Long tube advice, currently KR's

I am doing researching now before purchasing long tubes looks like kooks are still the way to go? What about the axle backs to go with it I see a lot of people saying the KR mufflers I have now may be "too much" with long tubes.

Changing upgrading the S/C and this is def something I want to change while I'm at it.

What about between the long tubes and axle backs do you guys typically leave the stock mid section or what is swapped in, thanks

Its all up to preference. I have kooks 1 3/4 LT's, Kooks ORX and Catted X and stock catbacks.
The car sounds very tame at idle. It opens up decently under WOT, but not obnoxious. Previous owner had KR's on it and said they were obnoxious with them and put the stockers back on.

I dont think the sound this is as much with the long tubes as it is without cats.

Sort of depends what you want out of them. Kooks would probably have the best ground clearance, but are not true long tubes. The true long tubes are going to give up a little ground clearance, if the car is lowered. I'm not sure the long tubes will make better power than Kooks going through the exhaust system, but if they did, it would probably marginal. Dumping the cats makes it incredibly loud regardless. None are that easy to install. If someone made a good quality shorty, I might be inclined to get rid of my long tubes and put a stock catted mid pipe back on the car.

weider1717 said:

I am doing researching now before purchasing long tubes looks like kooks are still the way to go? What about the axle backs to go with it I see a lot of people saying the KR mufflers I have now may be "too much" with long tubes.

Changing upgrading the S/C and this is def something I want to change while I'm at it.

What about between the long tubes and axle backs do you guys typically leave the stock mid section or what is swapped in, thanks

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As far as the midpipe, the manufacturer of your headers will have a LT specific midpipe that you also have to purchase. The stock midpipe will not work with LTs unless you significantly modify it to fit.

I think the KRs will be pretty damn loud with LTs. Do you plan to run cats? If not, then expect a lot of noise. I run long tubes, no cats, Borla S-types and it's loud as hell. Here's some clips idling and a WOT hit on the dyno, which doesn't really do it justice. Incredibly loud at WOT and even cruising around everyone in the vicinity will hear you coming. It's fun for a weekend car, but I couldn't take it on a daily driver. It all depends on your tastes and what you use the car for.

I have kooks LT. Went with H pipe instead of X pipe as the X can sound kind of raspy/ricey. Left my cats in and have magnaflows. Sounds good. Not too loud, but just loud enough and really opens up when I get on it. This combo dropped my boost by 2 lbs BTW. I do not have experience with the KRs but a guy near me has them w/o cats and it is LOUD. I am surprised it is legal, honestly.

Thanks guys,

I believe I had rather keep the cats the car above in the video is really loud I'm sur in person. I just don't know what all is needed to do this mod. Looks like from above you can't simply buy the kooks and them bolt up if I read that right?

So, whether I keep the KR's or go the corsa route which seems to be popular with the kooks I guess my question is what else do I need to order.

My supercharger upgrade is on it's way from Justin at VMP I ended up going with a GEN 1 he had as a trade in. It will be plenty for my needs.

Thanks

weider1717 said:

Thanks guys,

I believe I had rather keep the cats the car above in the video is really loud I'm sur in person. I just don't know what all is needed to do this mod. Looks like from above you can't simply buy the kooks and them bolt up if I read that right?

So, whether I keep the KR's or go the corsa route which seems to be popular with the kooks I guess my question is what else do I need to order.

My supercharger upgrade is on it's way from Justin at VMP I ended up going with a GEN 1 he had as a trade in. It will be plenty for my needs.

Thanks

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Correct, you need to buy the headers and the mid pipe. If you want to keep your cats, Kooks is a good option as you can choose their green catted midpipe. They hold up to boost much better than the OEM cats and will help quiet the setup down as well.

I used to run Corsa's mufflers with this setup. I liked them, no drone when cruising, still loud as hell WOT, though.

RBB said:

Correct, you need to buy the headers and the mid pipe. If you want to keep your cats, Kooks is a good option as you can choose their green catted midpipe. They hold up to boost much better than the OEM cats and will help quiet the setup down as well.

