Which headers

After looking at the zzp website, I have found in the Q&A that the headers dont work for Riviera. Am I wrong? Which headers do other users use and what modifications are required to make them work.

Is there any way to get headers with an egr? Will I still pass emissions? It's a 96 by the way.

Thanks in advance.

Oh, man! I've never gotten so much great insight. Thanks for all the expert advise. I know exactly what to do now. Looks like I'm going to go with the ford f250 tail light assembly mod here. Seems to be the best bet.

Traffic sometimes is slow on this site. Throwing a hissy fit won't help. When I did a search, I found the SLP headers mentioned, so it must be possible to use them.

http://www.3800performance.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SLP-HEADERS&Category_Code=ES_H

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/search?mode=searchbox&search_keywords=headers&show_results=topics

I suggest you do more research here and reach out to the guys who are using them. A little patience and perseverance should pay off.

The board isn't what it used to be. Most of the members have moved on.

Not throwing a "hissy fit" just seeing if anyone is listening and being silly/passive aggressive about it. And what do you know? It worked. And I have been researching zzp, slp and this forum. This forum is real easy to get trapped in a rabbit hole of how to change your sc oil and 95 mods. The zzp website has lots of q&a that only confuses me. They seem to act like the headers they sell wont work for g body but will for h body and they insist that rivs are h body but according to my vin they are not. I dont feel like sinking $1000 into a full exhaust upgrade on something that's not going to work. I'm pretty competent and am able to do some modifications to the piping or parts that might get in the way but I can't do anything if the ports dont line up. So I only want a link to some of the headers that people have had success with, preferably in a 3" output. Thanks for the link Larry!

If I buy these headers with a 3" down pipe and a 3" resonator will I have any issues? I wont be able to afford them for up to a year so I'll wait. Anyone with experience please respond. And thank you in advance.

https://zzperformance.com/3800/zzp-stainless-header-package

Very few of us ever did headers and most of them have moved on. I'm not sure anyone has done headers on the Series I motor.

156slim wrote:

If I buy these headers with a 3" down pipe and a 3" resonator will I have any issues? I wont be able to afford them for up to a year so I'll wait. Anyone with experience please respond. And thank you in advance.

https://zzperformance.com/3800/zzp-stainless-header-package

I tried downpipe and resonator.  Larger downpipe, no real issues.  However, the larger resonator will probably "drone" at cruising speed. Annoying part is the Riv's a 6, it turns faster than an 8 (say the Northstar) at a given road speed so the drone's higher pitched.  You might not care.  For me just about all my driving is highway, I didn't like the drone at all.  As for the tuned headers IIRC I have heard you might have crossover pipe issues, don't know firsthand and I imagine a work-around could be fabricated locally.  For instance getting a tuned header/crossover kit and cutting/welding in a flex connector the right diam/length appropriately, if it's just shape that's the problem, or fabricating a bracket or 2 to move some engine accessories.   I really don't know, and again IIRC there was some reason not to bother with tuned headers on the Riv.

So sorry, I just sent my Riv to the junkyard with perfectly good Stainless headers and high flow cat.

The installation was easy with no mod's required. Bolted right up. Don't know about the availability of SSAC headers anymore. Been away from the Riviera scene for a while. Someone her will be able to clue you in to where to get them.

It's too bad I wasn't able to strip my car for all the mod's that were on it before it was towed away.

You can find the whole set-up @ Rt.117, Auto Parts, Lancaster, MA Phone number 888-771-1171
or www.RT117autoparts.com.
See if he hasn't already stripped the powertrain out of it and sold it. The engine had low miles and the trans had about 30K on it.

It was sad to see it go but I couldn't do anything with it and it just bothered me to see it in the driveway, so............

Rickw wrote:

So sorry, I just sent my Riv to the junkyard with perfectly good Stainless headers and high flow cat.

The installation was easy with no mod's required. Bolted right up. Don't know about the availability of SSAC headers anymore. Been away from the Riviera scene for a while. Someone her will be able to clue you in to where to get them.

It's too bad I wasn't able to strip my car for all the mod's that were on it before it was towed away.

You can find the whole set-up @ Rt.117, Auto Parts, Lancaster, MA Phone number 888-771-1171
or www.RT117autoparts.com.
See if he hasn't already stripped the powertrain out of it and sold it. The engine had low miles and the trans had about 30K on it.

It was sad to see it go but I couldn't do anything with it and it just bothered me to see it in the driveway, so............

Rickw wrote:

So sorry, I just sent my Riv to the junkyard with perfectly good Stainless headers and high flow cat.

The installation was easy with no mod's required. Bolted right up. Don't know about the availability of SSAC headers anymore. Been away from the Riviera scene for a while. Someone her will be able to clue you in to where to get them.

It's too bad I wasn't able to strip my car for all the mod's that were on it before it was towed away.

You can find the whole set-up @ Rt.117, Auto Parts, Lancaster, MA Phone number 888-771-1171
or www.RT117autoparts.com.
See if he hasn't already stripped the powertrain out of it and sold it. The engine had low miles and the trans had about 30K on it.

It was sad to see it go but I couldn't do anything with it and it just bothered me to see it in the driveway, so............

I need to pretend I didn't read this. I'll just tell myself it was too far to go get the parts anyway.

JR,
I wish my back would have allowed me to remove everything and somewhat strip the car.

3 months before it got parked I had just bought a new front cradle, all GM bushings and bolts and new lower control arms, etc, etc.

Everything up front was new and correct including the mounts that I injected with 3M window weld as well.

Between parts and labor to have it all done correctly cost me over $1,000.00.

Then 3 months later the rear cradle rotted and the right rear dropped preventing me from driving it.

MA is too far for me to travel anyway, shame to see it go.

Any update, OP? Any success installing headers on your car?

I bought the cheap SSAC headers and wrapped/painted them. Never had an issue. I think the main "problem" with the ZZP headers is the way the DP is set up. It will make contact with the steering gear. I suppose a different DP will solve that problem.


https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t9388-write-up-wrapping-exhaust-headers?highlight=headers

AA used SLP Headers.....just sayin. 2 confirmations of which ones will work.

Not sure if the SLPs can even be found anymore. I got over 12 years out of mine, still going as far as I know!

Hello,

I am also looking into a new exhaust system for my '97 and have been finding poor results on the 3800 based sites. Poor meaning e-mailing 3800 Performance and asking for a "will this fit my Riv" question with no response and everything else not bringing up the Riv in the drop down search bars or just a plain "no" answer. Common engine, not so common car I guess? I don't want to go to the custom shop just yet because I believe there's something out there. For good measure, if anyone knows, is there a system out there that gives a full, throaty sound similar to a Subaru Impreza? For a 4 cylinder they sound pretty good imho. Please don't get me wrong, the silent systems are super nice and I appreciate them.

R1V 1T UP wrote:

Hello,

I am also looking into a new exhaust system for my '97 and have been finding poor results on the 3800 based sites.  Poor meaning e-mailing 3800 Performance and asking for a "will this fit my Riv" question with no response and everything else not bringing up the Riv in the drop down search bars or just a plain "no" answer.  Common engine, not so common car I guess?  I don't want to go to the custom shop just yet because I believe there's something out there.  For good measure, if anyone knows, is there a system out there that gives a full, throaty sound similar to a Subaru Impreza?  For a 4 cylinder they sound pretty good imho.  Please don't get me wrong, the silent systems are super nice and I appreciate them.

Suggest you Look at leaving the system in place from resonator forward but using flowmasters in place of the OE mufflers.