I've got to say that this was such a pain in the rear but they're in and they sound great! I went with Kooks 1-3/4" emissions-style headers with a 3" to 2-1/2" catless X pipe, figured the 1-3/4" would be the way to go being that the only other modification I've done is the Vararam.

I had read up on the installation and prepared for the worst, I went ahead and pulled the alternator, coil packs, valve cover, and unbolted the driver's side motor mount and thought that once I jacked up the engine the driver's side header would go in, WRONG!!!!! Well turns out that as I had raised the engine the intake manifold would eventually contact the firewall/wiper tray area, limiting how much I needed to raise the engine. So off comes the intake manifold, oh wait, the fuel rail is over that so you've got to take that off too!

After that, all was smooth sailing. Everything bolted up just fine, nothing rubs on the body and I am very happy with the product. Only thing left to do is to head to an exhaust shop and have them line up the tips, they've got a lift and I don't, I'm done with crawling under my car for a while!

One thing I'd like to point out is that when I first tried to rotate the engine by raising from below with one engine mount secured, I had removed the nut that is visible through the engine bay on the driver's side. Remove the nut from the bottom of the car! Looks like going this route gives you a bit more room and that did the trick. Not sure why it gave me more clearance but hey that worked for me!

I can't say I've needed a beer more than when I had finished putting these headers in but hearing these headers over 3k is awesome! Let me know if you have any questions, thanks.

 

Condratulations! You have accomplished installing Kooks, is comparable to climbing Mt Everest with one hand tied behind!

I've heard way too many horror stories with their installs. There is no way that I'd ever try to install their 1-3/4" or 1-7/8" tubes.
Now ...time to set back & enjoy the sweet music & extra torque &
HP.
Nice job.

 

Come out to Baytown on Friday and run it.

 

You have more Gumption than I do, all that work for 1 3/4 headers.. Kooks were a breeze to install on an FBody but after all the stories of Kooks on a C5, I went with ARH's. but Congrats to you!

 

They were a tight squeeze even with the cylinder heads off my car LOL.

 

WOW what a bunch of wiss's here.
You really don't have to pull the intake, just get the engine jacked uo one side at a time and then pry it toward the opposite side then jiggle the header and it will litterly fall in.

Anyway congrats on getting them in, your gonna love them...

 

Glad i went w/ LG pros , Plugs, wires, coil packs, and ground strap. was pretty easy although i do have a hoist
Enjoy your headers best mod. for a vette IMO
Steve

 

I had to jack my engine up so the actual BLOCK was hitting the cowl (no intake/heads on the car) Mine were 1 7/8". I also had to grind an inch off the lip of the frame where the passenger side header runs. It was knocking pretty good. Not saying it was a hard install, especially with the heads off, but I can't see how you would get the 1 7/8" in without at least pulling the intake. It's good insurance anyway to pull the intake since it is so easy.

 

Love my Kooks on my 02. Glad I didn't have to install them. Thanks previous owner!

 

sounds like it is miller time!

my Z06 came with kooks installed.

much easier that way. ;-)

you will love the additional power and sound.

 

The sound is addicting, I'm finding any reason to get to listen to them! Funny thing is that there haven't been any codes thrown yet as I had been expecting.