Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
08-23-2012, 12:56 PM
#16
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 78
Re: Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
Great write up.
Any chance you could take a picture with the car on the ground, from the side to see actual ground clearance, maybe even measure? (header to ground) The reason I ask is because I have Edlebrock Victor Jr. LT's and they only give me 3"+/- on ground clearance. I might be going the Kooks route if I can get some better ground clearance. Any other advise how to get better ground clearance would be greatly appreciated.
Did the energy suspension poly mounts make a big difference? mine are stock
Do you have your stock suspension? mine is stock (base), not even the optional SLP 70002.
*And just FYI out there to other readers thinking about going to LT's or shorties, I can tell you first hand that the difference is amazing between the two. I had Hooker shorties originally, and swaped them out to LT's because they were a sweet deal. Between 4-6k rpm it is a whole new ride. Just have to get some damn ground clearance now...
Any chance you could take a picture with the car on the ground, from the side to see actual ground clearance, maybe even measure? (header to ground) The reason I ask is because I have Edlebrock Victor Jr. LT's and they only give me 3"+/- on ground clearance. I might be going the Kooks route if I can get some better ground clearance. Any other advise how to get better ground clearance would be greatly appreciated.
Did the energy suspension poly mounts make a big difference? mine are stock
Do you have your stock suspension? mine is stock (base), not even the optional SLP 70002.
*And just FYI out there to other readers thinking about going to LT's or shorties, I can tell you first hand that the difference is amazing between the two. I had Hooker shorties originally, and swaped them out to LT's because they were a sweet deal. Between 4-6k rpm it is a whole new ride. Just have to get some damn ground clearance now...
08-24-2012, 10:20 PM
#17
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Kernersville, NC
Posts: 2,058
Re: Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
My suspension is stock(FE2). I changed to the poly engine mounts because mine were so old....that and I had the engine out. Kind of a no brainer at the time. They are far superior to the stock ones. If yours are old, you might gain a little clearance if they are sagging.
http://www.ace1252.com/comparing_old_new.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/drivers_poly_mount.JPG
Sitting in my garage, the lowest point is the cat on the drivers side(3.5"). The bottom of the driver's long tube is 4". The passenger's is 4.5" on both the cat and bottom of the header. For reference, the k-member is 5".
Both my videos do show ground clearance.
http://www.ace1252.com/comparing_old_new.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/drivers_poly_mount.JPG
Sitting in my garage, the lowest point is the cat on the drivers side(3.5"). The bottom of the driver's long tube is 4". The passenger's is 4.5" on both the cat and bottom of the header. For reference, the k-member is 5".
Both my videos do show ground clearance.
Last edited by ACE1252; 08-25-2012 at 09:23 AM.
08-27-2012, 10:47 AM
#18
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 78
Re: Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
Thanks a million Ace! My headers hang a good bit lower, maybe upto an inch! I am going to asses the motor mounts and go from there. Maybe some shims would help in addition to the motor mounts? I have been wanting to install the SLP 70002 shocks and spring, but I knew that if I did there would be no chance in getting over a speed bump. This is going evolve into something expensive... nothing new there.
11-25-2012, 01:46 AM
#19
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 644
Re: Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
Quick question, what starter did you end up using? I've started my install and installed the passenger side, but my PowerMaster 9600 starter is hitting the header.
Thx.
Thx.
11-29-2012, 12:24 AM
#20
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Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Kernersville, NC
Posts: 2,058
Re: Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
Simply the stock starter.
My compression is a little higher than stock(decked heads and thinner head gaskets), but nothing that overtaxes the stock unit. As far as I know, it's 16 years old....I've never replaced it and I've had the car since 1999. Now that I've bragged about it, I'm sure it will fail in a couple of weeks.
My compression is a little higher than stock(decked heads and thinner head gaskets), but nothing that overtaxes the stock unit. As far as I know, it's 16 years old....I've never replaced it and I've had the car since 1999. Now that I've bragged about it, I'm sure it will fail in a couple of weeks.
