05 header sugestion option help
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: tewksbury ma
05 header sugestion option help
I have an 05 ls2 and I bought the nnp mufflers used and looking for input on witch long tube headers and catted x pipe to buy. I like the kooks. does anybody know the fit or finish quality. or what and why did you buy some other type, thanks
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Norman OK
I have Kooks and am quite happy with them. Maryland Speed seems to have the best prices on them. Call them as the prices can vary daily. The c6 install is very easy. It takes longer to get the car in the air than to swap headers. Price wise Kooks are somewhere in the middle. Not cheap but certainly not the most expensive option. I bought my X used so that helped too.
Be careful - different manufacturers use different quality stainless. My kooks still look great after a year of all weather driving and are uncoated. I have installed some others that looked like crap after a couple of heat cylces. Not all stainless is equal. Mine have a nice purple color to them and are still shiny. Many others look spotty like uncoated mild steel after some heat.
The kooks x pipe is not one piece. You end up with eight total places for your exhaust to leak. (heads, collectors, mid x pipe, x pipe to mufflers)
On my fbodies I always bought the cheapest option. Have had pacesetter and hookers on many vehicles.
Be careful - different manufacturers use different quality stainless. My kooks still look great after a year of all weather driving and are uncoated. I have installed some others that looked like crap after a couple of heat cylces. Not all stainless is equal. Mine have a nice purple color to them and are still shiny. Many others look spotty like uncoated mild steel after some heat.
The kooks x pipe is not one piece. You end up with eight total places for your exhaust to leak. (heads, collectors, mid x pipe, x pipe to mufflers)
On my fbodies I always bought the cheapest option. Have had pacesetter and hookers on many vehicles.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 26
From: Austin Texas
Everybody that moves the second O2 sensors from the stock location will get a check engine light. Moving the sensor downstream keeps it from getting enough heat and triggers the CEL. The CEL can be tuned out.
Tolero Apto Victum
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 9,669
Likes: 37
From: Woodlands TX
OP: I have Kooks 1 7/8, but would like to try Pfadt 1 3/4 headers. Here are some thread for you: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...s-1-7-8-a.html & http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...s-1-7-8-a.html From what I have read the 1 3/4 headers may be better for low end HP/TQ. Also take a look at the FAST 102 - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...st-intake.html Good Luck with your mods! 
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 252
Likes: 3
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '12
I have Kooks on my 93 T/A, they're really nice, plug access is good and they fit awesome, which on that car is saying is saying a lot. So I am happy with a Kooks products on that application. On my C6 I have Stainless works, I had to have one of the primaries rewelded due to leaks. If I had to do it again I would have bought Kooks or ARHs. I have a catted X and still had to have it tuned, was getting a CEL for one of the rear O2s.
Last edited by Neil350; Oct 24, 2013 at 04:49 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,375
Likes: 97
From: Somewhere in the Mid 9's TX
OBX. Fit and finish actually beat a set of kooks side by side. Beat the heck out of them when we had them next to each other, and at 12psi in a little blower in full street trim at 12psi, my car trapped 149-150mph.
All about American, but when it's shipped to your door at 1/2 to 1/3 the price and fits better, then the aftermarket has to change for me. I decided to switch when I bought a few sets of Kooks headers for my mustangs, only to see they doubled the price for Vette owners.
There will always be the bench warmers that claim a certain header is the best, and always a forum vendor pushing a header they endorse for business purposes with their elaborate builds to prove their claims. I know better.
All about American, but when it's shipped to your door at 1/2 to 1/3 the price and fits better, then the aftermarket has to change for me. I decided to switch when I bought a few sets of Kooks headers for my mustangs, only to see they doubled the price for Vette owners.
There will always be the bench warmers that claim a certain header is the best, and always a forum vendor pushing a header they endorse for business purposes with their elaborate builds to prove their claims. I know better.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 508
From: Oshawa, Ontario
Obx
I run the OBX catted stainless LT's.the fit and finish is great with beautiful welds.I believe they were advertized as 1 7/8 but not actually that large.you will need to get 02 extension harnesses for the rear 02 sensors that are available from "www.autowiringsolutions.com" or others on forum or ebay that are reasonably priced.with the money I saved buying the OBX I was able to purchase a new ported Fast 102 and make twice the hp gain over just headers alone.my a4 car picked up 65 rwhp with OBX and ported Fast.great bang for the buck.OBX were available in 1 3/4 and 1 7/8 when I purchased 2 years ago.dont know if that has changed since then.
Last edited by irok; Oct 24, 2013 at 12:19 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,375
Likes: 97
From: Somewhere in the Mid 9's TX
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Norman OK
Pretty much everyone will vote for what they have. There aren't many bad options. The only ones I have installed that I hated were JBA. The quality of the metal was very poor and looked like crap after a few miles. Fit was not great either.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 26
From: Austin Texas
1 7/8" works fine on an LS2. You'll have higher HP and higher TQ a couple of hundred RPM higher on the tach than the 1 3/4".