Kooks / Pace Setter / QTP / Flowtech ?
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Teching In
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 39
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From: ST.LOUIS MISSOURI
Kooks / Pace Setter / QTP / Flowtech ? What is the best performing Header!? Flowtech is the cheapest, then Pace Setter,QTP and then Kooks. The big shops use Kooks like Berger Chevrolet on there 600 HP SS's, Lingenfelter on there Camaro's and Vettes. Any one using the Kooks and the Kooks X pipe with what cat back. Big Q is what is the best HP and TQ #'s out of the 4. I will be using AFR heads not sure what cam but around 228/230. Goal is 400+ RWHP and 400+RWTQ on a 2001 SS LS1 6 speed. I like the Kooks. Info greatly appreciated Thanks!
Kooks/QTP/ARH are all considered the best and power is near same for all headers, you'll get maybe 10HP more out of a "better" header some people just spend more for stainless.
But all long tubes are a good gain.
But all long tubes are a good gain.
This is a link to the tread I posted few day ago with few pics from my ARH, I gained good power on stock internals!!!, wont hirt to look into some bad *** ARH set up
good luck https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-external-engine/818169-american-racing-lt-s-just-arrived.html
good luck https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-external-engine/818169-american-racing-lt-s-just-arrived.html
IMO QTP's are the best mixture of quality and price, about half the price of ARH, and still a good bit cheaper than kook's, still with 304 ss construction and a strong merge design.
Another option to consider are XS, i love mine and a great deal for 321 stainless construction
Another option to consider are XS, i love mine and a great deal for 321 stainless construction
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all LT's dyno within a couple HP of eachother... with the 'premium' brands, you are moreso paying for fitment, quality of materials, and less chance of leaks, etc. plenty of people buy the inexpensive ones and have great luck with them. like with anything else, you gamble more when you go cheap. all comes down to how big/flexible your wallet is.
that being said, 20k on my kooks so far, and no issues.
that being said, 20k on my kooks so far, and no issues.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
Likes: 236
From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
There's no gamble with Pacesetters. They have more consistent good fitment and quality than some of the big buck brands. They also consistently develop rust on the bottom side. People who know what to expect of them and are going for maximum "bang for the buck" are rarely disappointed with them.
I ran Flowtechs with there y-pipe on my old car and I have to say I was very surprised with the fitment and ease of installation. The coating also held up well through two Ky winters daily driving it. I also bought a set of the thick metal Flowtech header flange gaskets and had no leak issues what's so ever. Car was a 98 M6 with lid, bellows, Flowtechs, ORY, Hooker, and with 113k on the clock it put 326hp 345tq down tuned on a dyno jet.
I just recently installed a set of Kooks race headers on my vert, but I don't have any numbers yet.
I just recently installed a set of Kooks race headers on my vert, but I don't have any numbers yet.
After doing research for the past year on here and LS1.com, I will confidently be going with ARH. My next choice would be kooks, and maybe QTP after that. The QTP's are a bit cheaper but I have read a few things about the collectors leaking, and fitment issues with the #2 spark plug. My opion, if your looking for quality, just do it right the first time.
Do it once and do it right, go with ARH 
Think of what your long term goals are for the car and what you REALLY want from it and what you'll be happy with. Mod wisely knowing that you made the right choices and picked the right parts. If you're going with AFR heads, why skimp out on headers?
I've been in the LS1 game for a while now and learned quite a bit over the years. The biggest thing I learned was that cutting corners definetly did NOT pay off in the long run. It took me a few years and pretty much starting all over to finally get it through my thick (and poor) head that from then on if I was going to do it, that I would do it once and do it right the first time. Even if it meant holding out and saving for a little while longer.
I used to have a set of Jet-Hot coated Kook's headers on my pervious '99 TA...honestly, they looked pretty crappy after only 1 1/2 years of having them and the car was NOT a daily driver at the time. The coating had chipped away and peeled down near the collectors and the headers themselves started to rust badly.
I learned quite a damn bit after having that car for over 5 years...
With all of that being said, my current '02 WS6 has stainless American Racing Headers and I wouldn't think of running anything else. They fit a TON better than what I previously had and really cannot be beat.
