Thought I'd make a thread on the install as there's not much info on this. There is a couple posts I found that gave me confidence to go with the 2" instead of the 1 7/8".

All in all the install went very well & the headers are top notch quality everywhere. First off, this is a very important point, I have Spohn solid motor mounts on the car. These motor mounts give you a ton more room, than the factory mount blocks in there, and also lift the motor a tad from where it sits with the factory mounts. If you still have the factory mounts in there you might have to start cutting stuff.

The only thing that had to be removed, for the driver side, was the steering shaft. This is pretty normal on header install. Although my 1 3/4 headers basically fell out of the car lol. Besides removing the plugs & coil packs, normal, that was it. No removing drain plug, oil filter, etc. Now you do have to work a bit on the driver side header but it will fit. Passenger side slid right in.

Couple little details. Pretty much known that the rear plug, on passenger side, is easily accessed from under the car. Not anymore with these headers. Have to get it from the top now. Fitment. The headers, after tight on the heads, look to be a little lower than the other headers. Not too low or anything, looks good. On the passenger side the header has probably about a 1/2 inch from the k-member but is pretty darn close to the transmission. As stated no more plug access from down there. The driver side is probably .002" from the k-member. With the solid motor mounts all good.

I'm very happy with the install & how it all turned out. Plug access still great w/ the bigger headers. I have ultra high temp wires which you would probably want. I guess the last part will be to get my TSP true dual exhaust back on. I'll update when I get it all back on.

 

Any plans to get a different k member?

 

Nah, not right now anyway.

 

TSP rumbler TD exhaust fit perfectly with the Kooks 2" headers. Like a glove.

One thread I saw, about TSP TD fitting Kooks headers, said needed pipe expander? Everything fit great. Just needed a little lube lol.

 

They're probably talking about the 3.5" collectors. I'm assuming you only have the 3" collectors?

 

I don't think so. The thread was an apology to Kooks or something. He probably tried install, got mad, & stated things. Then got it to fit,with some love, & was happy. I would hope people would know 3" pipe won't fit a 3.5" collector. Lol.

Yes the 3". I believe you have 2" headers also? What size collector do you have & what's setup after that?

 

Yeah I have full 2" with the 3.5" coll from. It has the Kooks stainless 3.5" inlet to 4" outlet y pipe. Then a 4" dynomax dumped bullet.

 

Are you happy with the 4" I pipe or do you ever think about jumping to an X pipe?

 

Do you guys with 2" headers have enough torque to cruise around?

 

Nice. That's awesome. I like the 4" single setup. Lots more room under car.

 

I seriously doubt it. If anything I'll end up with some 3.5" mufflers right off the collectors. But so far this exhaust has been good enough for 122mph in the 1/8th at over 3600lb. I think it's doing alright lol.

And seems to have PLENTY of torque.

 

He has cathedral ports. All good!
That's why I was asking. not that I'm going to ditch the X pipe anytime soon, but for a potential future, slightly less max effort build....
LOL cool!

 

I never assumed anything. Yeah, seems they flow good & use less space. Win/win.

 

X pipe > y pipe

 

Sure. But there's no denying the 4" single dumped is extremely compact, easy to work around, and light weight. I wouldn't mind trying a custom x pipe setup with 3.5" mandrel bends to a tight X that can fit through a tunnel mounted torque arm then dumped bullets right past that.

 

Been looking at set of 2" also. Was torn between the Kooks and ARH headers. Good info here. I'm running oem motor mounts and oem k member so it sounds like that will cost me some space. Does the tsp rumbler work with a body mounted torque arm?

 

No it won't.

 

Nice.

ARH headers are also pieces of art. Main reason I went with Kooks is the ARH will not fit the TSP rumbler TDs.

I knew the motor mounts were helping as the header was touching them during install. I thought if the stockers were in there this would not be as good. Just a guess would be trimming k-member, maybe cutting that square off the rear of block, etc. The Spohn mounts are great.

I thought I heard some people getting it to fit. I found this thread. Good luck man.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...orque-arm.html

 

I called ARH a while back and they say are designed to fit with oem kmember. Sounds promising but every car is different. I want to do some kind of 3" y or x dual or a 4" short exhaust I think. Would really like a single over the axle with a flange to take off when going to the track.

 

This is just my experience, but I gotta share it. I've had a set of Kooks 1-7/8 stepped to 2" with a 3.5" collectors. That was with stock motor mounts and stock k member. The only thing I did was grind on the factory k member some on the passenger side where it was barely touching. Fit and finish was excellent with this setup. I even had my Texas speed true duals working with them with a set of reducers and some light trimming.

Then I had a set of ARH 1-7/8" headers. These fit like garbage coming from the kooks. I mean they fit fine, but was all over everything. This was with stock k member and stock motor mounts as well. To pull the starter you HAD to unbolt the header and exhaust to get it loose enough to get the starter out. Pretty sure I had to remove the oil filter as well. I'll never purposely buy another set again personally. Unless it's stupid cheap.

Now I'm on my second set of Kooks. Which are the straight 2" with 3.5" collectors. This go round' I'm running a BMR k member and prothane motor mounts. Just as with the first set of Kooks, fit and finish is great. Especially with the k member. I just pulled my engine the other day. When I got to the headers, I had the car all the way down on the lift to unbolt the header bolts. As I raised the car up bothe headers literally fell out lol. Still had the starter and even the steering shaft in the car.

Kooks>ARH all day errday