Will exhaust work require ECU work to avoid knock?
 

I've got HFCs (Berk) and Headers (Stillen, ceramic) inbound, planning to install those first. Wasn't planning to get the ECU tuned until after I'm done with all the bolt-ons (cat-back and intake, depending on how those shake out - still waiting for more reviews and dynos on those).

I'm concerned about whether I'll be leaning it out too much during this interim period (HFC+Headers installed, but no other bolt-ons or ECU tuneup) and causing knock. Will the stock ECU adapt fine to it? (it will get its learning reset while the neg battery cable is off for the header install anyways) Should I run an octane additive in the interim to be safer (or would the stock ECU just compensate for that anyways)? Should I just keep from putting the engine under much stress until I get to the ECU?

Obviously, I'll want a dyno tune when I'm done, I'm just worried about knock and/or damage of any kind in the interim, as it may be a few weeks.

I do not think you will have any problems at all with detonation. In fact I would be flat-out amazed if you did.

With that being said, even if you do the knock sensor will retard the timing and protect the engine.

In my opinion, you won't have anything to worry about.

Thanks for the reassurance Kyle :) It seemed that should be the case, but when it's your first major work on your brand new car with 1,200 miles on it that you love to death, it's easy to get paranoid.