. if not, the thing probably comes to life considering the exhaust is super restrictive. i just want this car to sound like a damn V8! You see people staring at your driving by and you want some sound, instead sounds like a civic. one guy came out and wanted to hear how mean it sounded. im pretty sure he was not impressed when i drove by lol

Well Sat. afternoon I got a delivery of a box of "headery" goodness. :)
My ARH 1 3/4 " headers and exhaust system had arrived. I had thought about waiting to install them until I could get my Camaro out of the garage but the rear is all tore apart. Sun afternoon I found myself with some time on my hands, so I decided to give it a try in the driveway (so all my neighboors could really think I was nuts for taking apart a new car). I put the front up on ramps and jacked up the rear and put it on jackstands. The directions were complete and easy to follow. Everything came apart pretty easily for getting the old stuff out. I am retaining the stock mufflers. I did this alone, but it would be helpful to have a second person if possible. The headers went in easily even with the car as low as it was just being on ramps. The rest of the system went together pretty easy. The fit and finish are excellent. If you have access to a lift it would be helpful and make things go faster, but not necessary. It took me about 6 hours to complete. If my air ratchet was not busted I may have been able to cut an hour off that time.

The only two issues I have right now is that I have a small leak at each collector slip joint and I am getting a little bit of rubbing on the cross brace. I have talked to Nick at ARH he thinks I may not have the x-pipe bottomed out on the headers and he gave me some tips to adjusting the system height. I was dark and late when I finished up last night so I did not get a chance to try too much adjusting. I will try and adjust it tonight if it stops raining.

The car has more of a growl on start up but once it settles down to idle it may be a touch louder than stock. For normal driving it is quiet with slight bit of increaed exhaust noise coming from the floor but I need to wait until I get my leak fixed to make a final determination. There was no drone at cruise and the AFM seems to be slightly more noticable but not by much. Hitting the gas definitely gets you a louder than stock exhaust note and the forward thrust increase is most noticable. The butt dyno can really tell the difference. This is my first mod for the car and if I have time I will try to get to the dyno before I get my other mods. So do I get the distinction of being the first G8 owner to install longtube headers in their driveway on jackstands? :laugh:

Neil
'08 MGM G8 GT


Thanks for posting your install note. I'm assuming you do not have a tune yet . . .do you have a check engine light? I'm just wondering if I can install the headers and do a tune at a later date without tripping any emissions system fault.

Nice, have any pics for us yet?

Nah, I was a slug and did not take any during the install :(
Is there something specific you want to see? Mike at New Era took a bunch of pics (http://www.g8board.com/forums/showpost.php?p=64511&postcount=17) when he installed his. I can snap some others if you want.

wow, im a little surprised by lack of noise. i would have though it would be a bit louder at idle and driving around you would hear some V8. im not sure if you have an exhaust or not. if not, the thing probably comes to life considering the exhaust is super restrictive. i just want this car to sound like a damn V8!

I am using the stock mufflers which only showed a 2 hp loss as compred to no mufflers when they tested this system at Kaltech. It definitely has more V8 growl when you step on the gas but it is not going to overwhelm someone.

Thanks for posting your install note. I'm assuming you do not have a tune yet . . .do you have a check engine light? I'm just wondering if I can install the headers and do a tune at a later date without tripping any emissions system fault.

No tune yet and no engine lights. It still has cats and both sets of O2 sensors. This my first mod for the car and I plan to get most of my bolt-ons then get a tune.

A little update. I got back under the car tonight and did some adjustments as Nick suggested and it fixed both collector leaks and now I have plenty of clearance to the cross member. I took the car out for a test drive and all is well, sounds good and runs good. Now that the leaks are fixed I can still say that there is a little more (not much) noise coming thru the floor from the headers. That should be expected as the thin wall tube is going to let you hear more than a heavy cast manifold.

For those of you that want to hear how they sound.....Go to you tube and look up G8 GT American Racing Headers....also check the Dyno run! Peace! :driving:

here is manofsteels video. Very nice

YouTube - G8GT American Racing Headers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVl9YS7Aqv8)

Mine go on this Friday....Then I'm broke.

Those of you that have been getting the headers installed at a shop, what have they been charging for the install?

A lift would be nice and some day I will have one (when I have a garage I can put one in). One thing that took some time was the manifold bolts. They had some type of thread locker on them which made them impossible to remove by hand even after broken free. Thus the comment about the broken air rachet. I don't think I am all that younger than you Charlie. ;)

Be careful about pulling them out too fast. Using a high speed / high torque air ratchet can cause the nut's threads to gall and seize. GM AUS likes to use lock nuts made of softer alloys with bronze and copper. These nuts ensure the bolts will not rust and seize but they do take a bit more care to take off and put on.

