Which headers are all stainless?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 5
From: Roxbury NJ
Which headers are all stainless?
I was all set to order a set of Kooks headers today, but a little research turned up the fact that the X-pipe is aluminized mild steel. I'm really looking for a complete stainless system, so Kooks are out unless I can locate a stainless 3" X that fits with them. I know LG makes them in stainless, does anybody else? The LG's look good, but the price is kinda out there ( $1895, $550 more than the best price I found on Kooks).
My car spends most of it's life sitting up on a lift, so I usually only see the bottom of it during the week. Gotta have stainless!
My car spends most of it's life sitting up on a lift, so I usually only see the bottom of it during the week. Gotta have stainless!
Last edited by Flareside; Feb 17, 2005 at 01:55 PM.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 5
From: Roxbury NJ
Wow, that's too many! 
I'll have to check out those GHL headers, I have GHL exhaust and love it. Great quality and finish. Anybody tested them against the Kooks or LGs?
Coated headers of any kind are out for me, I work on my car too much. From past experience, I know that the coatings get dirty whenever you touch them with dirty hands and that the dirt is permanent. They're hard to keep nice.
I'll have to check out those GHL headers, I have GHL exhaust and love it. Great quality and finish. Anybody tested them against the Kooks or LGs?Coated headers of any kind are out for me, I work on my car too much. From past experience, I know that the coatings get dirty whenever you touch them with dirty hands and that the dirt is permanent. They're hard to keep nice.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
The KOOKS headers themselves are stainless steel. The x pipe is aluminized steel as is your OEM system. A lot is made of "stainless all the way back" but is it really needed? Have you ever heard tell of anyone's OEM h pipe and mid section rusting? If you are going to get rust it is more than likely going to occur at the headers near the collectors.
There is no real need for the mid section to be stainless. It is not on your factory system. However......
If you feel that you want or need for the system to be stainless all the way back, X pipe and all, then you will pay extra for it. A lot extra so if you want a stainless X pipe, you really can't gripe about the price of the LGs. KOOKS will also make one for you if you ask and are willing to pay a premium for an x pipe made of a material which is overkill unless you are driving through salt.
There is no real need for the mid section to be stainless. It is not on your factory system. However......
If you feel that you want or need for the system to be stainless all the way back, X pipe and all, then you will pay extra for it. A lot extra so if you want a stainless X pipe, you really can't gripe about the price of the LGs. KOOKS will also make one for you if you ask and are willing to pay a premium for an x pipe made of a material which is overkill unless you are driving through salt.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 773
Likes: 0
From: Layton Utah
Flareside, I'm with you. I see the bottom of my 99 C5 more than the top. I opted for Dynatech's SuperMaXX headers which are all SS. I spent about 2-3 hours polishing them before I installed them. The link below shows how great they look. I've since spent another hour or so and they now look even better.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/phot...hp?photo=26528
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/phot...hp?photo=26528
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 5
From: Roxbury NJ
Originally Posted by EB20003
A lot is made of "stainless all the way back" but is it really needed?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 5
From: Roxbury NJ
Originally Posted by Ron Price
Flareside, I'm with you. I see the bottom of my 99 C5 more than the top. I opted for Dynatech's SuperMaXX headers which are all SS. I spent about 2-3 hours polishing them before I installed them. The link below shows how great they look. I've since spent another hour or so and they now look even better.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/phot...hp?photo=26528
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/phot...hp?photo=26528
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Originally Posted by Flareside
Definitely not needed, just preferred. You could build the mufflers and pipe from mild steel too, but they wouldn't look as good as stainless. For me, it's purely cosmetic. The stock H pipe looks dull, and the welds rust.
Then I'd suck it up and drop the $1900.00 on the LGs if the "bling" underneath the car is a factor. The mufflers and pipes can be seen on the car as it sits on the ground. The X pipe cannot. But if you want a stainless X pipe and mid section it's your money.What you are going to find is that all of the really good, well designed stainless all the way back to the catbacks systems are going to cost about the same. The GHLs, the QTPs and the LGs are all within a few dollars of one another. The GHLs with cats list for $1850.00 and the QTPs with cats list for $1950.00. You mentioned a 3" X pipe so I guess the DynaMaxx are out.
Last edited by '06 Quicksilver Z06; Feb 17, 2005 at 08:14 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 0
From: Chattanooga Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Originally Posted by Ron Price
Flareside, I'm with you. I see the bottom of my 99 C5 more than the top. I opted for Dynatech's SuperMaXX headers which are all SS. I spent about 2-3 hours polishing them before I installed them. The link below shows how great they look. I've since spent another hour or so and they now look even better.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/phot...hp?photo=26528
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/phot...hp?photo=26528
That is a Work Of Art! Beautiful!
augydog
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 849
Likes: 1
From: Dallas TX
kook's will make you a stainless x if you like. i talked to them at the pri show about it. they said there isn't much need for it but they can definately make you a stainless x if you want. i love mine!!!
