How hard is the install of kooks headers with the off road X pipe to stock cat back? I am thinking of doing it my self. If I am running 12.107 at 118.57 MPH in 83 deg weather with 60% humidity with only a 1320 Performance tune and a Vararam Intake. How much of a gain Should I be looking at?

 

I installed my dynatech headers on ramp stands from wal mart in about 4 hours not a huge problem. If your getting headers youll need a retune or youll be running rich. Should be about 20 horse afterwards though thats about what I got.

 

Just installed some on my 08 A6, PIECE OF CAKE!! I think it took me 4 hours. Doing it up on jack stands. That's including lunch!! I gained 2 tenths with no tune, stock intake. You can do it. Good luck

 

The actual install of the headers is very simple and straight forward... I ran into a problem with the midpipes not fitting into the axelback exhaust... I did it on jackstands in a garage!

 

I have the same exact mods that you have listed with a 160Deg Thermostat. Yesterday I ran at Irwindale and my best 1/8 Mile was 7.41 at 96.77Mph. You can do the conversion to 1/4 mile and figure out what it did. Also the car did 433Hp and 420Tq to the rear wheels at RPM. I did the install in about 5 hours on jack stands.

Karn

 

Yep, from what I've heard the Kooks headers are an easily doable job on these cars. A lift would be nice, but jack stands will work just as well and you can still reach up into the engine bay of the car without having to lower the car back down. This makes it much easier when you start wiggling the headers up into place and bolting the header flange to your heads.

 

does one need to do a tune. i have warrenty concerns

 

Before the tune I really did not feel any change besides the car running like crap. After the tune it just woke up. If you are worried about warranty than don’t even bother with the install since you are not going to get the full benefit from the headers.

Karn

 

If a dealer does not honor your warranty because of a tune, try another dealer. I took mine in for a new clutch at 3,000 miles wirh intake, headers and tune...No issues, they may however put the stock tune back in it.

 

Do you absolutely NEED one? No. The car WILL drive and all without a tune, but it will run run richer than it should and you won't get all of the potential power of the headers.

If you're honestly very concerned about warranty then there aren't many performance mods that you can do to your car. One day dealer may care less that you have headers when you bring your car in for a non-related warranty issue, or another dealer may refuse to replace your door lock button because you have headers on your car. It makes no sense, but I have heard of plenty of dealers refusing to touch ANY warranty repair on a car for having performance parts and whatnot. I've heard of service manager walk right past a heavily modded '04 GTO, take his VIN # down, and add him to the GM warrantly claim system in the "do not repair this car" section, when the owner was there to pick up parts he had ordered.

If you want more power and like the idea of headers, I say throw them on. Theoretically a dealer can only void warranty work on your car if your headers or any other after market part that you installed can be proven to have been the cause of the problem. The most that they're technically allowed to do is void your exhaust warranty. But if you replace your whole exhaust with aftermarket systems anyway then you have nothing to worry about if they void your exhaust warranty because if you have a problem with your exhaust down the road there wouldn't be anything that you could go to your dealership for anyway.

Throw the headers and a cat-back on, and if one dealership refuses to either replace your turn signal lever or even your engine-related component then go to another dealer and try your luck there. Otherwise you'll have to let your car remain stock for several years until that warranty is over. What is the warranty on these vehicles now, 5 years??

 

Also, if you ever get a tune on your car, tell the service reps that you DO NOT want your PCM reflashed unless it absolutely has to be. Otherwise you'll be back to trying to get a tune loaded on your car, and if it was a dyno tune that you paid for and the tuner isn't local then getting the tune back on can be a pain. Just an FYI

 

 

Overall the install was pretty easy, I did it mostly myself in about seven or eight hours or so on Rhino ramps in the front and on stands on the rear. A tune after installing headers and a CAI would definitely improve your engine's efficiency but it is not necesarily required.

JR

 

I will talk to my mechanic and ask if I tune will he look past it and do not touch the tune unless it is necessary. I do take care of him regularly and i do all my cash work there, ie oilchanges at $72 a piece I'm going in next week to see if I can get a new battery, I needed Chev R/S for a jump. Not sure why. Volt was 13.4, but it is now 14.3-4