Since Hooker doesn't make headers for us, who makes the best value? [Archive]

J D

05-08-2008, 03:42 PM

I read the title of this and my mind went straight to the gutter...I think people should be as clear as possible when they are asking for help. :rolleyes:

woah, for once, I didn't see a title in a dirty light, I must be maturing!

DOOM

05-08-2008, 03:57 PM

Im going with KOOKS in late summer or fall after i get my supercharger installed.

TooManyFords

05-08-2008, 03:58 PM

I'm always on the lookout for good head....

What?

:eek:

freakstatus

05-08-2008, 04:44 PM

I'm always on the lookout for good head....

What?

:eek:

You mean beer, right? Might I suggest Kilkenny...;)

Steve

05-08-2008, 06:19 PM

Yes, headers, sorry for the misspeak.

offroadkarter

05-08-2008, 06:22 PM

im looking into stainless works

CRUZTAKER

05-08-2008, 06:22 PM

I read the title of this and my mind went straight to the gutter...I think people should be as clear as possible when they are asking for help. :rolleyes:

Indeed.

I'm always on the lookout for good head....

What?

:eek:

More like waiting. (I speak for myself):hide:

Back on topic...assuming you have the finances for such...KOOKS and ss are you only choices, both of which are mainstream around here.

FordNut

05-08-2008, 09:42 PM

Get ready for sticker shock, it ain't like buying Hookers for a Mustang!

DOOM

05-09-2008, 12:49 AM

Get ready for sticker shock, it ain't like buying Hookers for a Mustang!

He aint joking either. prepare to spend about $1,500

fastblackmerc

05-09-2008, 03:44 AM

You can also use Mustang shorty headers.

Hotrauder

05-09-2008, 06:07 AM

Interesting comparison pic taken by Todd at Grand Muffler. Kooks on the left, Stainless Works on the right. Car is Trilogy one being upgraded after SHSS last November. My SW headers with Ceramic Coating were $975 delivered on a group buy with Greg of FIT last year. I know of no HP or Torque comparisons. The SW are pretty. Hopefully not a lot of us will be parking upside down anytime soon so not sure how important that is.:D Dennis

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/8/5/5/headercomparison.jpg

dreydin

05-09-2008, 07:20 AM

wow, those Stainless Works are beefy :eek:

KillJoy

05-09-2008, 07:30 AM

That is REALLY a good pic of the two!!!

Are they each the "standard" offering, or is the SW a 3" Collector?

KillJoy

Dragcity

05-09-2008, 07:55 AM

My Kooks don't look like that..... And I just got them yesterday.

O's Fan Rich

05-09-2008, 08:55 AM

Get ready for sticker shock, it ain't like buying a Hooker

It's only money Brian... :D

I like the SW's I got.

magindat

05-09-2008, 09:01 AM

FordNut

05-09-2008, 02:24 PM

Kooks are true equal length. SW gives up some equal length for easier install and have clearance for removal of starter w/o removal of header.

Roughly similar cost. Roughly similar performance. Very similar sound.

Choose your poison.

I drank the StainlessWorks poison. Now I'm sick... or was I sick before then?

Kooks are not really true equal length, I've measured and there is quite a difference.

And I can't figure out where the starter removal rumor got started, but I've taken off and reinstalled my starter without messing with the header numerous times, even with the Moroso oil pan which has the wider sump.

The pics are somewhat misleading in that the Kooks can be ordered with 2-1/2" collectors or 3" collectors just as the SW can be. That pic shows a 2-1/2" Kooks compared to a 3" SW.

But they're very close in price, performance, sound, quality, etc.

sailsmen

05-09-2008, 10:04 PM

There's no drama in comparing apples to apples!;)

TooManyFords

05-10-2008, 06:17 AM

Kooks are true equal length. SW gives up some equal length for easier install and have clearance for removal of starter w/o removal of header.

Roughly similar cost. Roughly similar performance. Very similar sound.

Choose your poison.

I drank the StainlessWorks poison. Now I'm sick... or was I sick before then?

I was one on the early Kooks bandwagon in the first group buy way back when. They work fine but next set I get will be the stainless works. And the only reason is the way the SW headers look from underneath. Square and equal at the flanges. I remember the first time I took the Kooks out of the box and saw how the passenger side flange was cockeyed compared to the drivers side and thought I got a bad pair.

MarauderTJA

05-10-2008, 06:33 AM

I have the SW and have been very happy with them...No fit issues during install at all.

magindat

05-12-2008, 06:31 AM

Kooks are not really true equal length, I've measured and there is quite a difference.

Saw the two side by side... figured that HAD to be the difference in shape!

