2 inch headers help/tips for either kooks or arh

[pRodigy]

for those who have installed 2in headers either kooks or arh, how was the install? did you have enough clearance? does it hit anywhere when your driving the vehicle? any tips for the install? any diy specific for 2in headers to make my life easier lol. thanks for the help and please specify if its the 2in kooks or 2in arh u used

[v6sonoma]

Why the 2in Got something else planned for it?

[pRodigy]

lol... in the long run yeah..

[pRodigy]

anyone please?

[blake-b]

I have XS Power 2" headers (they look just like kooks). I had no issues during the install and didn't have to remove the steering shaft. It was a tight fit but did go into place. They aren't anymore difficult to install than 1 7/8 headers.

That being said, it does rub on the steering shaft when turning right. I am in contact with the vendor getting this resolved. I read on this site sometime back about someone who bought a set of 2" headers and it was rubbing the steering shaft. The manufacturer provided a replacement that did not rub. I do not know (the post didn't say) if the new header was clearanced with a dimple or had re-routed tubing to clear the shaft.

I suggest you contact the manufacturer of the headers you are interested and ask if they are steering shaft clearance issues (driver's side) or frame rail clearance issues (passenger side).

[pRodigy]

i guess that was the clearance issue that was brought up to me about the 2 in headers. will take your advice and call kooks thank you.

[Andro]

I'm running kooks 2" headers and I have no problems they clear everything though I am running a 427 LSX block with LS7 heads

[GQ4Life]

Originally Posted by pRodigy

for those who have installed 2in headers either kooks or arh, how was the install? did you have enough clearance? does it hit anywhere when your driving the vehicle? any tips for the install? any diy specific for 2in headers to make my life easier lol. thanks for the help and please specify if its the 2in kooks or 2in arh u used

I have 2in ARH headers. It is an increase of 1.25% HP over the 1 7/8" headers. Jannetty Racing installed they said its a lil more of a tight fit but it fits find. Talk to Jannetty Racing.

[Slowhawk]

I run the 2" ARH. Tight to get in,have to disconnect the steering shaft- 1 minute to do. They clear everything no problem.

[MarylandSpeed]

I personally would not mess with 2" headers. 1 7/8" will do better down low, and support 90% of the applications out there. The new Camaro is really an anomoly in most people getting 1 7/8" headers over 1 3/4". With the LS3 in the Corvette, a lot of those guys go with 1 3/4" and consider 1 7/8" big.

[GQ4Life]

Originally Posted by MarylandSpeed

I personally would not mess with 2" headers. 1 7/8" will do better down low, and support 90% of the applications out there. The new Camaro is really an anomoly in most people getting 1 7/8" headers over 1 3/4". With the LS3 in the Corvette, a lot of those guys go with 1 3/4" and consider 1 7/8" big.

Jannetty did back to back test lost nothing down low

[pRodigy]

yeah on the test that ted did... the 2 in was ahead by a bit overall. im probably going with 2in kooks headers.

[MarylandSpeed]

I am not gonna argue anyone elses results because it is pointless. That being said I have sold a lot of headers in my day, and also tested a lot of headers. We sell 2" headers for most every LSx application we offer including the LS3 and LS7 Corvette. Still we only sell one 2" header for about every 250 of the other size headers we sell. Will 2" work and not cause a problem..yes. Is it completly the wrong size for something that is not severly modded, absolutly. IMO 2" is unncecessary unless you are doing like 700 RWHP.

With headers, you want the smallest header that can flow the maximum output of the engine. A header is all about exhaust velocity and works kinda like a hose. If you take your garden hose, and replace it with a bigger garden hose, the water will come out the end slower unless you turn the water up. Same with a header, if you put a too big header on, you lose exhaust velocity, meaning exhaust gas leaves your engine slower because it is not as compressed. You don't build power as fast down low, and maybe equal it up top once the exhaust gas gets going. We have customers making 500-700 rwhp on a 1 7/8" header jsut fine. Another reason I am not a fan of the 2" header is the 3" collector. In the correct application where a 2" header is needed, I really think you need a 3 1/2" collector to effectivly use that primary size. Kooks offers this in the 4th gen Camaro and Corvette applications, but not the new Camaro. The 3" collector might be why 1 7/8" and 2" dyno the same, since they all ultimatly end up having to get through the same size collector.

Either way, Kooks designed the header and even they will tell you not to use it except in the most extreme applications.

[GQ4Life]

Well that is the other reason I went with 2" besides the 8 more HP, was because I have plans on more mods in future then me & Ted might continue talks of 3" or so all the way back.
Only thing I think is depending on mods 2" might not be cost effective for the little extra HP bump up top