So I've been hearing a small tick noise on the right side of the engine after installing my JDL catless UEL headers. Im suspecting it might be a small leak where the over pipe is or near the header flange.
Before I installed the headers I contacted JDL about the header flanges being a little off when I was testing them for straightness on a glass table where the flanges didn't sit flush on the table. JDL responded saying:
"Jay,
It is not uncommon when placing both flanges on something like a piece of glass to see some variation from side to side between flanges. These headers are not rigid in a manner that will prevent them from pulling to the heads correctly when being torqued. This will also have no adverse effect with added stress. Once the header has been heat cycled a few times everything will settle into place and it is a good idea to re-check your torque. The important part is making sure that the proper torque sequence is used during this stage of install. We prefer the OEM gaskets for the header to heads over the multi-layer steel ones as they are more forgiving to improper install/torque variations.
The header needs to be lifted to the heads and the center nuts run on by hand. Just hand tighten them, then move on to the outer nuts. Once the header is closed up to the heads hand tight you will begin the actual torque sequence which is as follows:
-Start with center nuts (does not matter which bank), torque to 25lb/ft.
-Move to outer nuts and torque to 25lb/ft. in a criss-cross method bank to bank.
-Once all 6 have been torqued, start at the center nuts again and torque to 35lb/ft.
-Move to the outer nuts and torque to 35lb/ft. in a criss-cross method bank to bank
-You can run through all 6 again if you like just to be certain you didn't miss one.
-Then proceed to your outlet flange, it is your preference which 2-bolt gasket you use but the supplied gasket will be more forgiving to improper seating compared to the steel layers OEM gasket.
Best regards,
JDL Auto Design Team"
JDL was very helpful in giving me detailed instructions on installing the headers, and I did exactly what they recommended. But from what I've read on the forums that torque values are 22ft/lbs.
The tick isn't loud, but its there. Maybe I'm just starting to hear things, I don't know.
I probably didn't do a good log but here's one i did today while driving to work. Does everything look normal? btw sorry I'm a noob at using OFT and all this tuning stuff.
https://datazap.me/u/jaivee/ltft2?log=0&data=1-11