Kooks Signature Series Stepped Headers- Gain 10 HP over Normal 1 7/8" Headers!

[MarylandSpeed]

I have posted about these in various threads, but never really made a post like this because they have not been in stock. The first run of them actually sold 2 months ago based on the posts I made in other threads. Now that they are in stock, and ready to ship, I thought it was time for a formal introduction. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!

Kooks Signature Series Stepped headers (PT# 6510-STEP) represent the best header Kooks can make for the Camaro. They feature 1 3/4" primaries stepped to 1 7/8". They also feature an extra O2 bung for wideband tuning, and Kooks standard merge spike, and merge collector. Basically they are a premium header with pretty much every feature for those looking for best you can buy. Being one of Kooks biggest dealers, we are their launch partner for this product and have the exclusive on it.

What is a Stepped Header?
A stepped header is when a header primary expands from one size to another bigger size over it's length. The size of the steps, and their placement along the length of the primary play a huge role in how effective the header is. With these headers, on average about the first one third of the primary is 1 3/4", the rest is 1 7/8".

Why does a Stepped Header make more power?
The advantage of stepped headers is that they allow you to have the best of both worlds. They have the low end TQ of a 1 3/4" header, and the high RPM HP ability of a 1 7/8" header. With these headers, the 1 3/4" initial primary pressurizes the exhaust gas more initially..then the rest being 1 7/8" allows the he header to flow a large amount of exhaust. Think of it like squeezing a hose to squirt someone. If you do it just right, the water is flowing at it's fastest, most efficiant rate. In every application we have sold them for, stepped headers make more power. Another advantage is that they are kind of one size fits all in that they support applications from stock to 700 rwhp.


On to the Results-

In the results below, we tested a 1 7/8" Kooks header vs the new Signature Series Stepped Header on our in house dyno. We did 3 runs 15 minutes apart with the 1 7/8" header, then we changed the headers to signature series and repeated the process. Everything was done on the same day, and the car was untuned to remove that variable. The only modifications the car had were a Rotofab Intake and Borla Catback Exhaust.

Best run of stepped Kooks vs. best run of 1 7/8" standard Kooks-


Three runs with stepped headers-


Three runs with 1 7/8" headers-



Just for the heck of it, here is the same car, with the same stepped headers, but now with an LPE GT9 cam, TVS 2300, and conservative tune. As you can see, the car is making 637 rwhp, which is like 750+ crank. The headers are obviously not a bottleneck up top as peak HP is right at the top of the RPM band.

[Sour DeeZ]

Wow I just bought 1 7/8 Kooks, I have no idea if their stepped.

[Infern0]

Pretty easy to identify just by looking at them. See how they look like multiple pipes welded together mid-way? Those are the steppings from 1 3/4 to 1 7/8. Generally you would see one long pipe all one size.

[Infern0]

Maryland, I thought you didn't have a shop? Or did you just mean you didn't have a physical sales office?

Did you happen to have a baseline for the car with stock headers? I'm trying to determine overall gain after install on both sets, versus just the difference between the two.

Please PM price of stepped. I'm local so perhaps pickup to save on shipping?

Regards.

[VictorySS]

Damn I cant wait for the OBX ones to come out!!

[CaptianSam]

Price?

[Kilo-9]

I remember reading that stepped headers weren't ideal for F/I applications. Is this true?

[MarylandSpeed]

Originally Posted by Sour DeeZ

Wow I just bought 1 7/8 Kooks, I have no idea if their stepped.

If you did not specifically ask for them, they would be standard 1 7/8".

Originally Posted by Infern0

Maryland, I thought you didn't have a shop? Or did you just mean you didn't have a physical sales office?

We have an 8.000 sq/ft facility in sourthern MD that has our offices, warehouse, and shop facility where we build our cars. Because we are in a rural out of the way location, and deal in a very small market of late model domestic cars, we have decided not to open to the public for now. Pictures of the facility are on our facebook page.

Did you happen to have a baseline for the car with stock headers? I'm trying to determine overall gain after install on both sets, versus just the difference between the two.

This car in question already had the 1 7/8" headers from before we had the dyno, so it does not have a baseline. This dyno is fairly accurate however. Our other Camaro (L99 bone stock) did 324 rwhp for instance.

Please PM price of stepped. I'm local so perhaps pickup to save on shipping?

Regards.

Originally Posted by CaptianSam

Price?

This board has rules against soliciting sales in the tech sections, and I don't want to break that and make the thread get moved. I will say we do not PM prices, and to call us for any more information on the product. Our number is in the signature.

Originally Posted by Kilo-9

I remember reading that stepped headers weren't ideal for F/I applications. Is this true?

As you can see from the dyno provided, our car does very good with them given the mods.

[thesnoopster]

Dang it Branden ...I wish you had these when I got my headers man.....:( .....who knows I might (the key word is MIGHT) call and see what they running for headers only since I already have the cats and stuff

[Kilo-9]

Originally Posted by MarylandSpeed

As you can see from the dyno provided, our car does very good with them given the mods.

Very good or ideal? Not trying to be a jerk...just trying to understand and make the best choice for my goals. Until these came available, I had decided on Kooks 2" for my build.

[VRCamaroSS]

Will these be available with the HF cats to hook up to my magnaflow exhaust.

[MarylandSpeed]

Originally Posted by Kilo-9

Very good or ideal? Not trying to be a jerk...just trying to understand and make the best choice for my goals. Until these came available, I had decided on Kooks 2" for my build.

I feel the stepped headers would produce a better power curve..where 2" would possibly show a higher HP number. At the end of the day the cars would drive very similar.

[Kilo-9]

Originally Posted by MarylandSpeed

I feel the stepped headers would produce a better power curve..where 2" would possibly show a higher HP number. At the end of the day the cars would drive very similar.

Ok...I guess I have some thinking to do. Thanks!

[MarylandSpeed]

Originally Posted by Kilo-9

Ok...I guess I have some thinking to do. Thanks!

Thanks! I personally am not a proponent of more complicated, or more expensive. However in this case, everytime we have tested a stepped header it has made more power. When you think about it, it is pretty narrow minded to think that having on primary size the entire length is best. Stepped headers really allow you to get the flow properlly tuned..despite the added production complication and cost.