So recently I've noticed a burning smell when I go over 75mph. The gear/rpm doesn't matter (for example, revving high in third or cruising then stepping on it in 5th). The weird thing is I can redline first and second and get to 60mph and not smell anything.

Any thoughts on what it could be?

Car is a stock motor 88 GTU with RB Headers to a bonez cat to an Apexi N1 cat back.

 

Are your brakes dragging? May not notice it at slower speeds, maybe they are heating up more once you hit the higher speeds?

 

Brake drag was my first thought as well. Of course do the basic checks under the hood, such as oil leaking, wires burnt, stuff touching the headers.

 

Yeah check that out, new brake pads could be tight etc.. feel your wheels after some driving and see if the brake area is hot.

Did you ever replace the shift rubber boot? that cuts down some of the exhaust smell lmao

 

My pads are pretty old and have never had a problem with breaking. It smells very metallic and gunpowdery.

Could it be the headers? If there was a coating on them?

 

The pads could possibly be so worn down, they are scraping the brake rotors while braking. It could be the headers... Have you considered wrapping them? Have they been coated with something?? You make it sound almost like you coated them with something you shouldn't have, and just didn't mention it.

 

It could be exhaust gases, if you have any exhaust leaks under the car or any holes in the body toward the rear sometimes exhaust can be drawn into the car. I had that happen with my old 323 hatch that had big rust holes in both rear corners.

 

The smell only happens on acceleration. No problems braking or stopping, they squeal a bit but they're hawk HP+ so they get noisy. The headers haven't been wrapped but I didn't coat them in anything. Unless Racing Beat putting something on them before I got them.

 

check ur trans tail shaft seal could be leaking trans oil on to the exhaust. if headers are brand new there will be a coating that gets burned off

 

i once had a plastic shopping bag get snagged on my exhaust & melt, & the smell would become evident anytime I ever was heavy on the throttle. Check your exhaust?

 

I've had them more over a year. And I'll see about the exhaust/trans. Is there any possibility its in the exhaust? Like the cat or anything.