Starting car without the y-pipe?

[97SHOgt]

I was just wondering if it will hurt the car to start it without the y-pipe? I know it will be obnoxiously loud but I just replaced the rod bearings and the y-pipe studs need to be replaced, but I don't have time to mess with it at the moment. I just want to put the new starter on, go through the procedures described on shophoenix prior to starting the car and then fire it up when all that is done. I suppose it wouldn't be any different then running open headers, I just want to make sure. I would just like to take it around the block quick, I'm in the country so the noise wouldn't cause any problems, and it isn't my daily driver, but I want to make sure everything went ok with the rod bearings. Let me know. Thanks!

 

[projectSHO89]

Run it. Hope you don't set it on fire.

 

[shopartsnw]

You could start the car, but I would not let it run for any length of time. I would only run it for a few seconds

I would definitely not drive it around the block. The exhaust manifolds are VERY short. You will have hot exhaust gasses coming out and cooking your power steering lings, rack, wiring, cooling fans, A/C compressor, and just about the whole lower half of the engine. At the worst, you could melt something or start your car on fire.

If that is not bad enough, since the manifolds are very short, when you shut off the car, cold air can easily come right back in and damage the valves if they are hot.

If you want to hear your car loud, put the y-pipe back in (correctly bolted to the manifolds) and don't connect it to the catback. This will give that highly desireable ricer sound. I still would not do this for long wither, as the exhaust could overheat or damage other areas (like your plastic rod shifter box. I don't know the chances of warping a valve with just a y-pipe, but it has to be less than just the manifolds.

 

[97SHOgt]

Alright, thats what I needed to hear, I won't start it until I replace the y-pipe studs. Thanks for the info guys kept me from doing something stupid.

 

[yamahaSHO]

After running it, I would stuff rags in the ends of the manifolds to prevent cooler air from rapidly cooling the valves. You *could* warp a valve if you don't.