SW or Kooks

I have been reading forums and many people seem to go with the Kooks headers. I plan to go with Magnaflow cat back, seeming the 2004 goat borla only comes in 2.25 inch pipes and I need 2.5. As far as headers, SW claims huge power gains, however, they have 1 3/4 inch pipe... Kooks has 1 7/8 inch pipe. Which is the better application for a target Hp of 400 RWHP (after cam and heads of course). I have never dropped an exhaust before (other than a rusty pos from a 69 charger) and was curious which header is better, which one will bolt up better to the cat back? Also, does this replace the resonator? as do I only need the headers, cats, and catbacks. They say you cannot reuse the old cats, why would new ones bolt on so much easier?

nevermind

Just get some JBAs and call it a day

Quote: Originally Posted by 20GTO04life... I have been reading forums and many people seem to go with the Kooks headers. I plan to go with Magnaflow cat back, seeming the 2004 goat borla only comes in 2.25 inch pipes and I need 2.5.

On a stock, or bolt on LS1, this is really a toss up. 2.25" still equals 4.5" of total exhaust..that is a lot of flow. Bigger pipe can hurt you in some instances because it slows down exhaust flow. Think of it like a garden hose. What happens if you replace your hose with a bigger hose and don't turn the water up? The water comes out the hose slower because it is less pressurized. The longer exhaust gas takes to leave your engine, the longer more air has to wait to get in, and the more power you use. That being said..with heads and cam, you should likely have a 2.5" catback. I would say look at bassani...that is one of my favs.

Quote: As far as headers, SW claims huge power gains, however, they have 1 3/4 inch pipe...

Stop reading manufactuer claims. Best research is look and see what other people are posting here for gains. Any of the LT headers will net 20-35 rwhp with a tune.

Quote: Kooks has 1 7/8 inch pipe. Which is the better application for a target Hp of 400 RWHP (after cam and heads of course).

See what I said about exhaust flow above...same applies to headers. That being said at 400 rwhp, 1 3/4" will be just fine..another 50 rwhp or more, you should have 1 7/8". Also keep in mind, an LS1 will need a big ass cam to get to 400rwhp..so make sure you are comfortable with the drivability issues that can come with that.

Quote: I have never dropped an exhaust before (other than a rusty pos from a 69 charger) and was curious which header is better, which one will bolt up better to the cat back?

Both are good headers, and both bolt to the stock catback. I run Kooks on my cars..they have a few more features that I prefer (merge spike, ball flange collector, flange welded on both sides.

Quote: Also, does this replace the resonator?

The resonator would be replaced when you do the catback. It is not part of the headers and mid pipes (or cats, as you call them).

Quote: as do I only need the headers, cats, and catbacks.

Yes..this is a whole exhaust.

Quote: They say you cannot reuse the old cats, why would new ones bolt on so much easier?

Right now your exhaust has manifolds, then mid pipes (with cats welded on them), and the stock catback. Long tube headers are 3 times as long as your factory mid pipes..because of that, you need new shorter mid pipes specific to the header you buy. Since the factory cats are weld on the mid pipes, they really cannot be reused. They are too small and restrictive anyway even if you could.

If you have any question, please give me a call @ 443-730-9428. Thanks!

Listen to this guy..he runs 12.5's because of his resonator delete.

Quote: Originally Posted by dlively11... Just get some JBAs and call it a day

Kooks FTW!

All else aside, I've had SWs and Kooks. I had a pretty unsatisfactory experience with StainlessWorks, but I choose the Kooks for a different reason altogether. The flanged collector connection and one-piece midpipes you get with the Kooks are second to none.

Buy what best suits you, but my recommendation is for the Kooks.

Quote: Originally Posted by Doric... All else aside, I've had SWs and Kooks. I had a pretty unsatisfactory experience with StainlessWorks, but I choose the Kooks for a different reason altogether. The flanged collector connection and one-piece midpipes you get with the Kooks are second to none. Buy what best suits you, but my recommendation is for the Kooks.

Agreed, my Kooks fit like a glove.

I chose my SW's bc I got an awesome price used but if I was buying new I would go with kook's mainly because the one piece midpipes

The flanged collector connection on the Kooks wins hands down

Yea, I have SW's, but if i had the chance to do it again i'd go with the kooks just for the midpipe design.....all mine does is leak!!! Stupid slip fit!!!

Save your money and get some pace with the left over money you have you can get a tune or put it towards a cam package.

Quote: Originally Posted by 20GTO04life... Also, does this replace the resonator?

On the 2004 the resonator is on the mid pipe which you remove when you do the long tubes.