Last edited by ACE1252; 11-29-2012 at 12:27 AM.
01-11-2018, 12:08 PM
#21
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lansing, MI via Bowling Green, KY: Dalton, GA: Nashville, TN & Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,026
Re: Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
Dual cat y-pipe....
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3934.JPG
Under shot installed....
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN4009.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN4002.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3934.JPG
Under shot installed....
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN4009.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN4002.JPG
I installed my headers in 2006-2007, so it's been awhile, but I know that piece did not seem to fit my y-pipe or align correctly etc. Just wondered if you had to drill any holes, make any modifications etc. It's been so long since I installed my headers I don't remember precisely what the issue was, but I know I left that piece off with the intention of contacting Kooks, installing it later etc., which I've yet to do.
My y-pipe is offroad, but I wouldn't imagine there would be any significant design differences between the two, but I can tell that at least one of your O2 bungs is oriented differently compared to my ORY. It's possible they changed some things over the years.
01-11-2018, 10:05 PM
#22
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Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Kernersville, NC
Posts: 2,058
Re: Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
Sounds like you are speaking of the bracket that braces up the Y-pipe to the transmission. Seems like I had to get some different bolts, other than stock, to get it to work, but didn't have to drill any holes in the Kooks Y-pipe mounting plate. What they had drilled worked just fine for me.
The biggest issue I had with the Y-pipe was that it would not go onto the headers because of the jet hot coating. Solved that issue by using emery cloth to knock down the jet hot coating.
Edit: You know...just looking at it....I wonder if I did drill some holes in that plate....I very well may have....just looking at picture 4009....where I have those bolts....I don't think Kooks put those holes there.
The biggest issue I had with the Y-pipe was that it would not go onto the headers because of the jet hot coating. Solved that issue by using emery cloth to knock down the jet hot coating.
Edit: You know...just looking at it....I wonder if I did drill some holes in that plate....I very well may have....just looking at picture 4009....where I have those bolts....I don't think Kooks put those holes there.
Last edited by ACE1252; 01-11-2018 at 10:10 PM.
01-12-2018, 06:17 AM
#23
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lansing, MI via Bowling Green, KY: Dalton, GA: Nashville, TN & Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,026
Re: Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
Yeah, that is the piece I'm talking about. I want to say the bolt holes wouldn't line up and we didn't bother messing with it much at the time. I do remember thinking it seemed odd to have an issue with that piece considering the quality of the headers and how well everything else fit. The car sat from 2000 until this past Thanksgiving, so it hasn't been driven much, but I would like to get that support installed at some point.
We also had an issue getting the y-pipe installed. I think we sanded down some of the coating too, but in hindsight I'm not even sure that was necessary. I seem to recall that each piece of the y-pipe would slide on without issue, but when it was assembled we had a lot of trouble getting both sides to slide on at the same time. We eventually found the sweet spot in the alignment and it seemed to slide right on, but it took some finagling. It was many years ago. so my memory is a bit fuzzy.
We also had an issue getting the y-pipe installed. I think we sanded down some of the coating too, but in hindsight I'm not even sure that was necessary. I seem to recall that each piece of the y-pipe would slide on without issue, but when it was assembled we had a lot of trouble getting both sides to slide on at the same time. We eventually found the sweet spot in the alignment and it seemed to slide right on, but it took some finagling. It was many years ago. so my memory is a bit fuzzy.
Last edited by BTC; 01-12-2018 at 06:30 AM.
02-26-2023, 09:18 PM
#24
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Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 1
Re: Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
I've been meaning to get these up for quite a while. Many of the time stamps on the pictures are wrong(was late 2010), so do ignore them. These are big pictures, so rather than blow up the thread with them, I'm just posting links.
Kooks Header pics(1 3/4" x 3").....
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3926.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3927.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3939.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3940.JPG
Dual cat y-pipe....
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3934.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3936.JPG
Installed in car top view....notice ARP 1" stainless header bolts. Provide excellent clearance for a boxed end wrench.
