I am in the market for long tube headers, and I have decided on stainless steel. I am trying to decide between QTP or Kooks. My question is which one would you buy?

I am concerned with:
1. fitment
2. price
3. performace

I am going to go "race style" with a catted Y pipe by either company. I know I can get the QTP for cheaper, and they have the HVMC as well. The Kooks on the other hand are true performers. How did the catted Y pipes fit for each company? Which one tucks up the best without banging?

If you could chime in with your experience it would be greatly appreciated!

-James

 

Fitment and performance are basically the same between the two.

The QTP y-pipe has the nicer merge, but it also hangs lower and can be a total pain in the *** to install.

The Kooks y-pipe doesn't have a nice merge, but it tucks up nice and is a breeze to install.

 

I would say QTP. Power, quality, and fitment all the way.

 

Get the Kooks. The Y-pipe is a piece of art. Great ground clearance and tucks up great. Best fit you can get. I've read some pretty horrid stories on QTPs Y-pipe hanging low, and if you are lowered can cause some major headaches.

 

QTPs......... They are amazing... Great stuff

 

I voted QTP because I think with a little tweaking the Y-pipe fits pretty good. As stated already, they have HVMCs and a merge collector in the Y-pipe. I had to replace my cats' because I killed them and just modified the Y-pipe and loved how it fit.

Basically, I replaced the passengers side cat' straight up. On the drivers side, I cut out the original QTP cat' and placed the new cat' right off the header collector. Then I replaced that section (where the old QTP cat' was) with some 3" tubing and welded a section of a 180 degree bend to it. I ran that bend into the back of a cat' I hung right off the drivers side header collector and placed a Mufflex hanger in that area.

The drivers side cat' sits right below a stamped floor crossmember so I preloaded the Mufflex hanger to keep it from banging. Eventually, I cut out a small piece of the crossmember so I could get about another half inch clearance above the cat'.

I didn't really want to cut up the car but I knew these would be the last headers I'd buy and was looking for a little more clearance. In this arrangement, I get about 4" of ground clearance and the lowest point of the exhaust has moved from the middle of the car to the front, so it makes negotiating driveways and speed bumps a little easier. I still ended up spending less than the amount of Kooks set-up and was able to run full 3" round tubing. It wouldn't be as bad if the primaries and collectors weren't as long as they are but that's what can help with power so...

I think Kooks tuck up a little more still and they have wonderful products. You shouldn't have to futz with hardly anything if you go with Kooks though.

Good luck.

 

Is that big enough?...

 

So would you say that the original QTP Y-pipe is a bad design, and I will have problems with it. The reason I ask, is because I am a noob when it comes to exhaust (I'm learning). If I will have to do that modding you described above, I might as well go with Kooks. I am just tryign to save money and time.....

 

Fitment- KOOKS as stated above and in other threads. Fit like a glove. QTPs y seems to where everyone has the problem, they are aluminized and not stainless like Kooks y pipe, just do a search.... Eveyone has issues with ground clearance with QTP but if you modify it you might have better luck. Kooks is known for fitment.
Winner... KOOKS
Price- Does the extra $300 or so really mean that much. The old phrase time and time again is "you get what you pay for." Each header is Stainless, so thats a plus. However if you were on a budget, which you clearly are not by the these two header choices, I'd get QTP, then you could spend the extra money on something else. But If you browse around, both sets of headers are on sale through different sponsors.
So its a Draw
Performance- Both have equal gains. QTP and others state that they have gained more with HVMC but Kooks has a venturi collector which is almost the same thing (some may say differently)
Winner QTP

There you have it, what I feel is a draw.

See both headers are stainless, expensive, and fit pretty well. Y pipes are where the issuses are with many (stainless vs. aluminized/ catted vs. off road). Gains are basically the same for each, and can you really notice 10hp when your pulling 0-80mph on the highway? Based on looks, QTP for the BLING factor but then you can always coat or polish your Kooks to have the same look. Its all about personal preference. Myself- I was set dead on, 110% about getting QTPs and making my own Y, but the prices just were too much with my exhaust shop to make a stainless y provided I supplied cats and merge, so therefore I chose Kooks. The whole system is stainless. Now it matches up with my stainless Borla cat back and I can now say I have $2000+ exhaust set up that is all stainless steel.


Hope this helps you out a little bit, and Good luck with your choice- you'll need after many days/weeks/even months deciding!

 

I just ordered Kooks yesterday mainly for the fitment and everyone who has them seems to love them.

 

I agree with most of what was just said.

I wouldn't say the design is poor. I will say that it was because of my SLP SFCs that I had clearance problems. I like being able to adjust my exhaust and I don't think Kooks has as many pieces or joints to allow that. Of course if it fits right off the bat then you shouldn't need to adjust it, so...

Kooks is all stainless and that's a plus. I live in California and don't have to worry about salty roads or corrosion so it wasn't a big deal for me but would've preferred a stainless Y-pip.

I can say that I gained 10+ rear wheel horsepower and torque with changing from standard collector QTPs to their HVMCs, with no other changes. This was by the same dyno, the same time of day and it was even 30 degrees hotter on the day of the HVMC test.

If you don't want to fiddle with it, consider Kooks. I do wish I could say I have a 100% stainless exhaust

 

As far as price check out the sponsor section. QTP is having a sale through march and those race style ones are only 635$

 

Anyone have anymore input on this?

 

I voted QTP. I love their products great people to deal with. For the month of March there running a special on their headers. U cannt beat their HVMC and their mirror polished header.

 

Byunspeed is having a sale on the kooks also if you want a good deal.

 

QTP! The quality, Fit and finish is awsome!

 

So you didn't have nay fitment issues with the Y-Pipe? I have heard otherwise....

 

I just got QTP LTs and the TSP catted Y, no problems here... execpt the headers were a bitch and a half

 

toss a coin and decide... they're both killer headers

 

The TSP catted Y works with QTPs?? I thought it only worked with Pacesetters?