Texan79423

I have a 05 Z51 6 speed LS2 street cruiser weekend toy. I had a BTR stage two cam kit installed B&B axle back and now am ready for headers. The cam definitely improved performance and has a sexy lope too.

However to me and my seat of the pants dyno it seem the cam cost me some low end torque below 3500.

I plan to get Kook ceramic coated headers but not sure which size. Currently have a mild tune at 388 RWT and 406 HP on mustang dyno.

I want as much torque down low as I can get. Make me a suggestion please.

irok

you can purchase the OBX catted LTH's for $800. and make the same power as anything out there.they are a quality product.use new GM MLS
exhaust manifold gaskets and with the money you save you will be able to buy a new ported Fast 102 intake manifold

Dcasole

If you are staying NA and its low end torque you are looking for go with 1 7/8 or 1 3/4 tubes . I would stay away from the cheap brands as they use mild steel or cheap stainless, may threads about fit also . Can't go wrong with Kooks or LG. I went with LG and the fit was fantastic ,easy to install , they tucked up in the tunnel nicely and plenty of clearance around the plugs

Dave

xBoostx

Kooks are a great choice cause they go rite in without dropping the cradle or removing the starter like with the ARH as for size 1 7/8 for sure.

Definitely get a 3 inch Kooks X pipe as well even if you keep your 2 1/2 oem axle back it will make a big difference however 3 inch all the way across is best.

Reason you feel like you lost some power down low is exhaust restriction that will go away with the headers and will pick up your top end too.

Ahrmike

after i tried to go american and they left me hanging (waited over 6 weeks with no shipment), I gave up and I picked up a set of OBX. Got it in 3 days!

It was a little ugly on the head flanges but overall a great cost/performance piece. I'd do it again and I am fairly critical of things I put on the car. O2 clearances were fine and I got everything in with no issues. it hangs a little low but not as bad as some of the other headers ive seen pics of.

xBoostx

I bought the ARH and both leaked from all four fixed it myself but installing and removing them is a pita sold them and got kooks these too hang a little low but installation and removal is a piece of cake if you let em go will drop all the way to the floor.
I like to make the car easy to work on.

Ahrmike

Yup, never really heard much bad things about kooks.
If money was no object I'd def go jet-hot coated kooks. with my current situation, i needed to go budget . dont regret it at all though - and normally being penny wise pound foolish makes me .

Texan79423

Thanks men. My tuner recommended Kooks and I can see why now,

jayyyw

What part of Texas? I am selling a set of ARH 1-7/8 with catted x-pipe. No leaks and bolted up just fine. They are ceramic coated already.

zzjakect

I went with LG also. Sound great, fit great. High quality product.

05 Wreck

B&B axle back=B&B LTH 13/4 (If you don't need cats, your H-pipe will bolt right up)

Cherokee Nation

A shop for ARH put my on and they have been leaking for years at the flange but ARH will not replace them...$1800 for ****!!...I was told many times that 1.75 was the size to go for if i did not plan on going boosted...More low in TQ.

Ahrmike

Wow, that sucks. Do you know if its MLS or paper gaskets?

If its not MLS you should redo it yourself. Its not that difficult to remove/replace just the gasket. Start from the middle outwards. finger tight, from middle->out, then 11 ft lbs, then 15 ft lbs.

so that would be a pattern like 3,4,2,5,1,6 (doesnt matter which side you count from.)

You should really fix that leak - the only "tight" seal thats really necessary is the flange since O2s are reading post flange. Everything past the primary O2s dont need to be truly "leak free" - it will sound better and you'll get a bit more power but your car will be running fine.

Cherokee Nation

They used OEM gaskets as recommended they are leaking next to where they are tacked welded on the outed side.I took it to a shop in my town and they wanted $600.00 to removed them and weld 360 degrees around the tube next to the flange.I can not do that work myself anymore.I cannot hear the leaking (All eight) but i can see the black smudge on the pipe.Car runs good,but it might run better if no leaks??...Thanks for the info about the 02s. ..NOTE: One photo below #15

Cherokee Nation

Ahrmike

Ohh. They probably did too much inner porting after they welded the tube. If its a really thin break in the weld the carbon might seal up the holes enough so they arent leaking anymore. Or, if they only leak at WOT it might not matter since the car goes into open loop anyway and ignores the O2s.

That is prtty terrible that ARH won't honor it though. I can understand a defect since i believe the porting is done by hand after its welded, but they should stand by their products.

Cherokee Nation

They say lifetime warranty,but that is BS...I went back and forth with them and the shop and they keep saying that they are making a new set for me and that was two years ago...I gave up and filed a suit against them...Question: Do you mean the primary 02s? because that is the only two that is on my vette the other two was deleted.

Ahrmike

Yup, the primary O2s are the important ones. The 2ndary is only there to check catalytic convertor performance. However, in open loop (WOT), fueling is not affected by O2 readings.

tmryann

Kooks is the best bang for the buck.

Cherokee Nation