Normandy Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 (edited) Hey again everyone, I've really appreciated your advice on my previous threads, now i'd like your wisdom on another subject.. Headers. Ive been doing some research on them. As best I can tell stainless with 7/8 primaries is the way to go. Now I just need to know a good brand/place to buy them from. Ive seen ARH headers for $1500.00 bucks . Are there other good stainless headers that are a little more affordable? I don't mind forking out the $1500.00 but if I can get them cheaper then why not right? I just got my BB tune so I think this will complement it nicely. I wanted to know your opinion on whether headers are one of the best "bang for the buck" mods. From what I've researched yes but I want to hear it from the horses mouth. My goal is to break into the 13's. Advice on that is welcome also. Thanks guys Edited August 5, 2014 by Normandy (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blown 346 Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 ARH or Kooks are good headers. Kooks are less money but are similar as you pay the name ARH. My wife has stainless Kooks Y pipe and all on her TBSS and has for years and she drives it in salt during winter. They still look brand new. Alot of people will say go with Pacesetter but they rust out, but are good if you dont have the money. My opinion and what I would do, is go Kooks or AR with Y pipe. If you wanted to you should be able to talk to either company and get a discount if you also buy the the rest of the exhaust from Y pipe back.... I have done this and it works every time. just dont sound all that interested and they will cave. Or go to you nearest speed shop that sells those brands, ( all should) and do the same with them, they will give you a deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normandy Posted August 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 ARH or Kooks are good headers. Kooks are less money but are similar as you pay the name ARH. My wife has stainless Kooks Y pipe and all on her TBSS and has for years and she drives it in salt during winter. They still look brand new. Alot of people will say go with Pacesetter but they rust out, but are good if you dont have the money. My opinion and what I would do, is go Kooks or AR with Y pipe. If you wanted to you should be able to talk to either company and get a discount if you also buy the the rest of the exhaust from Y pipe back.... I have done this and it works every time. just dont sound all that interested and they will cave. Or go to you nearest speed shop that sells those brands, ( all should) and do the same with them, they will give you a deal. Thanks I'll have to look into Kooks. Think they'll give me a discount with just buying the headers? I already have true duals. Where did you buy your Kooks from btw? Would you mind describing any power improvements? Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyson1972 Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 I ran the Pacesetter Coated 1 3/4" LT headers with used Kooks cats off of a F-Body. I had a friend weld them up with 3 bolt flanges on them (bad idea). The headers worked great and so did the cats. They problem was the flanges leaking around the gasket area, which I could never fix. I sold the headers and cats to a guy on here from Texas. I told him to cut off the flanges and just weld the cats to the back of the headers. He and I are 2WD so there isnt the problem with the front driveshaft. I just bought a new pair of Texas Speed & Performance's 1 7/8 Stainless F-Body headers because they fit fine on the 2WD trucks. They are around $600 shipped, but I dont know if they would work on the AWD trucks but its worth doing some research. $600 vs $1000-$1500 is a bargin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fireman31 Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 1-7/8" primaries are over kill with the current mods in your sig, 1-3/4" primaries would be plenty. What are your future goals? This will dictate your choice also... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyson1972 Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 I look at it this way if your planning on future mods then the 1 7/8 headers are a no brainer if not then the 1 3/4 headers are more than enough. I have plans for my truck and I know the 1 7/8 headers will be needed. Im planning on a L92/LS3 6.2 replacement for my LQ9 6.0 when I have the extra $$$ to buy a good used one. Im going to do a very well built build, then adding a Procharger down the road. I AM NOT into doing something more than once. Im building mine for the future because my truck isnt going anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normandy Posted August 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 1-7/8" primaries are over kill with the current mods in your sig, 1-3/4" primaries would be plenty. What are your future goals? This will dictate your choice also... I'd like to break into the 13's. I would assume then I would need a cam and maybe head work to necessitate the 1 7/8 primaries? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1BAD2K Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 I had kooks on the cts-v and arh on my truck now. Either are good. If it were me, I would go with the 1 7/8 arh setup. You won't regret the extra few bucks as you mod more and you won't ever have the need to upgrade them. You can't go wrong with either though imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blown 346 Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 Thanks I'll have to look into Kooks. Think they'll give me a discount with just buying the headers? I already have true duals. Where did you buy your Kooks from btw? Would you mind describing any power improvements? Thanks again You can get a deal if you ask, you ave to think and bring up the cost of what they pay for them and what they charge. Then it makes it look like you did your research and know whats going on. I already had them on the truck when I bought it, There is a big difference in power compared to my buddies that is stock. His is slow, my wifes holds you in the seat. If you tune it then you will gt even larger gains in HP and torque. They main thing people usually do is the headers a cold air intake, electric fan conversion and a rune. Its night and day difference. Ill take a video of how my wifes sounds tomorrow so give youa idea of sound with a magnaflow muffler as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fireman31 Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 Again, unless you ate going FI or big cubes, 1-7/8" primaries are over kill. An LQ9 with a mild cam will lose torque on the low end. Add Dynatech to your list also..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1BAD2K Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 Do you think it makes a noticeable difference. I've read write ups from people who have dyno'd both on NA motors, and the results were negligible. I can't say for sure though bc I have done the testing myself....which is why I ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normandy Posted August 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 You can get a deal if you ask, you ave to think and bring up the cost of what they pay for them and what they charge. Then it makes it look like you did your research and know whats going on. I already had them on the truck when I bought it, There is a big difference in power compared to my buddies that is stock. His is slow, my wifes holds you in the seat. If you tune it then you will gt even larger gains in HP and torque. They main thing people usually do is the headers a cold air intake, electric fan conversion and a rune. Its night and day difference. Ill take a video of how my wifes sounds tomorrow so give youa idea of sound with a magnaflow muffler as well. Awesome, thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fireman31 Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 Do you think it makes a noticeable difference. I've read write ups from people who have dyno'd both on NA motors, and the results were negligible. I can't say for sure though bc I have done the testing myself....which is why I ask. There was a member here who will remain unnamed who went with ARH 1-7/8" LT's and a full dual 3" exhaust and lost 3/10 of a second in the 1/4 mile.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normandy Posted August 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 What about cats? Do you guys recommend high flow or none at all? I would like to think the 6.0 would like a little back pressure. Thoughts? There was a member here who will remain unnamed who went with ARH 1-7/8" LT's and a full dual 3" exhaust and lost 3/10 of a second in the 1/4 mile.... Wow, 3 inch exhaust really?? These aren't diesels, 2.5 in should suffice should it not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyson1972 Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 Well I know our trucks don't have true 2.5" duals it's more like 2.75" piping (I have measured it). As far as cats I'm using Kooks High Flow cats sourced from a F-Body LS car which work great for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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