F430 Challenge Headers

Not sure,…What I think is that if the precat is out, the cats has to do more work, so their live are gonna be shorter.

But for me your opinion/experience are important.

Thank you for your reply

 

I suspect the cats don't do more or less work, they're just more efficient at the work if there's a precat upstream. All the precat removal really does (beyond the obvious of not risking a catastrophic from degradation of course) is higher net "bad stuff" from the tailpipe.

But we don't exactly ship items by sailing vessel across the oceans anymore so I'm not sure a few sports cars with slightly elevated emissions will be doing much damage. Trees love CO2 anyway.

 

I'd like to see what headers you are talking about, I believe the precat is after the header, not in the header?

 

It is built into the headers, in the thick space just before the exit mouth...

 

Update: After 29,500 kms I have replaced my OEM manifolds with Challenge manifolds.

I have replaced also all the nuts/…

The first 100kms with the new manifolds the car feels a little faster, smoother and also noisier (but maintains the same tone). The a/c compressor was released to setter access and replace the left manifold.

It was also replaced the lower right grille that had broken

very helpfull this amazing community to decide and go ahead with the process.

amazing service by scuderiacarparts in the UK

Kind Regards


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Nice I have this laid out for the next 20 days or so. Any tool recommendations? I grabbed a stubby 12mm

 

Seems like most folks tend to have a substantial variety of wrenches (ratcheting box wrenches, sockets on swivel extensions, offset box wrenches, stubbies and long alike) and just lots of patience. Might not be a bad idea to soak everything with pb blaster or kroil and let it sit overnight before you start.

 

Sounds good. I did start the Kroil session and I will report back.

 

Here’s all the wrenches I used to change my headers. Not a fun job.
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What do you call the 2nd from the right 12mm wrench?

 

The most important tool you can have is patience. I changed mine out over the course of 2 days because after the first, I was fried. You can get to all of the bolts, it just takes forever. Leave the easiest ones for last so that you can support the header with your other hand as you take out the final bolt. I made about 3 trips to various hardware stores to pick up crows foot, stubby, ratcheting, and offset wrenches. Take your time.

 

Obstruction wrench.

Bigly handy.

 

It’s an S Wrench. Picked up a couple sets from Amazon and ended up having to chop one down to get to the nut under the motor mount. Maybe it’s easier to just remove the whole motor mount? I thought about doing that but if it worked it would have eliminated a lot of the “fun”.

 

lol this made me recall changing mine! You probably want a stubby 12mm as well…

 

Anyone have price on these headers please??

 

I paid recently around 6k for headers, nuts, shipping and taxes

 

Go to Ali express. Tons of good options. Most of the hi end headers in US are made in china and dudes are rebranding them. There is some quality stuff for 1/3 of the cost.

 

I think this would be the wrong thread for hyping Ali express. The OEM challenge headers used to be affordable.

It took me two years to get them but I paid:
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Also I bought an induction nut warmer since I have some nasty rusty ones on the turbo end of the 996. I will report how it goes with the F430.

I have all OEM new gaskets, studs, aftermarket copper locking nuts, titanium everything for the cat connections. Just been dealing with other stuff at the moment but I do want to work the swap.

 

I'll raise that to the wrong website entirely. Hell I cringe when people on my Vespa forum recommend Ali express for parts