[JGiovando]

Installed kooks 1 7/8" headers the other day. Fun job, I cursed a few times trying to get the passenger side in, and that effn dipstick was a pain in the ass, but it's done. I've got a pretty good leak on the driver side at the swivel clamp. Between the header and the cat and a mild leak on the passenger side swivel clamp. Going to address that this week when I have time off.
My question is when driving past houses, fences, trees, basically anything that sound can reverberate off of, I hear a sound I can't describe well. It's like a metal ticking sound I guess. It's subtle but wasn't there before the install. Checked all spark plugs...none cracked or loose (I removed them for install). Re-torqued the header bolts and followed the torque specs and tightening order. Listened with a stethoscope and the only leaks are from the cat connections mentioned above. So can this be the cause of the sound, or is this a normal sound with headers. Never had a car with headers before. It sounds like a beast at start up, idle, and when throttled. Just curious if a ticking sound is typical.

[GT-ER]

Ticking is likely the leaks you already know you have. Granted, even without the leaks, headers can sometimes make light ticking sounds.

[JonD]

They aren’t like the thick OEM manifolds so you will hear some tick

[18ss376]

Headers will create more sound than the thicker stock exhaust manifolds. The air passing through the exhaust valves opening & closing can be heard with long tube headers & does make kind of a ticking sound at idle, but when reved up you should not hear any ticking. The ticking noise is closer to the heads if no leaks, but if there are any gaps at the V-band clamps I could see that making the ticking sound. Any exhaust leaks will have more sound at that point, make sure it's closed up real tight or in my case I weld it up & don't have to worry about leaks.

[GTSLOW]

They will definitely be noisier when sticking your head under the hood. But if you're hearing a tick loud enough that it's echoing off houses then it's about 99% an exhaust leak.

[KyBoy]

It's normal for Kook's long tubes. I have the same tick after installing them. Drove me insane at first. I done everything to make sure the exhaust had no leaks. Even went through 3 different manifold gaskets, same tick still present. Enjoy your headers.

[JGiovando]

Thanks for the replies guys. I used new OEM gaskets, didn't like the look or feel of the cometic ones that kooks supplied. Going to weld it this week and will post an update. I don't hear anything abnormal under the hood. Beneath the car yes and I'm hoping it's just the leaks I already know about. Good to hear that they do have a slight ticking sound, maybe I'm just hyper-aware cause of the CEL.

[18ss376]

Originally Posted by JGiovando

Thanks for the replies guys. I used new OEM gaskets, didn't like the look or feel of the cometic ones that kooks supplied. Going to weld it this week and will post an update. I don't hear anything abnormal under the hood. Beneath the car yes and I'm hoping it's just the leaks I already know about. Good to hear that they do have a slight ticking sound, maybe I'm just hyper-aware cause of the CEL.

Just an FYI, those Cometic gaskets are some of the best & Fel-Pro gaskets are second to none, those are the only 2 brands I've ever used on all my engines. I retired from NHRA Div. 4 drag racing & those have always lasted longer compared to OEM gaskets. Anything I take apart on my LT1 engine that needs a gasket if they make it, will get Cometic or Fel-Pro.

[KyBoy]

I used Mr. Gasket Ultra-seal.

Heath

[JGiovando]

Just an update here....put the car back on the lift and definitely had exhaust leaks from both swivel seal clamps - worse on the driver's side. After numerous attempts to correct it I realized it just wasn't going to seal. Followed the instructions supplied by kooks exactly as far as cuts, clamps, etc. No way around it, when I stepped back and looked closer there were just bad angles between the stock exhaust and the connection pipes/cats causing malalignment. Had my buddy (owns a muffler and exhaust shop) weld all the connections and leaks no more. Guess I'm disappointed in the fact that these headers are quite expensive and sold as "bolt on" and I couldn't make it work. As an aside, I had the headers ceramic coated and they use a vibratory tumbler to polish afterwards. Interestingly when I removed the catted connection pipes today I found several of the beads used in the tumbler within the pipes. They sure weren't rattling around making noise in the headers or connection pipes during the install. At first I thought maybe that would be the source of the ticking but with the leaks resolved it seems that is just the sound of the headers.

[KyBoy]

Yeah...they're gonna tick. Drove me nuts, then I just accepted it.

Heath

[18ss376]

Love the sound headers make, first set was my 1986 Camaro IROC-Z & never looked back.

[Nmolina9239]

How high do you have to Jack the car up on stands for install? I got a set of the 1" 7/8" on their way. Is it something I could tackle over a long weekend with lots of patience?

[6spdhyperblue]

Anyone got the spec on the dipstick bolt? Lost one