This has been a story a long time in the making, and can now be told since the last step has been completed. First of all, let me stop right here to send a big "Thank You!" to Jared at Lethal Performance and to Dustin at JBA. They made this process work out in the end. So, to the story...

The ordering process from Lethal was very painless, and they were on their way to me the day after placing the order. I received the headers in November, and installed (or tried to install) them over the course of a weekend, along with the Steeda motor mounts. It took me Friday afternoon, all of Saturday, and most of Sunday to realize it wasn't going to work. I finally got them on, but had big-time exhaust leaks on both sides. Not good!

We took the passenger side header back off, and after placing a straight edge against the header flange, realized it was not flat. A seal was not going to happen. I called JBA, and spoke with Dustin. He was very nice, and honestly concerned. The garage that I was using had professional mechanics on site, and they agreed that there was a gap. Anyway, Dustin immediately authorized a return, and the new ones arrived with laser-straight flanges. I had this set installed by the pros, though, and they went on without further incident.

The response was immediate and gratifying. This car ROARS now! Even with the catted H-pipe, the volume level is much louder. Very little drone, just the barest bit at about 2100 or so, honestly hardly noticeable. I had the intention to dyno it, but life kept getting in the way.

Then in December, I heard, all of a sudden, a rattling coming out from the underside of the car. Returning to the garage, we discovered that one of the cats was causing the rattle. Apparently, some of the catalytic substrate had come loose. Again calling JBA, I spoke (coincidentally enough) with Dustin again, and after explaining the situation, he authorized that return as well. The new H-pipe is now on, and no rattles to date (fingers crossed).

The last step was finally completed today with a trip back to Marysville Speed and Custom for the dyno test. We strapped it down and made a couple of runs. The A/F, as I expected, was a bit leaner than previous, so after playing with the fuel, we finally called it good.

The result:

Previous best: 286.6 rwhp / 274.8 rwtq
Today's best: 296.3 rwhp / 305.7 rwtq

So, a gain of 10 hp (peak). But that doesn't tell the story. The mid-range gains (3,500 to ~5,000 rpm) average 20 rwhp give or take. But the part I like is the 31 peak torque gain. That alone makes it worth the money. If we could figure out how to lock the automatic in fourth so the dyno operator didn't have to feather the throttle in so as to not downshift the car, it may be even higher.

Driving impressions: It roars louder, and you can hear the air rushing through the pipes like you couldn't have before. It sounds much different, and much improved. Definitely more of a muscular sound.

Conclusion: I am PLEASED! Cost a bit of cash for parts and installation, but worth every penny. JBA makes a good product, earlier issues notwithstanding, and I would buy from them again in a heartbeat. Lethal Performance was good for the order, not even a whiff of dishonesty or deceit. I would buy from them again anytime.

Thanks to those named, and thanks to all of you on this board for the help you give. Much appreciated!

Eric

:::Edited for proper name of dyno shop.

 

Congrats Eric!!

 

31 peak TQ gain is unreal

 

That's what I was thinking, too! But the chart is sitting here in front of me with a graph of my previous best run the last time I was at the shop and today's best, which is the tune I left the shop with.

We had left it last time with 6.5% fuel added in the 4-7,000 rpm range. Today, when it showed lean on the first run, we added 2%, which made it too rich. We backed it to 7.5%, which made the best gains and left the A/F at around 12.5:1 give or take at WOT. We tried it once more at 7%, but it ran a bit too lean and lost a couple of hp, so we put it back at 7.5% and called it a day. May have seen other gains from timing advance, but we started to run out of time.

 

Great results Eric,

I haven't beeen on a dyno yet but as far as the sound and feel of the car is concerned I agree 100%. It's worth every penny.

 

Nice one. My JBA LT's/Catted Hpipe were delivered tonight...can't wait to get these babies on

 

Many months ago, I had a before/after dyno run on a CAI/Predator tune. The net result was +13rwhp and +45rwtq!!! As it turns out, they did the dynos in 3rd gear, not 4th. Which hosed all the data for both before and after. Are you certain yours was done in 4th gear?

 

Don,

An excellent point! I have had the same frustration. My baseline was done incorrectly in 3rd. I realized this, and after I had my C&L/Predator installed, I deliberately had the next dyno run done in 3rd as well to get the accurate difference, so I would know the gains. I then had another run done in 4th to see the actual power output. Every run since has been done in 4th, including the two listed above. I was present for every run and I count the gear changes as the car accelerates.

Nice point, and it bears repeating periodically, because a lot of people with autos still get them dynoed incorrectly for this very reason. But those numbers are both 4th gear pulls.

Eric