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3962.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3967.JPG
Under shot y-pipe not installed. Notice how I had to sand off the jet hot coating on the ends of the collectors to get the y-pipe to fit. Stainless steel can't be expanded like typical aluminized exhaust pipe...it will split. Sanding was the only option(1" wide emery cloth performed the job). I did have to get my catback pipe expanded just a little bit to fit the Kooks y-pipe.
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3984.JPG
A look inside the collector....
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3986.JPG
Clearance between Moroso pan and long tubes....Nope, can't use an oil level sensor with these and a kickout pan. Plug was sourced from Canton.
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN4013.JPG
I made a shorting plug for the oil level sensor connector to the dash lamp. If you don't, the low oil light will be on all the time. Just cut off and twisted a couple of leads from a high wattage resistor(1 watt if I remember correctly...), soldered the twisted wire ends, and capped it with a small wire nut. Plugged it in, taped it up, and zip tied it to the trans in a safe spot.
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3994.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3998.JPG
Under shot installed....
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN4009.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN4002.JPG
Review....
These are some very nice stainless steel headers. I got them with emissions connections, jet hot coating, and a dual cat y-pipe. With that said, they are not cheap. The headers, dual cat y-pipe, and jet hot coating together cost around $1500
. That was a very painful hit to the wallet, but I will say it has been worth every penny. Kooks knows how to design an excellent fitting header. The fitment is dead on the money...period. They slide up from the bottom of the car with no clearance problems to the heads or k-member. Do keep in mind that I have energy suspension poly motor mounts. Sagging motor mounts can make for painful header installs.
The headers come with decent gaskets, but I decided to go with Percy's dead soft aluminum gaskets(for LT1/LT4). I have had zero problems with leaks or bolts coming loose. I would not use the header bolts included with the kit. IMHO, they are too short and the heads too big to get decent torque on the bolts without rounding the heads off(open end of the wrench would have to be used).
As seen here....
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3919.JPG
I got some ARP 1" stainless steel header bolts. They have a 12 point head and you use a 5/16 boxed end wrench to tighten them(Craftsman 7" 5/16, 1/4 boxed end wrench gives plenty of leverage to tighten them).
The ARP part number should be 400-1210.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/arp-400-1210
When tightening the flanges to the heads, start from the middle bolts and work to the ends last. If the flange is warped in middle(and both mine were....), this will pull the middle of it to the heads with no problem straightening them out. If you tighten the ends first, you may "lock" the flange in place and it may not allow the center to pull to the heads, thus creating a leak at the head.
They tuck up nice to the body and so does the y-pipe.
I picked up ~5 mph and ~0.4 tenths in the 1/8 mile by adding these long tubes. So the stock exhaust manifolds were really restrictive with my stock head/CC503 setup.
Just for reference, here are my baseline times at Farmington and how the car ran after the various upgrades.
5/22/08
Baseline stock with K&N CAI and Flowmaster catback.
Warmed up:9.1@80.322mph
Full cool down:8.9@82.436mph
10/03/08
CC503, 1.6 NSA Pro Mag Roller rockers, PAC 1518 springs, 10* retainers/locks, Trickflow guideplates, 7.2" Comp hardened pushrods, stock heads, stock exhaust manifolds, catback exhaust, K&N CAI, FMS 30# Injectors.
Warmed up:8.882@83.770mph
No full cool down run.
2/19/11
Added Kooks Long tube headers(1 3/4" x 3") and dual cat y-pipe.
Warmed up:8.437@87.88mph
Partial cool down:8.389@88.354mph
As you can see from the times, there was a ton of hp left on the table by not changing out the stock exhaust manifolds.
They sound awesome paired with the Flowmaster catback. I've got a small video of them just after the install. The sound on the vid does not do them justice and I will try to get some high def video of them a little later. This video will show the clearance under the car very well. The car is not lowered.
Here is the SD video....
1996 Camaro Z28 - Kooks LT1 Long Tubes - YouTube
Here is the HD video...
HD Video 1996 Camaro Z28 - Kooks Long Tube Headers - YouTube
Kooks Header pics(1 3/4" x 3").....
