American Racing Headers

[-Ray-]

Brand: American Racing Headers
Price: $1700+
Purchased From: (URL) http://www.americanracingheaders.com/homepage.htm


Installation: (Use easy, moderate, involved, or difficult) involved
Installation Time: 3 1/2 hours
Any Installation Tips You Have: (optional) Make sure you have instructions before you start. Have an oxygen sensor tap available.

Quality of Part: (rate 1-10) 9
Product Performance: (rate 1-10) 10
Would you Recommend to Others: Absolutely

Any Other Comments: I'm really enjoying the power and sound from my headers. Quality would have been 10, but I had to chase the threads on a couple of bungs because of weld flash. Outside of some clamp marks from bending, the headers were pretty much flawless.
Also, my set was missing the instruction set. I tried to get them by email, but didn't receive it.

[Mike P]

Nice write up Ray! Your car must be a beast now! I wonder what 1/4 mile time you will turn now?



Nice!

...

['02 ws6]

As much as I'd love to have some ARH, my budget will force me to get the Kooks, but ARH is TOP NOTCH QUALITY!!

[wreckwriter]

As much as I'd love to have some ARH, my budget will force me to get the Kooks, but ARH is TOP NOTCH QUALITY!!

Price is either the same or the Kooks are a tad more I believe.

[MANOFSTEEL69]

Yea, the only real difference is that the Kooks have a muffler option. ARH:rant:

[wreckwriter]

i believe the ARH come with the mid-pipe, with the kooks you buy it separately. that could make the kooks look cheaper but it all shakes out about the same.

[GRRRR8]

I prefer never to have muffs as part of a kit. It limits me on how I want it to sound. With ARH, many axle back kits will come out and I will be able to put whatever I want. My only issue with Kooks is the tips, Oval= Yes, 4 tips = Yes, Round = NO. It is a round tip in a square opening. I have customized many cars and I cant feel that tip. I am fine with the sound, just a little louder then I want.

['02 ws6]

Price is either the same or the Kooks are a tad more I believe.

Well the full system I'm interested in is $1200 total. ARH system is $1700+ minus mufflers.

[GRRRR8]

The cheapest I have seen the Kooks with muffs and cats is like 1800ish

[wreckwriter]

Well the full system I'm interested in is $1200 total. ARH system is $1700+ minus mufflers.

There is no full Kooks LT system for that. Are you anticipating the shortie system maybe?

[GRRRR8]

I saw 3 part #s LTs, X w/wo cats and muffs. List was like 2300

[wreckwriter]

I saw 3 part #s LTs, X w/wo cats and muffs. List was like 2300

That's correct, 3 pieces.

[GRRRR8]

What is the cost now?

[wreckwriter]

2k and change, shipped.

['02 ws6]

What is the cost now?

I am only getting the LT's in 1 3/4 and the cat back from VMS - $1270+ship. My local exhaust guy helped w/ my TD setup on my TA replacing TSP's h pipe w/ his own fabbed design so he'll be in charge on the G8 as well, as $700 is just stupid IMO for any x-h-mid-etc. And I'm not running cats either:)

[wreckwriter]

I am only getting the LT's in 1 3/4 and the cat back from VMS - $1270+ship. My local exhaust guy helped w/ my TD setup on my TA replacing TSP's h pipe w/ his own fabbed design so he'll be in charge on the G8 as well, as $700 is just stupid IMO for any x-h-mid-etc. And I'm not running cats either:)

You mean axle-back, right? There is no Kooks cat-back as far as I know. For those of us that need/want cats, it doesn't seem so stupid.

['02 ws6]

yea axle back my fault, I'm still on fbody lingo so pardon. High flow cats and an x are not worth $700 and change IMO, I've seen many people running TDs on LS1 fbodies that have gotten high flow cats and x/h fabbed up for $350-400 and change. That's reasonable to me.

['02 ws6]

Two MF high flow cats #59959 are $114 a piece. So $228, I'm sure any local exhaust guy can get some 3" stainless piping and make an x/h then merge it w/ the axle back w/o eclipsing even the $450 mark.