2-3 hours to install....most shops charge 100.00 per hour labor.

Well it looks like I spoke too soon about the check engine light as it came on this afternoon on the way to lunch. I called Onstar just to see what they would say and it was and exhaust emissions code as I suspected. She said it was just a warning code and that an hour of highway driving might make it go away. I then talked to Nick at ARH and he said this is normal, due to the high flow cats, but the only way to really keep it from coming back is a tune. Well I planned on one anyway but I need to get a few more things first.

Neil
'08 MGM G8 GT

Neil, Thanks so much for giving ARH a try. Expect excellent performance gains and nothing less than years of trouble free use. Now get it tuned and get back to us with your dyno results. All the Best!

Nick

Hey Nick or anyone eles that may know, will the exhaust emissions code that has been set effect the cars performance in any way? I think it is just an annoyance at this point but I just want to be sure.

no. the p0420/430 code will not effect performance. It will however fail you on an inspection. Time to get a tune and get the rear o2 shut off :)

no. the p0420/430 code will not effect performance. It will however fail you on an inspection. Time to get a tune and get the rear o2 shut off :)

That is what I thought and I don't have to get inspected until next April. I will have a tune well before then, my guess is in the next month or so.

Nick, I spoke with you a couple of weeks ago about getting my ARH and having TTP install them prior to the other work I was having them do. As it turns out, I didn't think I could free up the extra cash just yet for the headers and was going to wait a couple months. Well, needless to say as TTP was installing my parts and tuning the car a ups truck pulled up and dropped off a set of ARH longtubes for the G8. Matt opened em up and let me check out your work, Well all I can say is.... awesome. Everything down to the internal spikes. Dude your the man. Best work I've seen ever. None the less my wallet loosened up immediately and I bought those longtubes and they are being installed this Friday at TTP. Just a word to anyone who wants to listen, These tubes from ARH are a must have. It really should have been my first mod! I will post Dyno results when I get home Friday night.
Joe

Joe, Thanks for giving us your thoughts on the system. I'm really happy to hear you're making the move to get them installed. I assure you, you're in for a real treat. Good Luck and keep us posted.

Nick

You can clear the code really quick as VA Inspection's only do a safety and if the light isn't on... You'll pass... :D

Just a quick update. No dyno numbers yet but I went through a full tank of gas and I have a noticeable improvement in fuel mileage. I usually average in the mid to high 18s on the DIC and this tank I got 19.6. I need a few more tanks to see if this holds true but it looks to be a small added benefit.

Good to see ARH is keeping up with GM's new cars. I have been very pleased with my GTO headers :)

Daym...Im jealouse....I want these headers...
Did you guys get the whole system or just the headers?
I asked 4 shops out here in cali..if they would install them...nobody will :(

These systems seem awful quiet. Do you think a good exhaust shop could get the muffs from a Magnaflow cat-back system to fit? Cut and weld on a flange maybe?

guys, clear me up on something. I understand the system will cause a code until I get it tuned out but are the oxygen sensors still there or removed?

guys, clear me up on something. I understand the system will cause a code until I get it tuned out but are the oxygen sensors still there or removed?

All 02s remain in system

All 02s remain in system

good! Thanks Charlie.

These systems seem awful quiet. Do you think a good exhaust shop could get the muffs from a Magnaflow cat-back system to fit? Cut and weld on a flange maybe?

Any axle back (like Stolen Fox's Magnaflows) that is designed to work with the stock exhaust will work with the ARH system. I would think a good exhaust shop would be able to fab something up without too much problem. Though, the cost effective thing to do would be to sell the Magnaflow catback then just buy some magnaflow mufflers and have a shop fab up the connection pipe or get the Magnaflow axle backs when they come out.

Hmmm.....I keep looking up and down this thread, but I don't see any pics. Whah happen? :confused:

Any axle back (like Stolen Fox's Magnaflows) that is designed to work with the stock exhaust will work with the ARH system. I would think a good exhaust shop would be able to fab something up without too much problem. Though, the cost effective thing to do would be to sell the Magnaflow catback then just buy some magnaflow mufflers and have a shop fab up the connection pipe or get the Magnaflow axle backs when they come out.

but is it really the most cost effective? Can I really expect to get much more for a used cat-back than a good set of axle-backs will cost me?

but is it really the most cost effective? Can I really expect to get much more for a used cat-back than a good set of axle-backs will cost me?

I Imagine a good condition used magnaflow cat back will bring 250-400...

Custom axlebcks will run you 250-400...

