[bishopts]

These headers were on my car when i bought it. I dont know if it had instructions to put heat shielding on number 4 and 5 plug wires. But they melt into the metal without it.
Only other complaint i have is they don't have a flex joint so it breaks the center of the x pipe eventually.

[6spdhyperblue]

Uh yeah. Headers should have msd wires or similar and booties.

[Dynamical]

Do any aftermarket X pipes have “flex joints”? I don’t believe they do.

[bishopts]

X pipes usually dont. But with no flex joints at the collectors any deflection applied from engine movement is directly applied into the exhaust. The x pipe becomes the pivot point since the dual exhaust after the x pipe doesn't have much give from the hangers.
Its pretty much either create a controlled point of give for deflection or the exhaust will find one itself.

[SWFLZL1]

I haven’t seen any 6th gen exhausts with flex joints. Stock doesn’t have any flex joints either.

[bishopts]

Stock ones and kooks ones

[KingLT1]

That's not a Flex joint on the Kooks...it's a shitty ball socket connection that loves to leak and in the pic they are connected to cat less link pipes. They need to make them V band for what they cost.

[Dynamical]

I never thought of those swivel connects as flex joints but I guess they serve that purpose too. Unfortunately thats one reason they are more prone to leak LOL

[bishopts]

Originally Posted by KingLT1

That's not a Flex joint on the Kooks...it's a shitty ball socket connection that loves to leak and in the pic they are connected to cat less link pipes. They need to make them V band for what they cost.

I agree about the v band. The ball socket does allow slight deflection for movement. Which is probably why they leak so much. Pretty much any other design would be a better idea.

[SWFLZL1]

Okay, yes, there are some ball and socket, and slip joints. I guess I misunderstood you, I was thinking of a true flex joint, when you said flex joint. Like the stainless mesh looking flex joint. And I agree, the Kooks ball and socket joints suck!

[bishopts]

Originally Posted by SWFLZL1

Okay, yes, there are some ball and socket, and slip joints. I guess I misunderstood you, I was thinking of a true flex joint, when you said flex joint. Like the stainless mesh looking flex joint. And I agree, the Kooks ball and socket joints suck!

The stock one is that mesh flex joint.

[SWFLZL1]

Originally Posted by bishopts

The stock one is that mesh flex joint.

Must be different on a ZL1. No flex joints were on my stock exhaust.

[AZIROC]

Originally Posted by KingLT1

That's not a Flex joint on the Kooks...it's a shitty ball socket connection that loves to leak and in the pic they are connected to cat less link pipes. They need to make them V band for what they cost.

Agreed. Header / exhaust install was pretty straight forward. Chasing exhaust leaks for a few weeks got old. Finally got it fixed though just annoying to deal with when you pay so much.