I need some help with the possible purchase of Kook longtube headers. There is a guy close by that has offered me a used 1 3/4"-3" set he has for a real good price. One thing I'm concerned about is, they may be made for a 2000 C5, and my car is a 2002 C5. I've read some of the archives and there may be a problem with the 'bung' locations. I asked the owner if he could give me numbers from the headers, and he said he could not find any, other than the tube size. He did say however, that the bungs are facing each other towards the middle of car when installed. Can anyone tell me if these will be a bolton without modifications to my 2002 C5? He also has a used X-pipe with highflow cats that he wants to sell. He said he removed them and replaced with ss tubing. He states that all is in excellant condition. Can anyone give me a ballpark value for these? Thanks in advance, and I'm only looking for C5 peoples best-guess opinions before I make a move on these. Mike

 

So I assume that you mean the AIR connections, and where they are located on a 2000 v/s a 2002. You need only do a visual comparison to verify they are in the same place.......you don't have to "guess"...

 

The bung location on the headers is not the issue. I don't think the O2 sensors moved on the C5s from year to year and if the headers were installed on his car without any O2 extensions then you should be fine.
The issue is with the air tube location on the tubes at the heads. The location of the air tubes moved from earlier C5s to later models. That will be a problem and I think 2002 is the year they moved.

I installed a set of Kooks that I bought new in 05 on my 03 and I am very happy with them. The install was a snap (took about 3-4 hours in my garage - no lift) and the fitment was great. I think I paid about $750 for the headers. I later bought the mid section with the x-pipe and hi-flow cats ($695). Kooks was using ceramic cats and then switched to metal matrix sometime in 2005. I was having some problem with the ceramic cats not lighting off properly and Kooks did an exchange for the metal matrix at no charge. Great company. Shop the price you are getting for the used set and if new ones are close I would go new.

PM me the price you got and I'll let you know what I think.

 

Thanks for the replies. I don't have these headers in front of me, so I have to go by the pics that owner sent me. I don't even see air tube connector locations in the pics. Is it me, or are there no places for airtube connection in the attached pic? Thanks, Mike.

 

Those might be "off road" or "race" headers that don't have AIR tube flanges. If those are the headers you are buying . You have two choices,

1. Remove the AIR system from your car (I wouldn't
recommend doing that, but there are members that
have)
2. After you have installed your headers, take the car
to a mufflers shop and have them weld in some
flanges for the AIR tubes.

 

Aha, "off road headers". That must be what they are. Well, theres no way I'm removing the Air system, and I would imagine it would cost several hundred to locate, purchase, and weld on a pair of flanges. Guess that squashes this purchase. I want to thank you guys again for the info. Mike

 

Man, don't mess around with used headers that are a compromise install. Just shop for what you need/want and find the best price. Its not a deal if it winds up costing you the same or more than new in the end and its a jury rigged job as well!

 

Actually, three choices....the third being...don't buy the headers....

 

I called "Kooks" up and asked about these headers. They confirmed that these are indeed Race/Offroad headers. He also said that for a nominal fee, when they are producing these particular headers, that they would install the air tube flanges for me.
I called the owner back and during our conversation I learned that these headers are not used, they are new, never installed. I explained the problem with them on my particular car, and we ended making a deal that I just couldn't refuse. He's giving me the headers, plus the s/s x-pipe with highflow cats for $400. For that price I'll send them to Kooks to install the airtube flanges and still be looking pretty good on deal. Mike

 

Congrats, it sounds like you got a good deal.

 

ESTreeter, I thought about what you said in your post about not jury rigging my exhaust and have decided to take Lucky131969s third choice and not buy these headers. Even though these headres are new, they are still racing/offroad type headers without the airtube flanges, and I just can't bring myself to alter my car or the headers for this application. If there is anyone out there that isn't concered about the airtube connections and want a really good price on a new set of Kooks s/s longtube headers, I'm sure he will sell them for $350. If anyone is interested, PM me for owners' phone number. Once again, thanks to all for the replies. Mike

 

If Kooks is going to weld in new AIR flanges and O2 sensor bungs for a good price. You are basically getting new headers for a cheap price. When they are made new they are all made without the flanges and bungs. Then they weld the flanges and bungs in to fit various applications. This is being done by the manufacture, its not being jury rigged. IMO I thing you should buy them and send them back to the manufacture. You'll be getting new headers at a bargain price.

 

You're right lj, I think I'm just getting "cold feet" about altering the car from stock. If the car wasn't so clean with relatively low mileage (35,500), then i would go ahead and do it. I know I'll probably regret not pulling the trigger on this deal though.

 

Just couldn't resist. Bought them today. Brand new and look great. Catted X=pipe looks good also. Mike

 

I would have bought them.

 

Yea, I'm glad I did. Just got off the phone with Kooks again, and they said to send them in and they'll fix them up shortly. Nice people there. Mike