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Old Mar 31, 2016 | 10:02 AM
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Default Kooks headers?

I am thinking on down the road putting kooks long tube headers, and replace the factory H pipe with the kooks X pipe, I have a Corsa Extreme 3.5" tips axle back, what size headers and kooks x pipe would be best? How loud will it be? And how much possible gains will I get in HP? Thanks
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Old Mar 31, 2016 | 10:04 AM
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I run the 1 7/8" headers with 3" collector and 3" X pipe but I use the stock mufflers. It is noticeable but not terribly loud. I can't give you any HP estimates as I did a bunch of stuff at the same time but I would guess 20-30 WHP once you get tuned.
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Old Mar 31, 2016 | 10:16 AM
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Pretty open question. Does your car have twin turbos? Supercharged? I have a feeling it's basically stock... but it'd help to know.
If naturally aspirated, 1 3/4" headers are good.
It'll be louder, but not drastically. It'll sound much better and with a mail order tune get you 30 or so HP. Would you be keeping cats? That'll keep it tame.
Mufflers make the biggest difference in the loudness game. Adding headers will raise the volume a bit.
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Old Mar 31, 2016 | 10:42 AM
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Originally Posted by grantv
Pretty open question. Does your car have twin turbos? Supercharged? I have a feeling it's basically stock... but it'd help to know.
If naturally aspirated, 1 3/4" headers are good.
It'll be louder, but not drastically. It'll sound much better and with a mail order tune get you 30 or so HP. Would you be keeping cats? That'll keep it tame.
Mufflers make the biggest difference in the loudness game. Adding headers will raise the volume a bit.


Staying N/A I would stick with 1 3/4 if you do FI I would do the 1 7/8
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Old Mar 31, 2016 | 01:03 PM
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Originally Posted by grantv
Pretty open question. Does your car have twin turbos? Supercharged? I have a feeling it's basically stock... but it'd help to know.
If naturally aspirated, 1 3/4" headers are good.
It'll be louder, but not drastically. It'll sound much better and with a mail order tune get you 30 or so HP. Would you be keeping cats? That'll keep it tame.
Mufflers make the biggest difference in the loudness game. Adding headers will raise the volume a bit.
My car is pretty much stock the Corsa axel back's is the only mod I have done. So is it worth putting headers on it? Or I definitely have to get the tune to get my money worth out of the headers?
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Old Mar 31, 2016 | 01:04 PM
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Originally Posted by zdeckich


Staying N/A I would stick with 1 3/4 if you do FI I would do the 1 7/8
What is FI?
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Old Mar 31, 2016 | 01:26 PM
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Forced Induction. Supercharger or turbo. A tune will give you the most benefit but may not be 100% necessary. I've heard that work both ways.
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Old Mar 31, 2016 | 04:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Silverwolf_pup
My car is pretty much stock the Corsa axel back's is the only mod I have done. So is it worth putting headers on it? Or I definitely have to get the tune to get my money worth out of the headers?
Partly depending on if you do the installation. Price it out, including a mail order tune (don't forget you have to pull and mail your computer away, so you'll be without for a couple weeks), then you have to decide if 30 or so HP, better sound, etc. is worth it to you.
I've always been happy with headers.
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Old Apr 1, 2016 | 04:33 AM
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Originally Posted by grantv
Partly depending on if you do the installation. Price it out, including a mail order tune (don't forget you have to pull and mail your computer away, so you'll be without for a couple weeks), then you have to decide if 30 or so HP, better sound, etc. is worth it to you.
I've always been happy with headers.
30 horses is quite an improvement. For headers and x pipe will be $1500 and I don't have the tools or experience to put these on. Where is the computer at in a C5
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Old Apr 1, 2016 | 09:20 AM
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Agreeing with everyone else as I worked for Kook's for a short time before deciding to go back to college. If you're staying Naturally Aspirated stick with a 1 3/4" unless you have a stroked out LS3 with a huge cam making gobs of power or you're boosted, then go with 1 7/8" or 2" for huge power applications. East Coast Supercharging in NJ has a very fast turn around on the computer tuning. I've read that your car is only without the ECU for 2 days (it's a super fast turn around)

Good luck! Do a before/after dyno and let us know how it turned out!
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Old Apr 1, 2016 | 07:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Silverwolf_pup
Where is the computer at in a C5
Behind the front pass. side wheel well, theres a acess panel
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Old Apr 1, 2016 | 07:17 PM
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think about how far you want to go as far as power before you make your decision because when buying a high quality set it isn't cheap to switch to a larger size primary later on down the road... I agree with the above, if you plan to stay stock cube n/a 1 3/4's are fine and if you want to boost it or do a large cube n/a motor then do 1 7/8's or even 2" depending on how much you are after
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Old Apr 2, 2016 | 10:18 AM
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Originally Posted by neutron82
think about how far you want to go as far as power before you make your decision
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Old Apr 2, 2016 | 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by Silverwolf_pup
I am thinking on down the road putting kooks long tube headers, and replace the factory H pipe with the kooks X pipe, I have a Corsa Extreme 3.5" tips axle back, what size headers and kooks x pipe would be best? How loud will it be? And how much possible gains will I get in HP? Thanks
Check out the Hinson headers and X pipe too. Made in the USA and priced right.

To get the most out of the install, you should get a tune as well. For minor mods like this, a mail order tune from Doug@ECS would be a good option.

Remove the PCM, mail it to ECS, they mail it back all ready to go based on your mods.

Good luck with your project.
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Old Apr 2, 2016 | 10:54 AM
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i'm not a fan of mail order tuning, i'd rather spend a couple hundred more and get the car dyno tuned

yeah the mail order works but your not going to get as much HP probably as it being custom tuned and since you looking to add power with headers why leave HP out to save what $200? local shops here are $350 for a basic bolton tunes
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Old Apr 2, 2016 | 11:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Stroker87
i'm not a fan of mail order tuning, i'd rather spend a couple hundred more and get the car dyno tuned

yeah the mail order works but your not going to get as much HP probably as it being custom tuned and since you looking to add power with headers why leave HP out to save what $200? local shops here are $350 for a basic bolton tunes
neither am I, I have personally seen people destroy their cars with mail tunes... not with any vendors on this forum but that isn't the point... even the best tuners might miss something simple that they would have caught if the car was right in front of them... not to mention all the downtime and hassle of removing and reinstalling the pcm... that might be ok for cars that sit in a garage for half of the year
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Old Apr 3, 2016 | 05:01 AM
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Thanks everyone, sad to say I am broke right now and can't afford any mods, I just put a Corsa exhaust on my car and that costed some pretty pennies, hopefully when taxes swing back around then I might be able to get headers and a good tune.
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