What headers are the best fitting?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 2
From: Seneca SC
What headers are the best fitting?
What headers FIT the best? I had ARHs on my 2006 car, and while they were very nice and produced a lot of power, they didn't fit all that well, part of the frame rail on the passenger side had to be "massaged" in order for them to fit.
I was not entirely happy with having to "massage" my $50000 car in order for my $1800 headers to fit. I emailed them, and they said that that was a common practice and was necessary because A) all cars are different, and B) the trans lines on A6 cars make it a tight fit in the passenger collector area.
What headers fit the best? You A6 guys, what headers are you using, were there ANY fitment issues at all?
Thanks, Shawn
I was not entirely happy with having to "massage" my $50000 car in order for my $1800 headers to fit. I emailed them, and they said that that was a common practice and was necessary because A) all cars are different, and B) the trans lines on A6 cars make it a tight fit in the passenger collector area.
What headers fit the best? You A6 guys, what headers are you using, were there ANY fitment issues at all?
Thanks, Shawn
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh,Bradenton PA,FL
Just installed Kooks (6600EX) with the cats (6115CC) that mate to Corsa Sports on my A6. The entire job for the headers and exhaust install took 5 hours. Fit was perfect!! I highly recommend this set up for an A6 car.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
From: Dayton Ohio
Kooks seem to have a rep for easy/ no-mod fitment, but my actually had some interference on the driver side lower suspension cradle. MZ6 tranny, though. Also, I went w/ 1-7/8" primaries, which didn't help the clearance any.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
I have used a Crescent wrench to make a slight bend in the sheet metal, takes about 20 seconds, it's only about 1/2" overhang 2 inches long that is affected(with this simple procedure the sheet metal could be straightened easily in the future)
I offer all the major brands for sale, but more often than not the AR's are the people's choice
you won't find another system made entirely of T304 Stainless Steel with this much 'attention to detail' as the AR system
I offer all the major brands for sale, but more often than not the AR's are the people's choice
you won't find another system made entirely of T304 Stainless Steel with this much 'attention to detail' as the AR system
Last edited by SteveDoten; Jun 20, 2007 at 09:42 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,516
Likes: 2
From: Virginia Bch VA
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
3 diferent shops recommended Kooks. They stated:
Easier Install
Better fitting
Superior quality
same or better RHWP
I was previously sold on LGs
Easier Install
Better fitting
Superior quality
same or better RHWP
I was previously sold on LGs
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
i have the corsa sports also, and i was wondering just how loud it was with the kooks?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Casper WY
LG's went on great. The installed also stated that he liked the clamps they came with that allowed for easier removal upon future upgrades. Fit was perfect. No clearance issues and install time was only about 3 hours with a Elite Engineering Thermal Abs Tunnel Plate.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,430
Likes: 81
From: Whidbey Island WA
No getting around the fact that its a tighter fit with the 1 7/8 tubes. While ARH says that it MAY interfere up forward of the merge on the passenger side and MIGHT require trimming I don't recall reading a post from someone with the 1 7/8 tubes that did not need trimming. Not saying it hasn't happened but I would go in planning on either bending the sheet metal there or trimming it. I trimmed and painted. This does not reduce the strength of the joint where the sheet metal comes together and is invisible once done so I didn't have a problem with doing it.
As an aside I have seen in person the Kooks, ARH, and LGs and they were all well made. I have also read about people having trouble with fitment on all of them. Someone will claim better numbers with each and they all have their fanboys but in aggregate they produce about the same. I would shop on price and deal with any install issues when or if they occur.
As an aside I have seen in person the Kooks, ARH, and LGs and they were all well made. I have also read about people having trouble with fitment on all of them. Someone will claim better numbers with each and they all have their fanboys but in aggregate they produce about the same. I would shop on price and deal with any install issues when or if they occur.