I Imagine a good condition used magnaflow cat back will bring 250-400...

Custom axlebcks will run you 250-400...

exactly. and the price of having the cat-back cut into an axle-back will also balance out against the hassle factor of shipping the cat-back. Feels like pretty much of a wash to me either way.

These systems seem awful quiet.

This is what appeals to me. I'm at one with the sneakiness.:gr_devil:

This is what appeals to me. I'm at one with the sneakiness.:gr_devil:

I need the muscle car sound.

exactly. and the price of having the cat-back cut into an axle-back will also balance out against the hassle factor of shipping the cat-back. Feels like pretty much of a wash to me either way.

I got $600 for mine and I installed it. Some got these systems cheap. Now they are 700+. I would think 4-500 at the cheapest. It is lifetime warranty stainless!

You can still find them out there brand new for under $610...

exactly. and the price of having the cat-back cut into an axle-back will also balance out against the hassle factor of shipping the cat-back. Feels like pretty much of a wash to me either way.

Trust me on this one, shipping the cat back is a huge hassle and VERY expensive.

If you already have it, get something to work with it, or have it remade to work with your new headers.

Unless, like Charlie, you can sell it local.

I don't have the bill in front of me, but shipping (UPS) was over $160. The oversize charge is the killer.

You can still find them out there brand new for under $610...

Not in stock in most cases. It still saves a 100-150 bucks.

well the shipping confirmation number I got keeps showing up as an error on fedex's website... part is due fo delivery toorrow... we shall see.

I had issues with tracking #s on the site also

Wow, I had no idea you got hosed that bad on the shipping! Thanks for being a stand up guy and sending the exhaust for the original quoted price. Much respect George!

There are a lot of stand up guys on here. George without a doubt is one of them.

Hey you guys are using the wrong shipping company! See above my avatar. Think I'm gonna get hosed for this one:wall:

Wow, I had no idea you got hosed that bad on the shipping! Thanks for being a stand up guy and sending the exhaust for the original quoted price. Much respect George!

I told you the price, you agreed and sent me the money. I could never ask for more after we had a deal.

Good Karma and all that.

:)

Honestly, I wasn't even going to post that. I just wanted everyone to know what they were in for.

There are a lot of stand up guys on here. George without a doubt is one of them.

Thank you sir!

I will have a beer in your honor tonight.
(ok, I probably have more than one)
:wink2:

Hey you guys are using the wrong shipping company! See above my avatar. Think I'm gonna get hosed for this one:wall:

I'm pretty sure if I walked into the local Post Office with a 6 ft long box that weighed 85 pounds the lady behind the counter would hit me with something!

:wink2:

Have a case of something good for me George. I am having 1 of my moments right now. Respect is a big thing to me and disrespect, well I will explain in the next 5000 posts.

i work for ups and i hate dealing with long heavy boxes ules its somthing cool like that. then i have no problem lol.

Not in stock in most cases. It still saves a 100-150 bucks.

Well mine showed up this morning... I guess it was not out of stock because it was drop shipped directly from the manufacturer...

Well mine showed up this morning... I guess it was not out of stock because it was drop shipped directly from the manufacturer...

Thats what I meant. I waited forever for what was on the shelf from a vendor and the whole time it was at MF

Figured I would put an update in this thread since I finally got around to dynoing the car and getting it tuned. The details are in this (http://www.g8board.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6127) thread. The ARHs, with no other mods or tune, put down 330 rwhp and 343 rwtq. The final tuned numbers with a New Era CAI were 354 rwhp and 366 rwtq.

Wow ! Nice dyno numbers !

Figured I would put an update in this thread since I finally got around to dynoing the car and getting it tuned. The details are in this (http://www.g8board.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6127) thread. The ARHs, with no other mods or tune, put down 330 rwhp and 343 rwtq. The final tuned numbers with a New Era CAI were 354 rwhp and 366 rwtq.

Was that a local tune or VMS?

Was that a local tune or VMS?

Carolina Auto Masters in Durham

Figured I would put an update in this thread since I finally got around to dynoing the car and getting it tuned. The details are in this (http://www.g8board.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6127) thread. The ARHs, with no other mods or tune, put down 330 rwhp and 343 rwtq. The final tuned numbers with a New Era CAI were 354 rwhp and 366 rwtq.

Great #s !

Great numbers. Now I know what to look out for when I get my complete system installed and tuned in a couple of weeks.

Carolina Auto Masters in Durham

Glad to know there is a place close to me that can handle the tuning when i finally get my g8 :driving:

Nice numbers. Some day I'll get my G8 back to Vectors to get a final dyno tune.
Well, until I add more stuff.