Where did you get the “connection pipes” with the center O2 bungs? I can’t find those anywhere unless they’re pricier headers with the v-band clamp style connection pipes. Looks like you drilled your own holes in the side of those hollow test pipes, and then welded in some universal O2 bungs? I was planning to just buy some universal high flow cats in 3”, and then use a 3-2.5” reducer to attach to the midpipe clamps, bc the 3” universal high flow cats usually don’t come with any O2 bungs, only the 2.5” and smaller inlet/outlet universal cats.
I ended up not removing the steering coupler, but the very frontmost collector on the driver’s side (going towards the radiator) needed to be dented, in order to clear the steering coupler properly. However, I have a 2010, and everything else fit properly. The 3-2.5” exhaust reducers I used to run a pair of 2.5” universal high flow cats, made the connection pipe section about 1.5-2” longer than the test pipes that came with the eBay headers. This actually kinda helped with my catback’s leaky slip joints. I will continue to update as I heat cycle the freshly new headers.
I’ve been running these same headers for over 2 years now with no issues at all. A spectre cold air intake, straight pipe exhaust & these catless headers made a 50+ whp gain for me when I first got tuned on a conservative dyno Jet. If anyone out there has a 5th gen SS and is thinking about giving these a shot, do it. You don’t need to break the bank on basic bolt on’s to make power. Save that money for quality internal engine parts like a cam upgrade where name brand parts matter the most.
