Kooks or ARH worth it?
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 242
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Kooks or ARH worth it? I have searched and searched. But. I have never read a post where anyone says how long Pacesetters lasted before they rusted through. Is the extra money for ARH or Kooks worth it? Will they last 10-15 years wheras Pacesetters last 5 years or what? About to take the dive, need some reassurance on paying the extra money for the Kooks or ARH! Thanks for your time!
I would say if you live in a fairly dry climate or only drive it on dry roads go for the pacesetter coated headers. I can only see spending the extra money on stainless if you daily drive it and the car will see wet roads, or you live in a very humid climate, or lastly just for the bling factor.
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 170
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I know this isn't much help, but everyone has told me that if you plan on keeping the car for a long period of time, stay away from Pacesetter. I don't know the "life expectancy" of them, but everyone said go with ARH if you're keeping the car, and you won't have to ever worry about the headers again. Also, I have ARH 1 7/8, and they were extremely easy to install. I didn't remove anything. Just slid the old stuff out and the new headers in...easy as that.
Pacesetters will last plenty long. Mine were daily driven in the extremely wet Pacific Northwest for two years. I've had them on for six years now, and they still look fine. There's minor rusting, but very little. They really are a great bang for the buck and I'd recommend them to anyone.
With that being said.....I'd love to have a set of ARH headers, and I will some day. I've got better things to drop a grand on right now, but I'll have them some day in 1 7/8". If you have the cash, get the stainless and never worry about it again. If money is tight though, don't be afraid of the Pacesetters.
With that being said.....I'd love to have a set of ARH headers, and I will some day. I've got better things to drop a grand on right now, but I'll have them some day in 1 7/8". If you have the cash, get the stainless and never worry about it again. If money is tight though, don't be afraid of the Pacesetters.
I cant say much about the life time because my car is a garage queen and only gets wet when I wash it, but my kook's have been great for the last 5 years and still look very good. Fitment was great and they have held up to the higher EGT's from forced induction no problems.
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I had Pacesetters on my old T/A and I think I had them on there 2 or 2 and a half years and they were rusting pretty good on the bottom and also on the collector and at that time I was only driving that car on the weekends.
Unless the car is a DD (sees inclement weather) or you just HAVE to have stainless for whatever reason, the pacesetters are just fine. I've had my coated pacesetters for 5 years on two different motors and they still look brand spankin new.....and am making 500rwhp n/a with them.
Just do it once and be done with it, that's what it boils down too. But I think Kooks or ARH will tuck better than Pacesetters IMO. That's a reason why you pay a high price and the quality and fitment and possibly better ground clearance. IMO
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,869
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My Jethots rusted in two years. Never drove it in the rain and never in the snow + parked all winter. $650 down the drain.
See pic how the Jethots peeled and flaked:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1835930...7602956888623/
My car is a keeper so I went with ARH.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1835930...7602956888623/
See pic how the Jethots peeled and flaked:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1835930...7602956888623/
My car is a keeper so I went with ARH.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1835930...7602956888623/
I have Kooks now, and they're great headers. The fact that they're stainless is cool, but I don't know how important it is.
My last car had a set of Hooker 1 3/4 coated mild steel headers. I had them on the car for 10 years and sold it to a friend a couple of years ago. They're still on the car and doing great.
My last car had a set of Hooker 1 3/4 coated mild steel headers. I had them on the car for 10 years and sold it to a friend a couple of years ago. They're still on the car and doing great.
The reason why stainless is cool cause it don't rust, so it's a do it right and only do it one time issue instead of doing it like more or other times. The mild steel is pretty good but after a while it may start to rust but it will take it alot longer than other headers like pacesetters and etc. brands that are not stainless steel.
My Mac mids were ceramic coated and stayed looking pretty good but the mids don't come all the way down and below the car. I've never seen a set of coated mild steel long tubes that didn't rust down under the car. I'd only go stainless. Happy with my XS ebay stainless ones.
You can see where the Macs were still starting to rust near the bottom.
You can see where the Macs were still starting to rust near the bottom.
Mild steel can last a long time but it can also go to heck in a hurry. Will the car be driven in the winter and does your town/city use salt on the roads? If so then you need to be pro-active in cleaning them and the underside of your car all the time or the steel will rust fast.
It's all about the budget and how long you plan to keep the car. SS headers do hold a better re-sale value though as well. Then you also need to look at fitment and installation. ARH and Kooks install and fit very well. Cant say for Pacesetters, havent installed any. I've got stainless on my 99 SS and mild steel on my 79 Z28.
It's all about the budget and how long you plan to keep the car. SS headers do hold a better re-sale value though as well. Then you also need to look at fitment and installation. ARH and Kooks install and fit very well. Cant say for Pacesetters, havent installed any. I've got stainless on my 99 SS and mild steel on my 79 Z28.