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3926.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3927.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3939.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3940.JPG
Dual cat y-pipe....
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3934.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3936.JPG
Installed in car top view....notice ARP 1" stainless header bolts. Provide excellent clearance for a boxed end wrench.
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3962.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3967.JPG
Under shot y-pipe not installed. Notice how I had to sand off the jet hot coating on the ends of the collectors to get the y-pipe to fit. Stainless steel can't be expanded like typical aluminized exhaust pipe...it will split. Sanding was the only option(1" wide emery cloth performed the job). I did have to get my catback pipe expanded just a little bit to fit the Kooks y-pipe.
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3984.JPG
A look inside the collector....
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3986.JPG
Clearance between Moroso pan and long tubes....Nope, can't use an oil level sensor with these and a kickout pan. Plug was sourced from Canton.
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN4013.JPG
I made a shorting plug for the oil level sensor connector to the dash lamp. If you don't, the low oil light will be on all the time. Just cut off and twisted a couple of leads from a high wattage resistor(1 watt if I remember correctly...), soldered the twisted wire ends, and capped it with a small wire nut. Plugged it in, taped it up, and zip tied it to the trans in a safe spot.
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3994.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3998.JPG
Under shot installed....
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN4009.JPG
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN4002.JPG
Review....
These are some very nice stainless steel headers. I got them with emissions connections, jet hot coating, and a dual cat y-pipe. With that said, they are not cheap. The headers, dual cat y-pipe, and jet hot coating together cost around $1500
. That was a very painful hit to the wallet, but I will say it has been worth every penny. Kooks knows how to design an excellent fitting header. The fitment is dead on the money...period. They slide up from the bottom of the car with no clearance problems to the heads or k-member. Do keep in mind that I have energy suspension poly motor mounts. Sagging motor mounts can make for painful header installs.The headers come with decent gaskets, but I decided to go with Percy's dead soft aluminum gaskets(for LT1/LT4). I have had zero problems with leaks or bolts coming loose. I would not use the header bolts included with the kit. IMHO, they are too short and the heads too big to get decent torque on the bolts without rounding the heads off(open end of the wrench would have to be used).
As seen here....
http://www.ace1252.com/images/1996_L...s/DSCN3919.JPG
I got some ARP 1" stainless steel header bolts. They have a 12 point head and you use a 5/16 boxed end wrench to tighten them(Craftsman 7" 5/16, 1/4 boxed end wrench gives plenty of leverage to tighten them).
The ARP part number should be 400-1210.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/arp-400-1210
When tightening the flanges to the heads, start from the middle bolts and work to the ends last. If the flange is warped in middle(and both mine were....), this will pull the middle of it to the heads with no problem straightening them out. If you tighten the ends first, you may "lock" the flange in place and it may not allow the center to pull to the heads, thus creating a leak at the head.
They tuck up nice to the body and so does the y-pipe.
I picked up ~5 mph and ~0.4 tenths in the 1/8 mile by adding these long tubes. So the stock exhaust manifolds were really restrictive with my stock head/CC503 setup.
Just for reference, here are my baseline times at Farmington and how the car ran after the various upgrades.
5/22/08
Baseline stock with K&N CAI and Flowmaster catback.
Warmed up:9.1@80.322mph
Full cool down:8.9@82.436mph
10/03/08
CC503, 1.6 NSA Pro Mag Roller rockers, PAC 1518 springs, 10* retainers/locks, Trickflow guideplates, 7.2" Comp hardened pushrods, stock heads, stock exhaust manifolds, catback exhaust, K&N CAI, FMS 30# Injectors.
Warmed up:8.882@83.770mph
No full cool down run.
2/19/11
Added Kooks Long tube headers(1 3/4" x 3") and dual cat y-pipe.
Warmed up:8.437@87.88mph
Partial cool down:8.389@88.354mph
As you can see from the times, there was a ton of hp left on the table by not changing out the stock exhaust manifolds.
