Kooks headers. Really worth $1000+?

[Blazing Saddles]

I really like my Kooks LT headers, kind of a pain installing compared to AR headers. They ranked higher than AR headers also, for the hp output. The question about are they worth it. I would say yes , the welds are very good; the collectors are well made. If you can get them for 1000.00 that is a good price.

Have you got any proof to backup that claim? I'd like to see it. I'm still on the fence whether to buy ARH, or Kooks. Thanks

 

[jre8806]

some magazine or something did a LT test analysis and the top three i believe were Kooks, MAC, and American Racing

 

[bigray327]

Link.

Here's where someone points out that the Macs used in the 5.0 article were 1 3/4" primaries and the others were 1 5/8".

These headers are ridiculously overpriced for one reason: because people will pay those prices. There's no reason in the world why a bunch of bent steel tubes should be a thousand bucks, period. Mac long tubes are just as good, make just as much power, fit just as well, and cost half the price. The rest is just bullshit from shops that charge too much and guys that want to justify overpaying.

/flame on

 

[Blazing Saddles]

This is about the third post I've seen saying that the ARH and Kooks were compared. Yet in this article the ARH headers weren't tested. I like to deal with facts, not opinion.

Just the facts Ma'am.

 

[RED09GT]

To me, that comparison pushes me towards the JBA's. The mid RPM power from the JBA's is the tops.

 

[RED09GT]

For fun, I used their test #'s to get the average torque gains as I felt measuring the average horsepower gains was heavily biased to the ones that performed the best at the top of the tach.
The numbers didn't change the finishing order with the exception of the BBK's falling slightly behind the bassani's.
Kooks: 18.69 ft/lbs
MAC: 16.77 ft/lbs
JBA: 16.24 ft/lbs
Bassani: 15.85 ft/lbs
BBK: 14.79 ft/lbs
Hooker: 13.68 ft/lbs
SW: 10.42 ft/lbs

If you remove the 6000 rpm numbers, the Mac's fell off to 4th place behind the JBA's and bassani's so the 1 3/4" tube definitely helped up top but hurt in the lower rev range:
Kooks: 15.29 ft/lbs
JBA: 14.88 ft/lbs
Bassani: 13.20 ft/lbs
MAC: 12.75 ft/lbs
BBK: 11.86 ft/lbs
Hooker: 11.43 ft/lbs
SW: 7.65 ft/lbs

Conclusion: Kooks do make the best power of the ones tested. Mac and Stainless works are a bit short in the midrange but make up for it up top. The JBA's and the hookers fall off at the top of the tach.
The Kooks are probably the best of the bunch but you can get a good portion of the gains with the others as well.
It seems that Kooks has done a much better job on these headers as far as streetability is concerned compared to the Kooks headers I had on my fox-body.

 

[GIG4FUN]

For fun, I used their test #'s to get the average torque gains as I felt measuring the average horsepower gains was heavily biased to the ones that performed the best at the top of the tach.
The numbers didn't change the finishing order with the exception of the BBK's falling slightly behind the bassani's.
Kooks: 18.69 ft/lbs
MAC: 16.77 ft/lbs
JBA: 16.24 ft/lbs
Bassani: 15.85 ft/lbs
BBK: 14.79 ft/lbs
Hooker: 13.68 ft/lbs
SW: 10.42 ft/lbs

If you remove the 6000 rpm numbers, the Mac's fell off to 4th place behind the JBA's and bassani's so the 1 3/4" tube definitely helped up top but hurt in the lower rev range:
Kooks: 15.29 ft/lbs
JBA: 14.88 ft/lbs
Bassani: 13.20 ft/lbs
MAC: 12.75 ft/lbs
BBK: 11.86 ft/lbs
Hooker: 11.43 ft/lbs
SW: 7.65 ft/lbs

Conclusion: Kooks do make the best power of the ones tested. Mac and Stainless works are a bit short in the midrange but make up for it up top. The JBA's and the hookers fall off at the top of the tach.
The Kooks are probably the best of the bunch but you can get a good portion of the gains with the others as well.
It seems that Kooks has done a much better job on these headers as far as streetability is concerned compared to the Kooks headers I had on my fox-body.

Kooks here too...

 

[Bkid]

This is about the third post I've seen saying that the ARH and Kooks were compared. Yet in this article the ARH headers weren't tested. I like to deal with facts, not opinion.

Just the facts Ma'am.

BOOKEM DANO , and throw in the Kooks.

 

[NastyStang113]

For fun, I used their test #'s to get the average torque gains as I felt measuring the average horsepower gains was heavily biased to the ones that performed the best at the top of the tach.
The numbers didn't change the finishing order with the exception of the BBK's falling slightly behind the bassani's.
Kooks: 18.69 ft/lbs
MAC: 16.77 ft/lbs
JBA: 16.24 ft/lbs
Bassani: 15.85 ft/lbs
BBK: 14.79 ft/lbs
Hooker: 13.68 ft/lbs
SW: 10.42 ft/lbs

If you remove the 6000 rpm numbers, the Mac's fell off to 4th place behind the JBA's and bassani's so the 1 3/4" tube definitely helped up top but hurt in the lower rev range:
Kooks: 15.29 ft/lbs
JBA: 14.88 ft/lbs
Bassani: 13.20 ft/lbs
MAC: 12.75 ft/lbs
BBK: 11.86 ft/lbs
Hooker: 11.43 ft/lbs
SW: 7.65 ft/lbs

Conclusion: Kooks do make the best power of the ones tested. Mac and Stainless works are a bit short in the midrange but make up for it up top. The JBA's and the hookers fall off at the top of the tach.
The Kooks are probably the best of the bunch but you can get a good portion of the gains with the others as well.
It seems that Kooks has done a much better job on these headers as far as streetability is concerned compared to the Kooks headers I had on my fox-body.

However, the American Racing Headers were not ever tested. We will never know !!

 

[Bkid]

Here is the link. Yea I do not see the ARH in the list that is lame. I do know guys that have them, and they did not get the gains like the Kooks. I race a guy at my track with the same mods, except he has ARH:I beat him. I know that does not mean squat. I am a better driver. LOL.
http://www.mustang50magazine.com/techarticles/m5lp_0904_s197_ford_mustang_headers/index.html

 

[cruisin]

good reason to go with another brand.

Still waiting, possibly here Monday, fuckers said something about moving

 

[racevert]

Luv my Kooks 1 3/4" headers and they were a straight-up installation in 6 hours in my driveway on jackstands without any issues at all.

 

[Tom]

Still waiting, possibly here Monday, fuckers said something about moving

Kooks recently moved thier operations from ny to n. corolina. THier still setting up thier machines.

 

[luillo]

Well, KOOKS KOOKS KOOKS.... I am sold... But what KOOKS????????

1-5/8 or 1-3/4???

Some body told me that too big like the 1-3/4 is not good as 1-5/8. But if i go Supercharger does it matter or then is better with the 1-3/4??

Please help before i fuc$%% up....LOL

 

[cruisin]

Kooks recently moved thier operations from ny to n. corolina. THier still setting up thier machines.

Yeah, I ordered before the move, they made em, then moved my order to the new place, then unpacked, then shipped. Its been a pain but Im sure there product is top notch