It's been a long time coming, but we finally have some coverage of Project Super Stunner, Truckin's '06 Chevrolet SSR. This was the first phase of a build up that will result in a truck that will lay low and scream loudly across the eyeballs of onlookers. The first step was to take care of any engine modifications, so that we could see how much room we had left for the suspension work. We started with an exhaust upgrade, and as a bonus, a nitrous oxide system installation. We mated headers from Stan's Headers to a 3-inch Corsa after-cat exhaust system and put in a NOS wet-nitrous system. The headers and exhaust were installed by Muffler Man in Placentia, California, and we handled the nitrous ourselves.
Here, you can see the stock...
Here, you can see the stock exhaust manifolds next to the Stan's headers, which were designed for the SSR's LS2 engine.
This shot shows the new gaskets...
This shot shows the new gaskets that came with the headers.
After the factory manifolds...
After the factory manifolds and exhaust were removed from the vehicle, the aftermarket headers were lifted into position from underneath the truck. Then the gaskets were slid into place and the headers were bolted in. Installing the passenger-side header required the temporary removal of the coolant reservoir and working around the obstructive air-conditioning lines. Trying to photograph the installed headers was like doing surgery with a fiberoptic camera. The space and view in the SSR's engine compartment was very restricted. DIYers: Prepare to bust some knuckles.
Here's a shot of the Corsa...
Here's a shot of the Corsa exhaust system before we installed it
The positioning of the new...
The positioning of the new headers required that the catalytic-converter system Y-pipes were cut, and then custom ones had to be made. Here, you can see the new pipes bolted onto the headers.