Uh Oh, hole in my head.....er!

Shamile · #1 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 09:14 AM

Dear Lamborghinisti,

Oh man, I'm sooo bummed out. After finally getting to get the CEL's to stay off and everything running super smooth in my 97.5 Roadster...

I've got a hole in my exhaust header. !!

For a little while I could head a slight buzzing, a vibration of sorts. I kept trying to look for rubbing sheet metal. There was no loss of power or anything else. Ha ha, get this...no CEL's. I was noticing most dust in the engine bay but didn't think much of it.

It turns out the hole or crack in the header blew through the insulation and was throwing bits of it into the engine bay. The header is off cyl's 7-9. Where it attaches to the engine is fine. The hole in the insulation is on the side of the header pack towards the side of the engine bay ( away from the engine) .

OK, big question.....can the header be removed without taking the engine out? Again, it is the header from cyl 7-9 on the driver side. Is there a trick to removing it? It seems very tight. If it were on the passenger side, that would be easier as there's alot more room there.

The headers on the roadster are covered in a tin-foil like material and are packaged in like a bag-like manner....meaning, you don't see the individual pipes. The tinfoil covers a soft insulation...you can access the pipe inside.

Second question, can the header be repaired ...or should it?

If I have to buy another, should I buy the Lambo replacement? Do they have a history of cracking? ( like on a Ferrari F355)

When I bought the car, the headers were replaced in the last couple of years.( OEM roadster headers) Will this be a " fun " issue I will constantly have to chase?

Y'alls help is greatly appreciated

Shamile

chad · #2 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 09:49 AM

The problem with the Lamborghini header is, they are made of the wrong stainless steel and the metal is too thin to start with. You at some point will end up replacing all of them.
Your best bet is to let me supply you with a much better header, made from a better grade of stainless.
Yea, I know, I sell them but in the long run you will end up saving money. Also you will do the job once, not 4 times, and considering the fact that EACH header from Lamborghini is around $2600.00.
I will write you another email with a price for a set of new headers, just have to send this first.
Chadbourn Bolles
803 532 6257

**gday** · #3 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamile

When I bought the car, the headers were replaced in the last couple of years.( OEM roadster headers) Will this be a " fun " issue I will constantly have to chase?

I hate to be the bearer of very bad news but holes burning through headers is indicative of a valve related problem. And to take a not so wild guess, I would be zeroing in on worn cam(s). Do you know which headers were replaced before and exactly why ie was it related to to the same cylinders as now?

And to go back to the warning about the O2 sensor output, that was on the opposite bank right?

-mick

chad · #4 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 10:26 AM

If the headers that are on the car are Lamborghini parts, then the problem is with the header. It was made of 409 stainless and is 1.2 mm thick pipe.
Considering the cost of one new header from Lamborghini at around $2600.00 each and that times 4 equals $10,400.00 for all 4. This does not include your time to replace them.
I can supply a new set of headers made from 304 stainless with 1.5 mm pipe for $4800.00.

I do not agree with Mick, with it being a valve problem, it is a header problem. I have been building/designing/buying/selling, and racing cars for over 50 years and have never seen a valve cause a header to burn through.
I have been working on, buying/selling, and building Lamborghini engines for over 26 years and have never seen that.
Also, if it were a valve problem, the engine would not be running well.
Respectfully
Chadbourn Bolles
803 532 6257

Shamile · #5 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 10:53 AM

Hey y'all,

Thanks for the input guys.

The headers are OEM Lambo. They have a sort of a square info stamp imprinted into the tinfoil.

They were replaced a couple of years ago. This is what makes me think this is a design problem. Also, when I see aftermarket roadster headers advertised, I wonder if this is a recurring model issue.

Mick, the CEL was for the opposite bank. ( Cyl 1-6 )The engine was running smooth, no CELs, no surging.....finially, it was running fine.

Chad, are you talking about the quicksilver system? I didn't get your price in your pmail.

So....I still have to ask,

Does the engine have to come out?

Can I have the offending header rewelded?

If I can't do it myself, what is the hr cost? ( if engine-in ) from my local pimp...er I mean Lambo dealer (Orlando)

Personally, I would rather "get by" with a rewelded header. I really want to spend money on fun stuff like carbon fiber inserts, a big a$$ sport muffler and strippers.

Please let me know.

Shamile

**gday** · #6 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chad

Also, if it were a valve problem, the engine would not be running well.

Saw another 97 roadster that had this exact problem earlier in the year along with multiple other Diablos over the years. Engine in the 97 roadster ran ok but with a measurable loss of power. Some of the cams supplied were either not hardened properly or just crappy material to begin with and over time the hardened parts of the profile eventually is gone.

Something is taking out the headers ie replacing headers every few years, even if the quality of the header is suspect, is not normal.

-mick

Shamile · #7 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gday

Saw another 97 roadster that had this exact problem earlier in the year along with multiple other Diablos over the years. Engine in the 97 roadster ran ok but with a measurable loss of power. Some of the cams supplied were either not hardened properly or just crappy material to begin with.

Something is taking out the headers ie replacing headers every few years, even if the quality of the header is suspect, is not normal.

-mick

Hey,

sigh.....

Hmmm, 3-5 year belt changes on my Testrossa don't seem so bad now.

Not looking forward to an engine teardown. Yikes !

Mick, was the cam problems up to a 97.5 or just early 97?

Shamile

**gday** · #8 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamile

Mick, was the cam problems up to a 97.5 or just early 97?

Really has nothing to do with only MY97. Just a coincidence.

At the very least, if you end up pulling your enging to replace all the headers with Chad's, going the extra step of checking cam wear would be must if it was my car.

-mick

Shamile · #9 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 11:27 AM

Hey,

Mick,

sooo....do you have to pull the engine?

If I did, I would have the cams checked.

Hmmm, great way to start 2008

Shamile

KENCO · #10 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamile

Hey,

Mick,

sooo....do you have to pull the engine?

If I did, I would have the cams checked.

Hmmm, great way to start 2008

Shamile

Sell it and get another Ferrari. I am getting tired of the problems always popping up on my Diablo, It seems when I fix something something else breaks.............

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