I really liked my 04 Borla setup and made 450HP with Blower but it was a little loud around town.

Quote: Originally Posted by MarylandSpeed... Listen to this guy..he runs 12.5's because of his resonator delete.

Was a "joke" I think my times might have a little more to do with the Vararam I bought from you guys, ported intake, rockers and a tune. Oh plus driver mod

I got my coated Kooks w/ catless pipes shipped to the door from Maryland Speed for less than SW lists their non-coated headers w/ catless on their website. Plus Ball/Socket > Slip Fit, all day long.


Was an easy decision for me.

kooks because of fitment
3 in collector
beautiful flange
3in mids!
ball joint style

kooks piece is amazing

^^^Yea, What he said, Kooks FTW!!!

Kooks, especially if you are installing yourself. Best fit by far. Don't bother with cats. The highflow cats are illegal anyway so you might as well have no cats.

After using and installing several sets of Stainless Works and Kooks Headers, you really can't go wrong with either. Both are 304 stainless and have excellent quality and fitment.

Love my Kooks! Hook it to a Corsa Sport and wake the dead this Halloween!

Quote: Originally Posted by gtoN8... Love my Kooks! Hook it to a Corsa Sport and wake the dead this Halloween!

Same setup here! It wakes the dead every time I drive it though lol

Quote: Originally Posted by gtoN8... Love my Kooks! Hook it to a Corsa Sport and wake the dead this Halloween!

Quote: Originally Posted by hock20... Same setup here! It wakes the dead every time I drive it though lol

Same set up here... I get a lot of thumbs up when just rolling around. I love the sound because it's not crazy loud when just crusing, but when you get on it you'll wake the dead.

I'm trying to get rid of some things in order to get me some Kooks/ARH's to go with my Corsa. I don't wanna get Pacesetters but for a short time I may.

FWIW, I have Kooks (1 3/4") with the "catted" mid pipes bolted on to the factory cat-back. The car sounds great. My car puts down a little over 400 RWHP with a big cam and a few other items (stock heads). You don't need a cat back. I get a lot of compliments on my set up. Having said that, I will eventually purchase an aftermarket system.

Quote: Originally Posted by BRMike... FWIW, I have Kooks (1 3/4") with the "catted" mid pipes bolted on to the factory cat-back. The car sounds great. My car puts down a little over 400 RWHP with a big cam and a few other items (stock heads). You don't need a cat back. I get a lot of compliments on my set up. Having said that, I will eventually purchase an aftermarket system.

Did you not go with the 1 7/8 for any certain reason? I was told if anything "extra" was wanting to be done down the line to get the bigger ones from the get-go.

def go with the kooks IMHO flanged collector connection, one piece mid pipes etc push it over the top for me along with beautiful fitment and quality. i would go ahead and go catless as at least to my understanding aftermarket cats are illegal so why not pick up a couple more hp and better sound? also consider if you will be going for bigger hp numbers down the line or F/I later if so i would def go with 1 7/8 if you need more explanation read marylandspeeds comments he does a way better job explaining than me

oh and also look at magnaflow exhaust i went with kooks 1 7/8 cat delete and magnaflows... OMFG best sound ever IMO very quiet at idle with just a hint of rumble still cruises around town like a doll, punch it though and you have def unleashed the demons!!! i use to race several of my buddies in their cars a 350Z with full exhaust cat delete and the usual high pitched ricer sound and a 04 goat with basicly my mods minus the catback and cat delete my car would drown them out to the point you couldnt really pick out their sound!

Quote: Originally Posted by whaler01... Did you not go with the 1 7/8 for any certain reason? I was told if anything "extra" was wanting to be done down the line to get the bigger ones from the get-go.

My long range plans for the car did not require 1 7/8".

Quote: Originally Posted by 20GTO04life... I have been reading forums and many people seem to go with the Kooks headers. I plan to go with Magnaflow cat back, seeming the 2004 goat borla only comes in 2.25 inch pipes and I need 2.5. As far as headers, SW claims huge power gains, however, they have 1 3/4 inch pipe... Kooks has 1 7/8 inch pipe. Which is the better application for a target Hp of 400 RWHP (after cam and heads of course). I have never dropped an exhaust before (other than a rusty pos from a 69 charger) and was curious which header is better, which one will bolt up better to the cat back? Also, does this replace the resonator? as do I only need the headers, cats, and catbacks. They say you cannot reuse the old cats, why would new ones bolt on so much easier?

I think you could get by with the tiny little 2.25 Borla and 1 3/4 Kooks combo ... I do.

No way I would pay a thousand bucks for headers with slip fits. I would buy pacesetters with slipfits.