OP. I wish you well. I have no suggestions . But I am considering headers and after reading this, Im thinking Kooks is off my list. I watched the video from CJ Pony parts when they installed the ARH's and they didn't look as hard to install as what you are going through.
That's why I went with kooks super shorties, no need to drop k member although still a pain in the arse to install, not nearly a tuff as long tubes! Only a little less hp and torque then long tubes!
I may take this on some time down the road, the only thing with having someone else install it is that it seems like nobody else cares about your car quite the way you do. It's nice knowing that you took your time to do something and done it right vice hoping someone else did lol.
That's why you go to a good shop, the shop I went to I been there like 5 times before for stuff and the guy takes his time and is a perfectionist.
Some people just turn wrenches, some enjoy what they do.
I enjoy working on cars, so if I did install LT's for someone (which I won't LOL) I'd definitely do it right and careful.
I'm the same way, I don't want to hear a rattle and if I know that there is something not done just right somewhere it will bug me until it's fixed. If I have the downtime I prefer to do it myself.
Depends. If they're the 1 7/8 then yes the k-member should be dropped but if they're the 1 3/4 you might be able to get away without removing the k-member.