No burning O2 & Cam position sensor wires on my car!
Give Nick @ ARH a call and I'm sure you'll be happy...from their customer service to their product, they are simply the best.
If you search my username you'll easily find various threads with info, pics and videos of my American Racing Header and true dual set-up
Think of what your long term goals are for the car and what you REALLY want from it and what you'll be happy with. Mod wisely knowing that you made the right choices and picked the right parts. If you're going with AFR heads, why skimp out on headers?
I've been in the LS1 game for a while now and learned quite a bit over the years. The biggest thing I learned was that cutting corners definetly did NOT pay off in the long run. It took me a few years and pretty much starting all over to finally get it through my thick (and poor) head that from then on if I was going to do it, that I would do it once and do it right the first time. Even if it meant holding out and saving for a little while longer.
I used to have a set of Jet-Hot coated Kook's headers on my pervious '99 TA...honestly, they looked pretty crappy after only 1 1/2 years of having them and the car was NOT a daily driver at the time. The coating had chipped away and peeled down near the collectors and the headers themselves started to rust badly.
I learned quite a damn bit after having that car for over 5 years...
With all of that being said, my current '02 WS6 has stainless American Racing Headers and I wouldn't think of running anything else. They fit a TON better than what I previously had and really cannot be beat.
No burning O2 & Cam position sensor wires on my car!
Give Nick @ ARH a call and I'm sure you'll be happy...from their customer service to their product, they are simply the best.
If you search my username you'll easily find various threads with info, pics and videos of my American Racing Header and true dual set-up
Do it once and do it right, go with ARH
Think of what your long term goals are for the car and what you REALLY want from it and what you'll be happy with. Mod wisely knowing that you made the right choices and picked the right parts. If you're going with AFR heads, why skimp out on headers?
I've been in the LS1 game for a while now and learned quite a bit over the years. The biggest thing I learned was that cutting corners definetly did NOT pay off in the long run. It took me a few years and pretty much starting all over to finally get it through my thick (and poor) head that from then on if I was going to do it, that I would do it once and do it right the first time. Even if it meant holding out and saving for a little while longer.
I used to have a set of Jet-Hot coated Kook's headers on my pervious '99 TA...honestly, they looked pretty crappy after only 1 1/2 years of having them and the car was NOT a daily driver at the time. The coating had chipped away and peeled down near the collectors and the headers themselves started to rust badly.
I learned quite a damn bit after having that car for over 5 years...
With all of that being said, my current '02 WS6 has stainless American Racing Headers and I wouldn't think of running anything else. They fit a TON better than what I previously had and really cannot be beat.
No burning O2 & Cam position sensor wires on my car!
Give Nick @ ARH a call and I'm sure you'll be happy...from their customer service to their product, they are simply the best.
If you search my username you'll easily find various threads with info, pics and videos of my American Racing Header and true dual set-up
Think of what your long term goals are for the car and what you REALLY want from it and what you'll be happy with. Mod wisely knowing that you made the right choices and picked the right parts. If you're going with AFR heads, why skimp out on headers?
I've been in the LS1 game for a while now and learned quite a bit over the years. The biggest thing I learned was that cutting corners definetly did NOT pay off in the long run. It took me a few years and pretty much starting all over to finally get it through my thick (and poor) head that from then on if I was going to do it, that I would do it once and do it right the first time. Even if it meant holding out and saving for a little while longer.
I used to have a set of Jet-Hot coated Kook's headers on my pervious '99 TA...honestly, they looked pretty crappy after only 1 1/2 years of having them and the car was NOT a daily driver at the time. The coating had chipped away and peeled down near the collectors and the headers themselves started to rust badly.
I learned quite a damn bit after having that car for over 5 years...
With all of that being said, my current '02 WS6 has stainless American Racing Headers and I wouldn't think of running anything else. They fit a TON better than what I previously had and really cannot be beat.
No burning O2 & Cam position sensor wires on my car!
Give Nick @ ARH a call and I'm sure you'll be happy...from their customer service to their product, they are simply the best.
If you search my username you'll easily find various threads with info, pics and videos of my American Racing Header and true dual set-up
COBRAKILLERTA, I love your set up by the way man, its bad *** and sounds sooo freaking good
