Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

kooks vs pacesetter headers

Old Feb 1, 2006 | 10:54 PM
  #1  
who281's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
20 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: Katy,Texas...
Default kooks vs pacesetter headers

how much better performance would i get out of a kooks header if any? like how much HP from each application would i get?
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2006 | 11:05 PM
  #2  
lgobraves's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
From: Denver, NC
Default

Most people get Kooks b/c of being stainless....not for more HP gains. If your lookin for gains you might find minimal gains with the QTP HVMC headers.
Reply
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 03:00 PM
  #3  
4mula's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 0
From: cyberspace
Default

all long tubes make about teh same power.
Reply
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 05:08 PM
  #4  
ChaseSS's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,373
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis
Default

if you are asking the question which flow better? Kooks but by a very small margin if any at all. Kooks are stainless and thats why people would buy kooks over pacesetter not because of huge performance gains
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2010 | 12:08 PM
  #5  
lovescamaros28's Avatar
TECH Regular
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
Default

Ok but stainless is not really a benefit over ceramic coated headers. Ceramic coated headers dissipate heat better,and dont discolor as quick as stainless.

Last edited by lovescamaros28; Dec 22, 2010 at 12:45 PM.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2010 | 12:39 PM
  #6  
TXZ28LS1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,163
Likes: 3
From: Classified
Default

if your already running pacesetters, then its really not worth it to swap out a set. You "MIGHT" see a bit more gain going from pacesetter to 1 7/8 Kooks.

I have been running my pacesetters for almost 3-4 years and it still looks great. There is just a slight bit of rust around the collector. But its hardly any at all. I have seen some members selling a set of Kooks and it kinda looks like ****, especially it being stainless.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2010 | 12:40 PM
  #7  
mac62989's Avatar
TECH Junkie
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 32
From: CT
Default

Originally Posted by lovescamaros28
Ok but stainless is not a benefit over ceramic coated headers. Ceramic coated headers dissipate heat better and dont discolor as quick as stainless.
Id rather have my headers slightly discolored than rusted or flaking. You couldnt pay me to run ceramic coated or painted headers. Go stainless or dont waste your money OP.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2010 | 12:44 PM
  #8  
z99ls1's Avatar
Restricted User
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,786
Likes: 0
From: kansas
Default

Go pacesetter. Save money. Ur not waisting your money at all ^^^^^
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-3

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-7

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

 Brett Foote
story-9

10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Dec 22, 2010 | 12:47 PM
  #9  
lovescamaros28's Avatar
TECH Regular
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by mac62989
Id rather have my headers slightly discolored than rusted or flaking. You couldnt pay me to run ceramic coated or painted headers. Go stainless or dont waste your money OP.
Stainless will last longer. Arent Kooks a PITA to install though compared to Pacesetters?
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2010 | 12:54 PM
  #10  
z99ls1's Avatar
Restricted User
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,786
Likes: 0
From: kansas
Default

And I doubt people can tell any difference with a different header. They will all get you about the same gains. I wuld get atleast coated though. I have painted and if I wuld have done it again I probably would have went with the coated pacesetters.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2010 | 02:39 PM
  #11  
mac62989's Avatar
TECH Junkie
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 32
From: CT
Default

Originally Posted by lovescamaros28
Stainless will last longer. Arent Kooks a PITA to install though compared to Pacesetters?
From what Ive read on here Pacesetters and Hookers are hit or miss. Once in a while they go in very easy and other times its a PITA. ARH/Kooks always have good reviews. I dont think their high price has to do with just being SS. I think the R&D and fitment is top notch and it reflects the price. Your paying for quality not just the material used. Performance wise everything is similiar which I ignored in my first post. Im just commenting on quality,fitment, and longevity. Do it right the first time.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2010 | 05:19 PM
  #12  
BOBS99SS's Avatar
Captain Double Post
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 2
From: Elyria Ohio
Default

both have same performance kooks maybe a lil more,but quality wise you can't even compare them,my pacesetters showed rust in the first month,I had the ceramic coated ones also,I will be putting on kooks when I swap heads,
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2010 | 08:09 PM
  #13  
reeperz28's Avatar
TECH Regular
15 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 496
Likes: 0
From: Amarillo Tx
Default

Texas speed headers I have no complaints lil tougher to fit but its all around quality and finish
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2010 | 08:10 AM
  #14  
ls1curt's Avatar
8 Second Club
iTrader: (31)
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 3
From: CT
Default

if you have the money, do it once, do it right. go with a 1 7/8 kooks or arh and you will be happy, esp if you do heads/cam or build a motor in the future
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2010 | 10:07 AM
  #15  
Damian's Avatar
LSX Mechanic
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (89)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,396
Likes: 13
From: Atlanta
Default

Kooks are a major PITFA to install, but the stainless is nice.

Unless you just want stainless headers to make you feel better, Pacesetters are the way to go. Half the price, easier to install, same HP gains.
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2010 | 10:28 AM
  #16  
LS1T56FTW's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 574
Likes: 1
From: Buffalo, NY
Default

Originally Posted by reeperz28
Texas speed headers I have no complaints lil tougher to fit but its all around quality and finish
THIS. TSP headers have the same size primaries/collectors as Kooks or ARH, and cost 1/2 as much. If you plan on going heads/cam, you will want the larger primaries, and TSP offers that on a budget. Do it.
Reply


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:24 PM.

story-0
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-3
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-4
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-5
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-8
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

Slideshow: The 7.0-liter LS7 was designed for absolute cutting-edge performance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-07 18:36:00


VIEW MORE