Time to get Some LT's
02-12-2013, 09:51 AM
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Time to get Some LT's Ok I am getting rid of my shorties, and looking at buying some LT's in a couple weeks. Now I see JBA also makes LT's with coatings, but should I spend more and get a set of Kooks? I am going to be re-tuning the car as well after this install. Remind you I have magnaflow catback with race mufflers, will run catless mids, intake, torquer v2 112 lsa, and 100 shot wet shot. What would you guys get?? I don't know if I wanna blow all my check on Kooks or not, might use extra money from jba's to get a couple of other small mods.
02-12-2013, 10:09 AM
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LT's You will hear people say get pacesetters coated you will hear people say get top dollar headers. In the end it boils down to what you are looking for and your budget. I personally have SLP's I got for 300 bucks with cats I wish I had stepped kooks headers but that is my preference and would suit my needs. Quality varies in some companies fitment varies in most. I would got ARH or kooks that is just my two cents, it will be money well spent either way.
02-12-2013, 10:22 AM
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You will hear people say get pacesetters coated you will hear people say get top dollar headers. In the end it boils down to what you are looking for and your budget. I personally have SLP's I got for 300 bucks with cats I wish I had stepped kooks headers but that is my preference and would suit my needs. Quality varies in some companies fitment varies in most. I would got ARH or kooks that is just my two cents, it will be money well spent either way.
02-13-2013, 07:19 PM
#6
It's all a matter of choice, but if you live near the coast or somewhere where it snows a lot I'd go with something that's stainless steel.
Shorties are pretty much stock replacements. They are roughly the same size as the exhaust manifold. If you have Kooks 1 7/8's, you have longtubes.
Here is a picture comparing the two:
*not GTO headers but works for the comparison*
Here is a picture comparing the two:
*not GTO headers but works for the comparison*
02-15-2013, 03:11 PM
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Coated Kooks stepped LTs. Not cheap but worth the money in terms of fit, no leaks, quality of build and power under the curve with the stepped design. If you are gong to spend the money, spend a bit more and get the biggest bang for your buck.
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02-15-2013, 07:07 PM
#8
It's crazy how often this subject is covered.
There is a point where one header is better than another, but that point is pretty high up in the power game.
A buddy out east ran some coated Pacesetters on his until they started swelling. That was around 760whp with an F1A.
Another buddy in Vegas ran the same headers on his TVS1900 powered '05 all the way up to 800-ish whp. He had zero issues with the headers. He has since decided to part with the performance goodies and currently has the car up for sale.
Point being: If you don't have the coin for the expensive stuff, the cheaper stuff will work just as well. However, I can't really say the same about JBA because I have zero experience with them.
I'm about to coat a set of Pacesetters for the GF's GTO and throw them on hopefully in the next month or so. I have Stainless Works 1.75" on mine.
I've helped install headers a number of times now. I've helped install both Kook's 1.75" headers and Pacesetter 1.75" headers and had no issues with either. However, with the larger Kooks headers we did run into an issue with it rubbing on a bolt on the steering rack. We've got the rack moved over as far as we can at the moment and the rubbing still exists. The problem only exists during cold starts when the motor mounts are quite pumped up yet. We're gonna try out some aftermarket mounts and see if that solves the issue. If not, they'll be removed for some slight "massaging".
The dude on the east coast I previously talked about had the same issue. He had to take them off, heat them up, and beat on his freshly coated headers to make them fit.
So now you know some of the issues. Unless you're planning on making HUGE power and unless your pocket book can survive the $1,000-ish loss, stick with a cheaper, coated header. It will be just fine.
There is a point where one header is better than another, but that point is pretty high up in the power game.
A buddy out east ran some coated Pacesetters on his until they started swelling. That was around 760whp with an F1A.
Another buddy in Vegas ran the same headers on his TVS1900 powered '05 all the way up to 800-ish whp. He had zero issues with the headers. He has since decided to part with the performance goodies and currently has the car up for sale.
Point being: If you don't have the coin for the expensive stuff, the cheaper stuff will work just as well. However, I can't really say the same about JBA because I have zero experience with them.
I'm about to coat a set of Pacesetters for the GF's GTO and throw them on hopefully in the next month or so. I have Stainless Works 1.75" on mine.
I've helped install headers a number of times now. I've helped install both Kook's 1.75" headers and Pacesetter 1.75" headers and had no issues with either. However, with the larger Kooks headers we did run into an issue with it rubbing on a bolt on the steering rack. We've got the rack moved over as far as we can at the moment and the rubbing still exists. The problem only exists during cold starts when the motor mounts are quite pumped up yet. We're gonna try out some aftermarket mounts and see if that solves the issue. If not, they'll be removed for some slight "massaging".