I used to run Corsa's mufflers with this setup. I liked them, no drone when cruising, still loud as hell WOT, though.

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Thats what I needed, thanks!

RBB said:

As far as the midpipe, the manufacturer of your headers will have a LT specific midpipe that you also have to purchase. The stock midpipe will not work with LTs unless you significantly modify it to fit.

I think the KRs will be pretty damn loud with LTs. Do you plan to run cats? If not, then expect a lot of noise. I run long tubes, no cats, Borla S-types and it's loud as hell. Here's some clips idling and a WOT hit on the dyno, which doesn't really do it justice. Incredibly loud at WOT and even cruising around everyone in the vicinity will hear you coming. It's fun for a weekend car, but I couldn't take it on a daily driver. It all depends on your tastes and what you use the car for.

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Did you get your TB sorted out?

Well, I'm back..went to order and noticed you have two size choices 1 3/4" or 1 7/8" which do most gt500 owners go with?

Also these are over $1100 for the kooks and the BBK are only $649 both appear ceramic coated so any input on why these cost so much more and is it worth the difference?

My experience in buy parts for almost 50 years, is you generally get what you pay for. I have no experience with BBK, but that's awful cheap. I don't think you're looking at GT500 headers because it doesn't appear they make them. I think Kooks is the only one that makes a tube diameter in 1 3/4". Everyone else makes 1 7/8". Better budget mid-pipes too.

Klaus said:

Did you get your TB sorted out?

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If by sorted out you mean back to a twin blade, then yes. Tried a KB168, no good, tried a revised VMP160....also a bust. Failsafed every time it got hot.

Back to a twin 69.

weider1717 said:

Well, I'm back..went to order and noticed you have two size choices 1 3/4" or 1 7/8" which do most gt500 owners go with?

Also these are over $1100 for the kooks and the BBK are only $649 both appear ceramic coated so any input on why these cost so much more and is it worth the difference?

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Go 1 7/8 and buy the Kooks. Like Cat said, you get what you pay for. Check out the market....there are usually some used sets of LTs floating around if you want to save a nice chunk of change.

weider1717 said:

Well, I'm back..went to order and noticed you have two size choices 1 3/4" or 1 7/8" which do most gt500 owners go with?

Also these are over $1100 for the kooks and the BBK are only $649 both appear ceramic coated so any input on why these cost so much more and is it worth the difference?

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BBK is a whole diff world of quality compared to Kooks. That is why they are cheaper.

PS on the cats. Keep in mind once you start making big boy power, you need to worry about the cats. If you got a TVS car making moderate boost, Id say to keep an eye on them

I added SW Lt's to my 08 with their cats. after 25,000 miles we inspected the cats recently and they appear new, which was a relief.
My car put down 740 rwhp at Alternative Performance in Mi.
You definitely get what you pay for, and SW was my choice after researching cat longevity.

enormous said:

I added SW Lt's to my 08 with their cats. after 25,000 miles we inspected the cats recently and they appear new, which was a relief.
My car put down 740 rwhp at Alternative Performance in Mi.
You definitely get what you pay for, and SW was my choice after researching cat longevity.

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How often do you put that 740 down though?

I didn't notice any reduction in drivability or low end torque when I installed American Racing Headers 1-7/8" primary to 3" collector and there 3" x-pipe that reduces to 2-3/4" and connects to OEM exhaust/clamps. In my opinion a 3/4" primary is to small even for a stock motor. 7/8" primaries should be the smallest you go, then 2" primaries once you start going north of 800whp.

Most cats start having issue above 700 due to the heat and pressure but that doesn't mean they will die for sure. Biggest killer of cats is the amount of time you spend at full load/power. If you do a quick pull in 2nd gear or a 2nd to 3rd gear pull your probably going to be fine. What kills cats is when you do a 3rd to 4th to 5th gear pull or 1/2 mile or 1 mile pull, this sustained thermal and pressure load is what kills cats.