Need header advice from those who installed themselves

[SteelSteeds]

Today is the day!

Finally, the end is here. I had gone as far as I could last weekend, but had to wait for my new Milodon dipstick and tube to arrive. They finally got here on Thursday, and I got it installed last night. For those interested, I don't recommend this dipstick for the GT 500. In order to check the oil, the CAI will have to be removed. Not exactly optimal. The tube terminates down near the bottom of the head, just above the headers, and directly below the CAI. I will probably buy a new stock dipstick at some point in the future and try again to get it routed correctly without hacking the bejeezus out of it. For now though, I JUST WANT MY CAR ON THE ROAD AGAIN. It has been two and a half months since I've even been able to start it.

As soon as my daughter goes down for her nap, I will be headed to the shop to put the CAI back on, and fill the crankcase with oil. In addition to the headers and x-pipe, the Shelby short throw shifter is in, pistol grip shift knob, the wires are run for the Granatelli line lock, and I changed the oil and filter.

After I get to drive it for a while, I'll worry about the rest of the stuff. For now, I'm just excited to hear it!
Video to come later.

Edit: Forget what I said about not being able to check the oil. It actually is possible. There's enough room to reach between the strut tower and the CAI. It just isn't quite as easy as the old dipstick. I think I'll live with it just fine though.

[Birdman]

Congratulations..........

[gr8snkbite]

have a drink...after you drive....

[SteelSteeds]

Originally Posted by gr8snkbite

have a drink...after you drive....

Good idea...

Well, here's the review.

First up, it's not nearly as loud as I expected it to be. Granted, I like it loud, so someone with "tender ears" might not agree with me. Like my wife...
Secondly, I'm not sure I like the sound with these mufflers. Also not unexpected, I wasn't all that thrilled with them before this swap. I thought I'd try them out with the headers and see how it changed the sound. It changed it, anyway. It sounds nice at idle, if quieter than I'd prefer. Cruising is fine. When I get on it, the sound it reminds me of, unfortunately, is that of a modded Subaru. It's got that rappy sound of a tuner 4 cylinder car, twice over. Sounds like two Subarus running each other...
I think different mufflers are going to be in order. No biggie, like I said, I kind of figured I'd end up changing them.

Next up, I LOVE the Shelby short throw shifter, and my pistol grip shift knob.

Finally, my check engine light came on. Code was P0443, Evaporative Emission System Purge Control Valve Circuit. Anybody know anything about this code? I was expecting an O2 sensor fault, not this. I had a lot of things unplugged during this process, is it possible I forgot to plug something back in? I didn't see anything obvious. Where is the Evap purge control valve?

Thanks in advance!

[GRABBER]

Lance we need a sound clip.

I did a sound clip yesterday with my new Ford racing muffys. The KR ones.

Next week I will cut out my X pipe and put on the H pipe. This makes it a little louder and cuts some of the poping from what I hear.

Take a listen:

[JTB]

Originally Posted by SteelSteeds

Good idea...

Well, here's the review.

First up, it's not nearly as loud as I expected it to be. Granted, I like it loud, so someone with "tender ears" might not agree with me. Like my wife...
Secondly, I'm not sure I like the sound with these mufflers. Also not unexpected, I wasn't all that thrilled with them before this swap. I thought I'd try them out with the headers and see how it changed the sound. It changed it, anyway. It sounds nice at idle, if quieter than I'd prefer. Cruising is fine. When I get on it, the sound it reminds me of, unfortunately, is that of a modded Subaru. It's got that rappy sound of a tuner 4 cylinder car, twice over. Sounds like two Subarus running each other...
I think different mufflers are going to be in order. No biggie, like I said, I kind of figured I'd end up changing them.

Next up, I LOVE the Shelby short throw shifter, and my pistol grip shift knob.

Finally, my check engine light came on. Code was P0443, Evaporative Emission System Purge Control Valve Circuit. Anybody know anything about this code? I was expecting an O2 sensor fault, not this. I had a lot of things unplugged during this process, is it possible I forgot to plug something back in? I didn't see anything obvious. Where is the Evap purge control valve?

Thanks in advance!

Post a pic of the shift knob when you get a chance.

[GRABBER]

Lance,

I can't find anything on that code.

[SteelSteeds]

Originally Posted by GRABBER

Lance,

Check out this chart on all the codes.

Hope this helps.

That's an awesome chart. However, it skips most of the powertrain codes, and refers to another list. Do you have that one too, by chance?

I grabbed my video camera to record some sounds, but it was dead. It's all charged up now, I'll grab some soon.

[GRABBER]

Originally Posted by SteelSteeds

That's an awesome chart. However, it skips most of the powertrain codes, and refers to another list. Do you have that one too, by chance?

I grabbed my video camera to record some sounds, but it was dead. It's all charged up now, I'll grab some soon.

I'm looking for that code right now.

Hold on.

[GRABBER]

I can't understand why your code is not in this other book I found. Check it out.

[SteelSteeds]

OBD-II Trouble Code: P0443 Evaporative Emission Control System Purge Control Valve Circuit

Found some good info, now I'm just trying to find out where this Purge Control Valve is. Sounds like it might be at the firewall on the back of the plenum. I did have that tube that runs from the manifold/header up to a spot on the back of the blower on and off a couple of times. Could be I knocked something loose, though I can't see anything out of place.

Here's some shots of my shift knob:

[SteelSteeds]

Rob, that page you referred shows that it's for Automatic Transmission/Transaxle problems specifically. There must be a bunch of bulletins. The code I'm looking for is an emissions part, so maybe there is a page just for those codes?

[GRABBER]

Originally Posted by SteelSteeds

OBD-II Trouble Code: P0443 Evaporative Emission Control System Purge Control Valve Circuit

Found some good info, now I'm just trying to find out where this Purge Control Valve is. Sounds like it might be at the firewall on the back of the plenum.

I think this is it. It does look like it's on the back of the firewall.

[SteelSteeds]

Awesome work! Thank you Rob!!

It's NOT on the firewall, I immediately recognized that piece: It's on the driver's side strut tower. I had to pull it off during my attempts to get the original dipstick tube routed, and again when I put the new one in. I didn't disconnect it, just unclipped it from its mounting bracket. I'm headed down there right now to inspect it.
Thanks a ton!

[SteelSteeds]

Done!

I owe you a beer, Rob. I had apparently disconnected the electrical connection to allow room to pull it off the bracket. I don't even remember doing it, but there it was, hanging down behind the strut tower. One quick click, and I'm back in bidness.