This is perplexing me because I've never had a V8 with long tube headers.

Ever since my header install, the headers kind of sound like they're leaking except I can't really tell if that's what it is. It's louder when I first start the car and then partially goes away after a few seconds but is still there.

You can hear kind of a half ticking/half metallic ringing sound coming out from under the car at idle and when you're driving along a curb or fence or whatever. But I can't tell EXACTLY what it is due to all the other noise when the car is running, and from the engine bay all you can really hear is valvetrain noise.

I'm just trying to determine if I need to tear it all apart again to install some Percy's gaskets and Stage 8 bolts.

 

Have you checked for any sort of misfire? My car had the same thing, wrote it off as the x-pipe having thin walls since I couldn't find a single leak. My car had 3 loose plugs and was misfiring. Changed the plugs, misfire is gone, and the sound went away instantly.

 

I hear the exact same thing when driving next to something the sound can echo off of. I've checked all the bolts i can reach a hundred times and nothing is loose. Unless its one of the unreachable's. Collectors are tight too. I've just decided its normal.

 

Keep in mind, the stock manifolds in iron are thicker than any aftermarket headers and therefore they keep any sounds to a lower tone and decibel limit. My exhaust got deeper but also has a rasp now because of the long tubes with no cats. I hear a lot more motor noise as well but it's been running strong for over a year now with that set up.

 

I know you hear more actual engine noises with the headers and it probably tends to resonate down the tubes...I just can't tell what's engine noise and what isn't!