And I can't figure out where the starter removal rumor got started, but I've taken off and reinstalled my starter without messing with the header numerous times, even with the Moroso oil pan which has the wider sump.

Again, saw two installs side by side. Other starter came out. Mines didn't. :dunno:

But they're very close in price, performance, sound, quality, etc.

Couldn't agree more. Just a matter of who had a deal going at the time I was able to buy. Both are available from site vendors, here.

FordNut

05-12-2008, 02:20 PM

And I can't figure out where the starter removal rumor got started, but I've taken off and reinstalled my starter without messing with the header numerous times, even with the Moroso oil pan which has the wider sump.

Again, saw two installs side by side. Other starter came out. Mines didn't. :dunno:

I know it ain't easy to get out, you have to twist it and turn it at an angle, all kinds of crazy stuff.

But I've had two different sets of Kooks on my car and it was the same way with both sets.

I imagine it would be more difficult if they have the 1-7/8" primaries, though.

PSG

05-26-2008, 06:27 PM

does stainless works sell an x pipe o go with there headers or do you have to have one made?

Glenn

05-26-2008, 06:42 PM

Check previous threads on tube headers and see my comments that tube headers are not worth the moeny as a total system compared to the HP gain vs. Ford shorty headers. Kooks or SS are not worth the money for the HP gain compared to shorty headers. This is especially true with SC cars that do not go faster then high 11's. NA benefit more from tube headers then SC.

:flamer:

Glenn

PSG

05-27-2008, 05:33 PM

does anyone make shorty headers that fit a marauder?

Glenn

05-27-2008, 05:48 PM

FRPP makes the Cobra shorty headers that fit our MM along with the Cobra Magaflow hi-flow X-pipe with 2 CATS. Make sure you ONLY get the ceramic coated headers. Use search to read the old threads. You will need a 2" spacer at the end of the X-pipe due to the length of the MM versus a Miustang. I have had my headers for 4 years and they look brand new.

Glenn :burnout:

PSG

05-27-2008, 07:52 PM

will the emisions tube hook up to those os did you have to modify?

FordNut

05-27-2008, 08:35 PM

I believe it requires an adapter.

One comment on Shorty headers and Cobra manifolds....

I've read several posts where people installed them and then removed them to swap for long tubes. Never heard of anybody going the other way (unless they're reverting to stock before selling the car).

Paul T. Casey

05-28-2008, 04:14 AM

will the emisions tube hook up to those os did you have to modify?

Kooks for sure has all the necessary bungs, and I believe SW also does. Glenn is my friend, and I always trust his research. I never went the "shorty" route, but I must say for me, the Kooks was thee single biggest performance gaining mod I did. The complete system was worth a consistant .5 to .6 second in the 1/4. I'll try to work up a chart some rainy day of performance gains by mod and post it here. Those nearly 500 timeslips I have must be useful for something for you guys.

Glenn

05-28-2008, 07:49 AM

Yes, tube headers are better for NA cars. But, in my opinion not worth the $1,500 for a complete system. I am just saying there is a more cost effective option with only a small reduction in HP for alot less money for NA cars. Tube headers offer less of a HP gain in SC systems up to 450 HP. Your SC cars over 450 HP do seem to really benefit from tube headers especially any pushing 500 HP and over.

As I have posted before, 1/4 mile track results are a real life indicator of performance. There are many MMs with tube headers and SC that have not cracked 11 seconds that are producing many more HP then the below sig. This is just my observation over 4 years of experience that there are options that are not a significant compromise over tube headers. I do not see a huge 1/4 mile benefit of tube versus shorty headers especially for moderate SC MMs.

One final note, I ran 13.9s NA with nothing more then a tune, 4:10s, TC, UDPs and shorty headers to stock mufflers and tail pipes.

Glenn :flamer:

Marauderman

05-28-2008, 09:02 AM

I too , like Glenn, have shorty headers for about 5 years now and have no problems---I agree with his review--

merc

05-28-2008, 09:13 AM

I may need to upgrade to long tubes but for now my shorty's are kicking some butt. :banana2:

Glenn

05-28-2008, 10:58 AM

Mark:

Please give us an update on your trans and engine situation. Any chance you can make it to FFW in Commerce on June 13/14?

Glenn :burnout:

merc

05-28-2008, 12:22 PM

Mark:

Please give us an update on your trans and engine situation. Any chance you can make it to FFW in Commerce on June 13/14?

Glenn :burnout:

Car is still on the rack collecting dust. Waiting for months for the new torque converter. We stuck some more harden stuff in the transmission and added a blanket incase it goes boom. I am hoping to be on the track in 30 days. Glenn, it suck to be me. :banana: FFW looks like a pipe dream for now. If the engine is in working we are looking at FFW Richmond next.