The dude on the east coast I previously talked about had the same issue. He had to take them off, heat them up, and beat on his freshly coated headers to make them fit.
So now you know some of the issues. Unless you're planning on making HUGE power and unless your pocket book can survive the $1,000-ish loss, stick with a cheaper, coated header. It will be just fine.
02-16-2013, 12:23 PM
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I recently helped one of my GTO buds install the JBA long tube headers (newer version, don't get the first version). They seem to work fine for the price. I personally love my Kooks, but they are very expensive.
02-17-2013, 10:26 AM
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It's crazy how often this subject is covered.
There is a point where one header is better than another, but that point is pretty high up in the power game.
A buddy out east ran some coated Pacesetters on his until they started swelling. That was around 760whp with an F1A.
Another buddy in Vegas ran the same headers on his TVS1900 powered '05 all the way up to 800-ish whp. He had zero issues with the headers. He has since decided to part with the performance goodies and currently has the car up for sale.
Point being: If you don't have the coin for the expensive stuff, the cheaper stuff will work just as well. However, I can't really say the same about JBA because I have zero experience with them.
I'm about to coat a set of Pacesetters for the GF's GTO and throw them on hopefully in the next month or so. I have Stainless Works 1.75" on mine.
I've helped install headers a number of times now. I've helped install both Kook's 1.75" headers and Pacesetter 1.75" headers and had no issues with either. However, with the larger Kooks headers we did run into an issue with it rubbing on a bolt on the steering rack. We've got the rack moved over as far as we can at the moment and the rubbing still exists. The problem only exists during cold starts when the motor mounts are quite pumped up yet. We're gonna try out some aftermarket mounts and see if that solves the issue. If not, they'll be removed for some slight "massaging".
The dude on the east coast I previously talked about had the same issue. He had to take them off, heat them up, and beat on his freshly coated headers to make them fit.
So now you know some of the issues. Unless you're planning on making HUGE power and unless your pocket book can survive the $1,000-ish loss, stick with a cheaper, coated header. It will be just fine.
There is a point where one header is better than another, but that point is pretty high up in the power game.
A buddy out east ran some coated Pacesetters on his until they started swelling. That was around 760whp with an F1A.
Another buddy in Vegas ran the same headers on his TVS1900 powered '05 all the way up to 800-ish whp. He had zero issues with the headers. He has since decided to part with the performance goodies and currently has the car up for sale.
Point being: If you don't have the coin for the expensive stuff, the cheaper stuff will work just as well. However, I can't really say the same about JBA because I have zero experience with them.
I'm about to coat a set of Pacesetters for the GF's GTO and throw them on hopefully in the next month or so. I have Stainless Works 1.75" on mine.
I've helped install headers a number of times now. I've helped install both Kook's 1.75" headers and Pacesetter 1.75" headers and had no issues with either. However, with the larger Kooks headers we did run into an issue with it rubbing on a bolt on the steering rack. We've got the rack moved over as far as we can at the moment and the rubbing still exists. The problem only exists during cold starts when the motor mounts are quite pumped up yet. We're gonna try out some aftermarket mounts and see if that solves the issue. If not, they'll be removed for some slight "massaging".
The dude on the east coast I previously talked about had the same issue. He had to take them off, heat them up, and beat on his freshly coated headers to make them fit.
So now you know some of the issues. Unless you're planning on making HUGE power and unless your pocket book can survive the $1,000-ish loss, stick with a cheaper, coated header. It will be just fine.
That was a lot of good info. Ya right now I can't buy a set of Kook's even tho I would love to, but I saw the jba longtubes, which are a bit more affordable for me, and they are descent quality, because i have the shorties, just really would like a pair of longtubes to complete my exhaust set up.
02-17-2013, 10:27 AM
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What do you mean first version? I was looking at getting them through Marylandspeed if i go with JBA. Are the first, or second version. Plus they will be getting coated.
02-17-2013, 01:47 PM
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The first JBA long tubes had some minor fitment issues which was corrected with the new version. I'm sure Maryland Speed has nothing but the new ones since they are a high volume vendor. You could call Brandon directly to make sure. Sometimes he'll knock a little off the price if you ask nicely. He gave me a sweet deal on my Kooks. One spark plug on the passenger side is sort of close to a tube, just use MSD wires which have bendable boots and you'll be fine.
02-18-2013, 12:48 AM
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The first JBA long tubes had some minor fitment issues which was corrected with the new version. I'm sure Maryland Speed has nothing but the new ones since they are a high volume vendor. You could call Brandon directly to make sure. Sometimes he'll knock a little off the price if you ask nicely. He gave me a sweet deal on my Kooks. One spark plug on the passenger side is sort of close to a tube, just use MSD wires which have bendable boots and you'll be fine.