[-Ray-]

Were getting a little off topic for a review thread gentlemen.

[MANOFSTEEL69]

Were getting a little off topic for a review thread gentlemen.

Uh Oh! Shhhh the higher powers are watching! :bleh: Hmmmm exhaust thread....talking about exhausts.....!?

[-Ray-]

Hey, someone's got to do it. LOL
:deadhorse:

[MANOFSTEEL69]

I wondered if you would notice! Lol! Oops NOW we're off topic! Lol!:oops::hijack:

[-Ray-]

I wondered if you would notice! Lol! Oops NOW we're off topic! Lol!:oops::hijack:

Yes, I can make your posts go away. Free bump I say. LOL

[IXLR8]

Bump,

How would you rate them after using them for a few months? Any rust? Would you make any changes?

Thanks for your input, I am about to bite the bullet and get a set...

[-Ray-]

There isn't any rust on my headers or pipes, nor would I expect to with the stainless AR uses. They are a nice bronze color, but that can be removed with a scotch brite pad if one wanted too.
I'm very satisfied with the quality of their system.

[g8_795]

I just removed my ARH system Saturday to put an extra bung in the passenger side collector. It was very easy to remove and reinstall. I do wish I would have put the bung in before my initial install. That is my only thing I would have changed.

They are top notch. Highly recommend to anybody. The quality is great. The sounds is great. The power is great. I think I have put about 5k miles on them.

I installed some Kook's on a 06 GTO and was not as impressed. Plug wires were sitting on the headers and a bolt had to be cut off the chassis.

For my reinstall of my headers i ditched the factory metal gasket and went with the ARH supplied gasket with high temp gasket sealer with a very small amount for blue loc-tite on the manifold bold threads.

ARH, What is the best approach to use on the gasket (sealer, no sealer, which gasket) and what to apply to the threads of the bolts?

-Robert

[GRRRR8]

I just removed my ARH system Saturday to put an extra bung in the passenger side collector. It was very easy to remove and reinstall. I do wish I would have put the bung in before my initial install. That is my only thing I would have changed.

They are top notch. Highly recommend to anybody. The quality is great. The sounds is great. The power is great. I think I have put about 5k miles on them.

I installed some Kook's on a 06 GTO and was not as impressed. Plug wires were sitting on the headers and a bolt had to be cut off the chassis.

For my reinstall of my headers i ditched the factory metal gasket and went with the ARH supplied gasket with high temp gasket sealer with a very small amount for blue loc-tite on the manifold bold threads.

ARH, What is the best approach to use on the gasket (sealer, no sealer, which gasket) and what to apply to the threads of the bolts?

-Robert

No sealer, just some spray tac to hold the gasket in place and blue Loc-Tite is fine.

[Tom@ARH]

Spray tac definately makes things easier. I usually put the bolts back dry.

[r1owner]

Do the header bolts still have the tendency to back out like the old days?

[-Ray-]

Mine haven't.

[r1owner]

I had a set of Hooker headers on my old 81 Z28... header bolts were always backing out. PITA. I remember someone made a kit that had a special shaped washer that went against the header over the bolt. Then a clip held that in place so they could not loosen.

[A.R. Headers]

The factory bolts have a finer thread and have a perfect length for the 3/8" flange. They also thread deep into the cylinder head, I've never heard of these bolts backing out. Like Tom said, we normally install them dry. If you use our gaskets, they don't need sealant.

Nick

[r1owner]

The factory bolts have a finer thread and have a perfect length for the 3/8" flange. They also thread deep into the cylinder head, I've never heard of these bolts backing out. Like Tom said, we normally install them dry. If you use our gaskets, they don't need sealant.

Nick

Thanks for the info. I'm definitely going with your product as soon as I can afford it.

My Dad was at Corvettes of Carlisle and said he wanted to get a set for his Z06, but he said you guys were all booked up!

[Tom@ARH]

Do the header bolts still have the tendency to back out like the old days?

