i removed the header to see how hard it was and then i reinstalled it...

now when ever i get above 3700 rpms i get this HORRIBLE fluttering sound...and at part throttle the car rocks bad like its boggin then getting power then bogging and getting power so on...and i have lost a lot of acceleration and power...

am i leaking up where the manifold meets the head??? im 99% sure its not the header/s-pipe connection... but i am unsure of the header to head connection...

I am NA with no major engine modifications...and i have no gauges...i wish i had a wideband and egt so i could see whats going on...

edit: it is barely even driveable unless at WOT and then it gets to 3700 and starts acting up...and i cant drive at WOT all the time...

 

Exhaust leak...did you make sure you tightened up all the bolts on the manifold? Did you use a gasket? Is the doughnut gasket still in place where the header connects to the s-pipe? Did you tighten the spring loaded bolts?

 

i tightened them all and then yesterday i loosened and tightened them again....is there a special sequence to tightening them??

i re-used the stock gasket...the 2 piece metal one...and i put a little high-temp red gasket sealant...

the donut gasket was and i used a little of the red gasket sealant...

yes i tightened the spring bolts...

 

is the o2 sensor connected correctly?

 

did you secure the headers to the brackets on the bottom?
just a shot...

 

yes and yes....

well im 99.9999% sure the o2 is but that is something i would look over...so ill check that...

but the header is definitely secure to the brackets...

 

Sounds like you need a new exhaust manifold gasket

 

why??? no offense but i couldnt even begin to think that would make sense...

i mean the car isnt driven all that hard, has 35k, and the sound wasnt there at all until i removed the header...

i mean i guess it could be but i just cant see it what-so-ever...also i have NO overheating problems, no milky oil, no oil in coolant...

 

ok quick question....would a clogged cat possibly cause the exhaust pressure to build up and exceeds the gaskets ability to seal??

because i removed the header again and made sure to tighten the nuts in the proper order and im still having the problem and there is absolutely no sound below 3500 but above it sounds like major compressor surge but i am obviously NA...

 

You might need a new gasket for the header because it does sound like an exhaust leak

 

ok...well i guess i just have to wait....because my friends dad works at toyota so i get cheap parts from them....

i just want the problem fixed right now you know....lol

 

Stat the car put your hand over the header and see if you feel a lot of air escaping. Alternatively, do you hear a lot of "putt putt" or sputtering. If all you did was remove the header i'm sure its an exhaust leak.

 

I think im feeling air from the manifold but its hard to tell...
Also it sounds very much like a hissing but a fluttering hiss...

 

Defiantly sounds like an exhaust leak to me

 

If you have a camera if you can post a vid so we can hear and see.

I'm about 80% sure its an exhaust leak.

 

i dont have anything that records sound worth 2 poops.... but ill try to find something

 

Also put your hand where that doughnut gasket is on the header to see if you feel any exhaust leak there.

 

honestly its the only thing i havent thoroughly checked...

 

ok i decided to go out today and spray WD-40 anywhere and everywhere there was a seal...and i found the problem...

when i cranked the car and walked back up front what i discovered was a bubble bath forming at the bottom of the header at the donut gasket...i went back and revved the car and replicated the sound....when i went back to the front of the car, wa-la no more wd-40 around that seal and a bunch sprayed onto the block...

so now i have to get a new donut gasket... which should be cheaper than a head gasket or header gasket...

 

Why exactly would you need a new doughnut gasket? You can reuse it. I wouldn't have used WD-40 though, it is highly conductive. You should have used soap and water in a spray bottle.

I think he was just joking about the head gasket He went back and edited it to exhaust manifold gasket