[EDFHOBBIES]

I tried to clearance the header so I could leave the valve cover on and it didn't work but I did get amazingly luck because now I got a lot from between my starter.

[BMWM.D.]

Originally Posted by Victoryred1le

I took the passenger side valve cover off as well. i have two inch ARH and they fit absolutely perfect. The lower pulley is a better way to go in my mind. You get better belt wrap and maintain a balance on the drive pulley/idler/tensior track

So did you drop them in from the top? Do anything to the starter? My original plan was to remove the big stiffening plate and starter and go in from the bottom.

Any yeah, belt wrap is a good thing. I learned a lot about that on a Magnuson MP122 build I did about 12 years ago. On this car, I just want to do what’s least intrusive.

[Victoryred1le]

Originally Posted by BMWM.D.

So did you drop them in from the top? Do anything to the starter? My original plan was to remove the big stiffening plate and starter and go in from the bottom.

Any yeah, belt wrap is a good thing. I learned a lot about that on a Magnuson MP122 build I did about 12 years ago. On this car, I just want to do what’s least intrusive.

yeah passenger side is from the top, remove valve cover, starter shouldn't need to come out but every header is different but with my ARH 2" I did not have too and fitment/clearance is perfect. driver side goes right up in from the bottom no sweat. Man I miss the MP112/MP122 days!!! those things screamed! I had one on my GTO back in the day and on a TBSS

[EDFHOBBIES]

2000 mile update headers working and looking fine..

[BMWM.D.]

Originally Posted by Victoryred1le

yeah passenger side is from the top, remove valve cover, starter shouldn't need to come out but every header is different but with my ARH 2" I did not have too and fitment/clearance is perfect. driver side goes right up in from the bottom no sweat. Man I miss the MP112/MP122 days!!! those things screamed! I had one on my GTO back in the day and on a TBSS

Well, I ended up putting my Kooks in from the bottom. The big stiffening plate had to be removed to get the driver side in, so I just did the passenger side from the bottom at that point. There’s a bunch of screws and bolts, but it’s something I’m very used to. Not bad at all if you have good electric/pneumatic tools and a lift.

Oh, and I’m with you on the old 122 blowers. Mine was on a heads/cam LS1 that was in a ‘67 Camaro. It “only” made 540 whp with 11 psi and meth, but damn did it sound good. That blower screamed.

[soceur77]

praying for a Kooks vs ARH vs TSP header video soon...I was ready to push the button on the ARH but TSP has been proven now and in the past to produce a product that gets you a lot of bang for the buck! I have to really argue the pricing point when it comes to headers in particular. Most other parts I'm like meh whatever heres my Visa card.....lol

[EDFHOBBIES]

I won't lie I'm the 1st one to say I spent more than you or I have blah blah blah on my car. But these are every bit as nice as kooks that I had on my 5th gen. I never saw a set of ARH so I can't say, I've seen stainless works they are just as nice.

The flanges are perfectly straight, the primaries are thick and 304, the welds are good and beautiful there no disruption in the flow where it mounts to the flange. They came with stock gm new gaskets O2 extension which aren't even needed atleast on my car.

[Zl1steve]

Who did tuning and with what tuner?

[Can'tHave2MuchHP]

Originally Posted by Zl1steve

Who did tuning and with what tuner?

The "famous" Matt Sorian is who he mentioned in other threads.

[EDFHOBBIES]

Yes.. Matt Sorian hp tuners.. I would trust powfab, Matt from 21st century, alex from peitz performance, and Ted from jannetty.

[EDFHOBBIES]

Here is underside pic of TSP headers I got the car bak on lift and was able to make the headers go straight down the center.. I cur a tad more off stock exhaust and barely cut the mid pipe or cat delete so it would not run up against the bend. So disregard being off center from previous install critique.

[JCunningham]

Originally Posted by EDFHOBBIES

I won't lie I'm the 1st one to say I spent more than you or I have blah blah blah on my car. But these are every bit as nice as kooks that I had on my 5th gen. I never saw a set of ARH so I can't say, I've seen stainless works they are just as nice.

The flanges are perfectly straight, the primaries are thick and 304, the welds are good and beautiful there no disruption in the flow where it mounts to the flange. They came with stock gm new gaskets O2 extension which aren't even needed atleast on my car.

the difference between them are ARH are USA made 304 Stainless steel and headers assembled in NY. Stainless Works are assembled in USA were they get there steel I dont know. Kooks are assembled in USA steel I dont know. TSP are made in china. as far as quality ARH Kooks and Stainless Works are all at the top with ARH being the only 1 who says were there steel is from. They are the only ones you can say has the best steel.

[EDFHOBBIES]

The TSP were thick, the flanges were straight. They still look beautiful 7k miles later. . A 3 or 400 dollar difference okay.. but a 1500 difference cmon.. I'd could put 3 sets on my self for that price.

I heard the same debate on Chinese cranks.. the callies low end stuff steel from China machined in USA I never had a problem.. the dragon slayer all american..the Chinese metal made a lot 1500 hp happy camaro owners w no failure.

The story I got the one of the kooks designers left and started ARH

[wallyj]

Don't know how I missed this thread when you originally posted it.
Thanks for all the detail and pics! I hope to start down this path next year when I'm travelling less and have more time to work on the car.