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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 04:22 PM
  #21  
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I had Kooks long tubes on my last car and the build quality was exceptional. Since the stock has headers, not sure how much if anything these will bring. It will be interesting to see what or if they do anything about heat shields. Stockers won't work, so I guess we'll see if Kooks offers any. There were lots of items really close to my long tubes and I never had any heat related damage, not sure if the stock shields are lawyer driven or component damage driven?
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 04:26 PM
  #22  
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According to Burns Stainless, the Kooks 4-1 collectors are not merge collectors.
Merge collectors take 4 bent tubes and them weld them together (https://burnsstainless.com/collectio...=8774780715099)
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Phil1098
I had Kooks long tubes on my last car and the build quality was exceptional. Since the stock has headers, not sure how much if anything these will bring. It will be interesting to see what or if they do anything about heat shields. Stockers won't work, so I guess we'll see if Kooks offers any. There were lots of items really close to my long tubes and I never had any heat related damage, not sure if the stock shields are lawyer driven or component damage driven?
They'd look awesome with some chrome jet hot under the rear glass. Especially if you don't get the engine dress up kit with the carbon panels that hide it all.
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 05:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Tool Hoarder
They'd look awesome with some chrome jet hot under the rear glass. Especially if you don't get the engine dress up kit with the carbon panels that hide it all.

I agree on that! But I am afraid that the looks will be the upgrade and not the performance. The factory header is a big step up from the standard exhaust manifolds of previous engines. You might see a better number on the dyne but likely would never notice it driving the car.
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 05:07 PM
  #25  
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We don't need more shorty headers, we need the rest of the exhaust upgraded from that point forward (or should I say 'rearward').

Last edited by bad mooofooo; Nov 7, 2019 at 05:08 PM.
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 05:09 PM
  #26  
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Since Jet-Hot reduces temps by 65%, maybe they would be fine with no heat shields????
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 05:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Phil1098
Since Jet-Hot reduces temps by 65%, maybe they would be fine with no heat shields????
I think if GM could have gotten away with just coating them, they would have. I believe they're already coated with a black ceramic of some kind.
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 05:52 PM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by Tool Hoarder
I think if GM could have gotten away with just coating them, they would have. I believe they're already coated with a black ceramic of some kind.
From what I've seen, I don't think that's correct. If you look at the actual headers (not the show display ones like on here without shield mounts) they are just brownish stainless steel. I know the stainless on my Ducati exhaust turned that brownish bronze color after a few heat cycles.
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 06:05 PM
  #29  
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Several times mentioned about tune after install but one cannot get into ecm.
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 06:30 PM
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What’s interesting is. Where did they get a c8 to fabricate them.
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 07:13 PM
  #31  
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Kooks--great name in exhaust systems. I used to race "Papa Kook" on the streets of Long Island growing up..... It's great to see his name, and his company endures.

As for headers, in general. I'm not a golfer, and ergo do not have a set of clubs and a bag. Therefore, don't need that rear trunk either......

but.....

I AM a "twin turbocharger guy", and can see making good use of those Kooks headers and some ceramic-bearing blowers. I'm thinking I'll wait until the warranty runs out on my C8 though..... In the meantime, I have another "street" mid-engine SBC car with twin turbos to tinker with..... All told, that will also give some folks time to break that dreaded C8 software code....!


Last edited by CanAm Ken; Nov 7, 2019 at 07:17 PM.
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 07:27 PM
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Anyone else just love all the stuffy corvette anti-mod purists on this forum?
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 07:53 PM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by WoozyWagtail
Anyone else just love all the stuffy corvette anti-mod purists on this forum?
Are you talking about this thread or in general? I think most on this thread are just not sure of the value in replacing a tube header with a tube header. Doesn't seem like much of an improvement on the surface.
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 08:06 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by WoozyWagtail
Anyone else just love all the stuffy corvette anti-mod purists on this forum?
Not anti-mod, but the days of bolt-ons and a tune are over for most now that GM voids powertrain warranty for a tune.

Originally Posted by Phil1098
Are you talking about this thread or in general? I think most on this thread are just not sure of the value in replacing a tube header with a tube header. Doesn't seem like much of an improvement on the surface.
Exactly.

Last edited by RapidC84B; Nov 7, 2019 at 08:22 PM.
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 08:20 PM
  #35  
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I don't think there's much low hanging HP fruit waiting to be harvested with traditional bolt-ons on this car. That said, I hope I'm wrong.
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 08:44 PM
  #36  
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While I doubt "long tube" headers will ever be a thing for this car, I do expect that some nutball will run straight headers out of the top of the engine bay.

For me I will wait for some hydroformed titanium headers from someone like Akrapovic, or maybe just some nice Inconel. Of course a good ceramic coat inside and outside (for safety's sake) will help keep temps down. I am with the people thinking that headers will likely offer little power benefit over stock, but the cat back systems will offer a bit more in the way of flow which would offer some gains to be had with a full exhaust and a free flowing intake.
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Old Nov 8, 2019 | 12:30 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by WoozyWagtail
Anyone else just love all the stuffy corvette anti-mod purists on this forum?

I am more anti stock! There is usually always room for improvement!
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Old Nov 8, 2019 | 04:02 PM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by 1-2-b-67L89
Several times mentioned about tune after install but one cannot get into ecm.
Exactly. Will be interesting to see when people seem to realize the realities of combining the same ZR1 ECM (thousands of bucks just to unlock before even tuning) combined with lots more sensors connected to C8 ECM, constant monitoring and changing of codes, OTA changes sent out from GM, Mil Spec security provisions as part of totally new CAN B electronic backbone... One of my senor Microsoft Engineers has a close friend who worked for GM helping to develop this system, and he shared these general design parameters with my Engineer.

Yep, gonna be interesting...

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Old Nov 8, 2019 | 09:34 PM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by MitchAlsup
According to Burns Stainless, the Kooks 4-1 collectors are not merge collectors.
Merge collectors take 4 bent tubes and them weld them together (https://burnsstainless.com/collectio...=8774780715099)
Yes, a true merge collector also has a merge cone spike in place as the individual runners merge into the collector and this is why I had a set of ARH for my ZL1 but I also looked at LG. I had my headers ceramic coated black by Calico coatings in NC for under hood heat mitigation and they turned out perfect.

https://www.calicocoatings.com/coati...ramic-coating/




Last edited by rlhmarines; Nov 8, 2019 at 09:36 PM.
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Old Nov 9, 2019 | 06:54 AM
  #40  
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When i built my side exhaust for my Cobra I fabricated/installed merge collectors.

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