Not so much we use a 3/8" flange which is much thicker than the ols school headers used to have. I still go over them after heat cycling the motor or about 250 miles

[-Ray-]

http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t16/ElecBlueG6GT/G8/headers/?action=view&current=headers007.flv
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t16/ElecBlueG6GT/G8/headers/th_headers007.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t16/ElecBlueG6GT/G8/headers/?action=view&current=headers007.flv)

[g8_795]

http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t16/ElecBlueG6GT/G8/headers/?action=view&current=headers007.flv
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t16/ElecBlueG6GT/G8/headers/th_headers007.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t16/ElecBlueG6GT/G8/headers/?action=view&current=headers007.flv)

Was this without anything but headers? That is loud...

[-Ray-]

Yes. Anyone who installs headers has to start it uncorked. :D

[99-LS1-SS]

Yes. Anyone who installs headers has to start it uncorked. :D

It will void your warranty if you don't. :)

[r1owner]

Yes. Anyone who installs headers has to start it uncorked. :D

LOL! When I put headers on my 77 Z28 with a 4 speed, I had to drive it about 10 miles to the shop to get the rest of the system welded up. I got a lot of nasty looks from people at the stoplights!

[G8GT721]

Yes. Anyone who installs headers has to start it uncorked. :D

i did it with the stock manifolds when i put on the magnaflows, i was not impressed, cant wait for headers

[todds87ss]

Back in 1982, I installed Hooker headers on my 76 camaro. Before I could even get the headers bolted on, the girlfriend called saying she needed a ride home from work. Had to pick her up with nothing hooked up to the heads! Now THAT was loud! Glad I did not catch anything on fire:)

[ronbuick]

Is there a step by step procedure for installing these and what if anything that
you run in to that has to be adressed or did I miss that part on the install in your happiness for these headers, so I'm thinking it is strictly a nut and bolt job??, no surprises correct!! thanks.

Ron

[GRRRR8]

Very basic no surprises. Only the dipstick tube can be a pain in the ass some times.

[-Ray-]

Is there a step by step procedure for installing these and what if anything that
you run in to that has to be adressed or did I miss that part on the install in your happiness for these headers, so I'm thinking it is strictly a nut and bolt job??, no surprises correct!! thanks.

Ron

The headers come with instructions. Well, except for mine, but we got them on. Don't tighten the header bolts until you have space between the pipes and tunnel brace.
You can lift on them to get clearance there before you tighten the header bolts.'

[TexasG8]

How is the sound quility on the LTH with the x-pipe compared to the magna flow cat back system.

1. Louder?
2. More drone?
3. etc

[GRRRR8]

How is the sound quility on the LTH with the x-pipe compared to the magna flow cat back system.

1. Louder?
2. More drone?
3. etc

Quieter, ZERO drone.

[SLA]

Just ordered mine 5 mins ago :woohoo:

[GRRRR8]

Congrats! You need to come down Hwy 6 and see the car while its here in the "mod mode"

[SLA]

Where is your shop located at?



Congrats! You need to come down Hwy 6 and see the car while its here in the "mod mode"

[IXLR8]

Where is your shop located at?

It's worth the trip, even if just to meet with Charlie. The installation he did on my Kook's LT headers was second to none. I grabbed a shot of my car next to his since they looked like twins.... except his is a second and half faster in the 1/4 mile.

[todds87ss]

It's worth the trip, even if just to meet with Charlie. The installation he did on my Kook's LT headers was second to none. I grabbed a shot of my car next to his since they looked like twins.... except his is a second and half faster in the 1/4 mile.

How is that possible...he refuses to take time off to get to the track!:wacko:

[GRRRR8]

LOL! Soon......

[beast]

damnit I want these things so bad. My car doesnt even have 2K on the clock yet and I want to get these.

['02 ws6]

Ordering mine on thursday. Getting extremely excited too!

[liquidred1]

ordered mine a few days ago, missed the fedex guy so they'll be here on monday. went with catted 1 7/8 system. then next month going to order the 228/240 non dod cam and then have it all installed at once with a dyno tune to finish it up. got the underdrive pulley for it too. That will be a sweet day when i get to drive her home.:woohoo::woohoo: