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Old 10-25-2005, 06:26 PM
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Default Header decision

Ok i'm curious as to which set of headers are good? I would get LT's of course. Ground clearance would be a slight issue after I lowered the car, which would be about 1.5 lower than stock. I'm looking for ease of installation, also power gains in the process as well. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Old 10-25-2005, 06:38 PM
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Depends on the budget size, for the lower end (cheaper) go with the coated pacesetters, for the high end (expensive) kooks or qtp stainless steel
If you're lowering the car (as you said you were) stay away from the SLP lts, you'll scrape the crap out of them
Old 10-25-2005, 07:01 PM
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Stay away from the SLP's then.

And search!
Old 10-25-2005, 07:09 PM
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Originally Posted by 2K2WS6TA
Depends on the budget size, for the lower end (cheaper) go with the coated pacesetters, for the high end (expensive) kooks or qtp stainless steel
If you're lowering the car (as you said you were) stay away from the SLP lts, you'll scrape the crap out of them
I've heard good things about using pacesetters before. But as far as the SLP's i've heard horrible things with them and being so crappy. And over expensive as well. I'm not really concerned with price either. Just as long as they are the price of the slp's. So anything is pretty much game
Old 10-25-2005, 07:14 PM
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For ease of installation, I would add my $.02. QTPs. Long tube design. Went in easy, no modifications to anything. Only removed the oil filter. Top notch quality. T304 Stainless Steal. Won' t rust. Expensive though... The y-pipe is a pain, and clearance isn' t too good. Right now, at stock ride height, I have only 3.5" if clearance under the driver' s side cat'. Very nice merge collector in the y-pipe though. Not emissions legal because they move the OEM cats'.

MACs are good. Mid-length style. Big primaries. Good ground clearance. Inexpensive. Nice gains ( probably 10-15 RWPH. ) Nice quality. Installation was a PITA. Grinding a few areas should help power a little. Mild steel. Still not emissions legal...

If you have the money, don' t waste time on mid-lengths, since they aren' t " legal " anyhow. Go straight to LTs. I recommend QTPs. Can' t go wrong
Old 10-25-2005, 11:19 PM
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do you guys think LT's are legal in Dallas,Texas, even if I have to move the oem cats back? Iv been trying to have this answer answered but no one can tell me.
Old 10-25-2005, 11:21 PM
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TX? no emissions there
Old 10-25-2005, 11:27 PM
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id say pacesetters.
Old 10-26-2005, 12:59 AM
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Go with the qtp's, otherwise you'll be replacing those pacesetters in a few years because of rust. The installation is easy, if you have the car up high enough, they slide right up! and they have some of the highest scavenging merge collectors available!
Old 10-26-2005, 05:54 AM
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To be honest, I believe the ease of installation and ground clearance of all headers are about the same (except SLP...see above statement). Sure some are a little better that others but what your paying for mostly is the quality. If money is not a problem then its QTP or Kooks all the way. I went with Kooks because they were on sale and I heard bad things about QTP catted Y.
Old 10-26-2005, 09:33 AM
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kook sby far the best, but please read and research first
Old 10-26-2005, 10:48 AM
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well i'm lookin at the kooks right now and they are pretty expensive for them. i was looking on summits page and found some hedman headers for about $450 ( HED-66534). My bro hand them on this old chevelle and never had any problems with them. The pacesetters are $420 ( PSM-72C2255). But none of these include the y-pipe setup. So any suggestions with the hedmans?
Old 10-26-2005, 12:45 PM
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Y-Pipe for my pacesetters was only 129.00 and it's huge, just got them in today.. For the $ I'd say go with the pacesetters
Old 10-26-2005, 01:18 PM
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also what are the differences between using LT's and mid-lengths? I'm looking at the pacesetters right now, and i was just curious. Like what are the performance diferrences, lengths, etc.
Old 10-26-2005, 03:05 PM
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Kooks are the best no ground clearance issues. Mine is the same height as the factory set up.
Old 10-26-2005, 05:28 PM
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Originally Posted by 02SS0384
To be honest, I believe the ease of installation and ground clearance of all headers are about the same (except SLP...see above statement). Sure some are a little better that others but what your paying for mostly is the quality. If money is not a problem then its QTP or Kooks all the way. I went with Kooks because they were on sale and I heard bad things about QTP catted Y.
I have been going back and forth between Kooks and QTP for awhile. I do want cats, so if the QTP catted y sucks then that will sway my decision. What is so bad about their catted y?
Old 10-26-2005, 07:14 PM
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The y-pipe comes in several pieces. BUT, you don' t have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out. I think the QTP y-pipe will flow better because of the Flowmaster merge collector, which ( I don' t believe ) Kooks, has. I would recommend you check to make sure all you slip joints slip together easily. I did not, before installing them, and it made it a PITA. Your clearance is not going to be as good. I have it as high as possible, but have lost like an inch of clearance. There are a couple who can almost stuff a soda can, standing up, under the lowest point, but alas, I can not.

Bottom line, between these two, to me, was the merge collector for the y-pipe, in the QTP kit. Chances are, if you only have bolt-ons, it wouldn' t be worth too much more power, but, if you are like me, and planning for the future, in the long run, will probably be better. If you stay bolt-on, go with which ever one is cheaper, and or the Kooks, because the clearance is better
Old 10-29-2005, 10:51 AM
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Thanks for the info radz.

I eventually plan on doing a cam and heads as well, so would you recommend the QTP over Kooks for the merge collecter?
Old 10-29-2005, 11:58 AM
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I have been looking at either KOOKs and QTP, my concern is ground clearance. the info I have gathered is QTP has merge collector (HV) which can give extra 6/7 more horsepower compared to KOOKs. KOOKs on the ather hand will give you more ground clearance. my ws6 will see more street time then strip so I'm going w/ KOOKs for that reason. good luck on your decision. realy cant go wrong w/ KOOKs or QTP's .


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Old 10-29-2005, 12:03 PM
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Coated Pacesetter's here. Ground clearance is great and my car is lowered.
Seen a nice SOTP power gain as well..Oh yeah the price is unbeatable!!




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