They sound awesome paired with the Flowmaster catback. I've got a small video of them just after the install. The sound on the vid does not do them justice and I will try to get some high def video of them a little later. This video will show the clearance under the car very well. The car is not lowered.
Here is the SD video....
1996 Camaro Z28 - Kooks LT1 Long Tubes - YouTube
Here is the HD video...
HD Video 1996 Camaro Z28 - Kooks Long Tube Headers - YouTube
I know this is an old thread, I just installed looks lt headers on my 94 camaro and can’t get an oil filter on. How’d you go about doing so?
02-26-2023, 10:38 PM
#25
Administrator
Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: Hell was full so they sent me to NJ
Posts: 70,646
Re: Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
Looks like you still have the oil cooler installed:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cam...e774c43ea0.jpg
Might need to be deleted. I don’t think they were still installing the oil cooler in the authors M6 car in 1996.
Just a guess.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cam...e774c43ea0.jpg
Might need to be deleted. I don’t think they were still installing the oil cooler in the authors M6 car in 1996.
Just a guess.
04-22-2023, 02:20 PM
#26
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lansing, MI via Bowling Green, KY: Dalton, GA: Nashville, TN & Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,026
Re: Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
Yeah, you need to remove that part of the oil cooler assembly and you’ll be able to fit a shorty filter like an AC Delco PF454. There are other brands with short filters that will work as well.
04-22-2023, 03:00 PM
#27
Administrator
Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: Hell was full so they sent me to NJ
Posts: 70,646
Re: Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
Unfortunately “Young_gun” signed off immediately after his post above. Either he read the answer without signing in, or never checked for an answer. Basically you and I are just wasting our time trying to help. Makes me wonder why I still do this.
04-22-2023, 05:24 PM
#28
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lansing, MI via Bowling Green, KY: Dalton, GA: Nashville, TN & Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,026
Re: Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
I was a little late to the party. Maybe he’ll/she’ll be back. I wonder if they figured it out.
I’m glad to see you’re still active. The community certainly isn’t what it used to be. I was actually excited to see new posts in this thread. I’m wondering if the guy with the ‘95 convertible is going to figure out what’s going on with his car.
Did you ever sell your car?
I’m glad to see you’re still active. The community certainly isn’t what it used to be. I was actually excited to see new posts in this thread. I’m wondering if the guy with the ‘95 convertible is going to figure out what’s going on with his car.
Did you ever sell your car?
04-22-2023, 05:47 PM
#29
Administrator
Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: Hell was full so they sent me to NJ
Posts: 70,646
Re: Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
Sold the Formula 13 months ago. Found a great local buyer who made some upgrades - big cam, more suitable converter, wet nitrous in place of my dry setup, installed set of Hooker Super Comp headers I bought but never installed, actually went back to a stock PCM, w/ LTCC. He does all his own work and tuning.
He made his first serious passes on nitrous last night, ran a 10.35 @ 126.6 on a 150-shot. Unbelievably he was running on one of my old bottles that just happened to have 8# left in it. Probably filled around 2004….. I think he was running low on nitrous at the end. Those numbers were from his last pass, the only one with a decent track. Looking at the time slip 1/8th mile numbers I think it should have been 10.20 @ 130 if the bottle wasn’t running out.
Hasn’t changed the suspension because just hooks and goes on a good track.
He made his first serious passes on nitrous last night, ran a 10.35 @ 126.6 on a 150-shot. Unbelievably he was running on one of my old bottles that just happened to have 8# left in it. Probably filled around 2004….. I think he was running low on nitrous at the end. Those numbers were from his last pass, the only one with a decent track. Looking at the time slip 1/8th mile numbers I think it should have been 10.20 @ 130 if the bottle wasn’t running out.
Hasn’t changed the suspension because just hooks and goes on a good track.
04-23-2023, 09:12 AM
#30
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lansing, MI via Bowling Green, KY: Dalton, GA: Nashville, TN & Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,026
Re: Kooks LT1 Long Tubes install pics and review....
I don’t know much about drag racing, but that seems pretty stout. If you were the original owner, I imagine it was difficult to part with it.
